More time for ill baby’s parents in Euro court fight

A COUPLE who want to take their terminally ill baby son to the United States for treatment have been given more time to mount a fight in the European Court of Human Rights after exhausting UK legal options.

Chris Gard and Connie Yates, from Bedfont, west London, want 10-month-old Charlie Gard, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, to undergo a therapy trial in America.

They have asked European Court judges in Strasbourg, France, to consider the case after losing battles in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Strasbourg judges say doctors in London should continue providing life support treatment to Charlie until midnight on Monday to give the couple’s lawyers time to submit detailed legal arguments.

“Charlie Gard’s parents filed a request for an urgent interim measure with the European Court,” said a European Court spokeswoman.

“The applicants have not at this stage submitted a full, substantive application.

“At this stage in the procedure, the court cannot prejudice any decision that it may ultimately make on the substance of the case.”

Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where Charlie is being cared for, say therapy proposed by a doctor in the US is experimental and will not help.

They say life support treatment should stop.

A High Court judge in April ruled against a trip to the US and in favour of Great Ormond Street doctors.