OT: Charlie Gard

[sidders]

We're not quite into the season yet so is it okay to still do some OT's? I wondered what Notts fans made of the case of Charlie Gard. This is a child who, if he survives, will never walk, talk or feed independently. Without life support, he would slip away.
A 'revolutionary' treatment is said to be available in the US but, if successful it cannot restore those faculties that would make Charlie a sentient being. Trying to look at the case as if you were the parent doesn't make it any easier. His parents say they wouldn't stay by his bedside and maintain his life if they thought he was suffering, but his doctors say that it is likely that he can and does feel pain.
Then there is the money - cost to the state via NHS and legal fees. However, there is obviously massive support in the country which has enabled his parents to amass over a million pounds for treatment in the US.
This is a moral dilemma for our times.

[Iwantmypieback]

It a very tough situation to be in. I think the underlying question is, who has authority over the welfare of a child? Charlie's parents aren't unstable, they are fighting like any other parent would for their child. They want to take him to a well known and licenced institution that can offer some potential hope for their child. If it was the case of them going to some medical backwater then I'd agree with GOSH's stance, but it's the US that has high levels of medical regulations and expertise. I think GOSH should advise them of their concerns but then allow Charlie to get the treatment. Going to court smacks of authoritarianism going too far.

Experts can get it wrong! For instance, had the parents of the boy in Southampton followed the law, their son would be dead, they sneaked him out of the country and he is now thankfully in remission due to the proton therapy that "wouldn't do anything". It's a difficult decision but in my opinion, there is no harm in allowing the treatment, it may not work on Charlie, but what is learnt could be used to treat the next little boy or girl with a similar condition

[SmiffyPie]

As the parent a very difficult choice. I would have been inclined to follow the advice given by the experts here tempered with advice from those offering the alternative therapy concerning the possible outcome and future well-being of the child. I haven't looked (because it has become something of a media frenzy) but as sidders suggests would the child have any meaningful life afterwards and for how long?
As for state interference; If the state disagrees with the suggested alternative treatment then I would suggest, after due diligence, they have a right to refuse funding. Have they a right to take the child into it's protection? Well yes they have I suppose (there are some strange people out there with strange ideas) but, as in this case, if an alternative treatment is being offered by trusted people and appears ethical then the state should quietly step back and allow the parents to make the call.

[queenslandpie]

As the parent a very difficult choice. I would have been inclined to follow the advice given by the experts here tempered with advice from those offering the alternative therapy concerning the possible outcome and future well-being of the child. I haven't looked (because it has become something of a media frenzy) but as sidders suggests would the child have any meaningful life afterwards and for how long?
As for state interference; If the state disagrees with the suggested alternative treatment then I would suggest, after due diligence, they have a right to refuse funding. Have they a right to take the child into it's protection? Well yes they have I suppose (there are some strange people out there with strange ideas) but, as in this case, if an alternative treatment is being offered by trusted people and appears ethical then the state should quietly step back and allow the parents to make the call.

For me the money is irrelevant but the quality of life isn't. It comes down to quality of life. It's extremely unlikely there would be any but to ask a parent to pull the pin on their child is asking the impossible. Sometimes it's not possible to make a correct decision. Just ask Ray Trew or Alan Hardy!

[seriouspie]

We're not quite into the season yet so is it okay to still do some OT's? I wondered what Notts fans made of the case of Charlie Gard. This is a child who, if he survives, will never walk, talk or feed independently. Without life support, he would slip away.
A 'revolutionary' treatment is said to be available in the US but, if successful it cannot restore those faculties that would make Charlie a sentient being. Trying to look at the case as if you were the parent doesn't make it any easier. His parents say they wouldn't stay by his bedside and maintain his life if they thought he was suffering, but his doctors say that it is likely that he can and does feel pain.
Then there is the money - cost to the state via NHS and legal fees. However, there is obviously massive support in the country which has enabled his parents to amass over a million pounds for treatment in the US.
This is a moral dilemma for our times.

I may be wrong but thought the specialist medics were flying over here to perform the procedure.

[Vladpie]

The law, considers the welfare of the child over and above everything else in a case like this. It's their opinion that he'd suffer unnecessarily with no real prospect of recovery of any meaningful kind, an awful case and you feel for the parents.

What life could this child have, will never speak, see, hear, move, would anyone want to live this hell?

[Steward]

My opinion is that they should do the decent thing for Charlie and let go, as hard as it is, are they fighting for Charlie or themselves.

[Vladpie]

My opinion is that they should do the decent thing for Charlie and let go, as hard as it is, are they fighting for Charlie or themselves.

That's pretty much my opinion, different when it's your own though.

[sidders]

I may be wrong but thought the specialist medics were flying over here to perform the procedure.

You are wrong, Serious. If permission is granted, he flies to a hospital in the US.

[Vladpie]

They just said that although his body is growing physically due to being fed, his head isn't growing due to his brain not developing, truly tragic for this family but I really think they have to let him go.