Parents ask court to let them take Charlie Gard home to die

LONDON (AP) - Charlie Gard's mother returned to a London court Tuesday to ask a judge to let her and the baby's father take their critically ill son home to die.

Lawyers for the family of the 11-month-old infant and the hospital treating him appeared in Britain's High Court, a day after Charlie's parents said they were dropping their long legal battle to get him experimental treatment.

The family attorney, Grant Armstrong, told a judge that parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates have held discussions with Great Ormond Street Hospital about sending Charlie home, but that there were obstacles. The hospital had suggested a hospice option.

"These are issues which cry out for settlement," Judge Nicholas Francis said.

Attorneys for the hospital said medics wanted to ensure the child was safe, and had asked for a mediator. Charlie's parents had declined.

Charlie suffers from mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a rare genetic disease, and cannot breathe unassisted. The legal case over his care has been in various British courts since March. His parents said Monday accept that his condition has deteriorated to the point where the experimental treatment would not work.

Francis presided over the case revolving around the family's wish to seek medical treatment in the United States. The London children's hospital opposed that, saying it would not help and would cause Charlie suffering.

British courts and the European Court of Human Rights sided with the hospital. The parents abandoned their bid for the experimental treatment on Monday, saying that time had run out for Charlie.

The case drew international attention after Charlie's parents received support from Pope Francis, U.S. President Donald Trump and some members of the U.S. Congress.

U.S.-based anti-abortion activists flew to London to support Charlie's parents, and the case became a flashpoint for opposing views on health care funding, medical intervention, the role of the state and the rights of the child.

Outside court on Monday, Chris Gard said the couple wanted to spend their final hours with their son.

"We are about to do the hardest thing that we will ever have to do, which is to let our beautiful little Charlie go," he said.

Charlie Gard's mother has returned to the High Court for a new hearing a day after abandoning legal action over treatment for the terminally-ill baby.

Lawyers told a judge that Connie Yates and Charlie's father, Chris Gard, wanted decisions about the circumstances in which their son died.

They said the couple wanted to take Charlie home, and indicated that Great Ormond Street Hospital doctors thought such a move would be problematic.

On Monday, Charlie's parents gave up attempts to persuade a judge to allow the 11-month-old to travel to America for experimental therapy.

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Barrister Grant Armstrong, who represents the couple, suggested to Mr Justice Francis that hospital bosses were placing obstacles in Charlie's parents' way.

The judge said Great Ormond Street bosses had indicated that there were practical difficulties.

He said they had suggested a "hospice option".

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Mr Justice Francis said: "These are issues which cry out for settlement."

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Lawyers for Great Ormond Street said bosses had suggested mediation, but added that Charlie's parents had not wished to use the services of a mediator.

They also said medics wanted to avoid hazards or mishaps and wanted to ensure Charlie was safe.

They said practicalities were of the "greatest importance" but Charlie's parents had proposed no clear plan.