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[The Albatross]

It's an awful situation, but I can't fault two parents for wanting to prolong the life of their child, and while I'd like to think that I'd follow the same path as what the court suggests, I've never been in that situation so who knows. I think some people are too quick to find faults in grieving people, even if you want to act with this clear-headed, exacting reason at all times, it's not always as easy as it seems.

 

[Azuran]

^Are any of you actually parents?


If, as in this case, there was an active line of research showing promising results, even pre-animal trials I would want to hold on. That's what my emotions tell me.

So you're willing to let someone live in a vegetative state for over 50 years if needed? What if the research you have been holding to to doesn't work out?

There has to be a limit at some point.

 

[hirokazu]

So the parents wanted to torture him cause emotions.

It is understandably really awful for the parents, but I think it's the right choice. Is the child in any pain though? I'm not sure I'd call it torturous if he's just in a vegetative-like state, for example.

 

[Amikami]

Is there a reason to use the word torture. I agree with the court here. I do. And I know someone in this thread will say something to the effect of "Well what do you call.....Blah" but we all know words of the same meaning have very different connotations. Unless I'm missing something, these parents are nothing more than human parents. Yes, emotions got the best of them. Yes they are attempting to make a mistake. I hope one day they can see the morality in finally ending it. But for now they are completely grief stricken.There's other ways to describing that places less negative impressions of the parents losing there baby. Prolonging his suffering would have sound better but torturing?? We don't have to use the word torture as if it's their intention for their child to hurt. It was their intention, as irrational and misguided and full of foolish hope, that their child live. I can't image what they must be going through as parents. i can't imagine what that child had to go through either.

Sad day all around. I hope everyone can somewhat recover from this. Good on the court for doing this, and I'm sure it wasn't easy for those making the decisions either.

Edit: I'll probably opt out of this thread. There are already people arguing this so I'll just leave it hear. I think what we see here is what we see everyone. People simply do not experience the same types and degrees of emotions or apathetic. Gaf is a very logical; (for the most part) forum full of mostly logical and well meaning people, but being so detached to some issue that gets discussed with a logical mindset makes members appear empathetic and incapable of seeing different perspective and understanding basic and natural human flaws. On top of that, people in general talk about issues they have never experienced (I'm assuming and hoping a good number of you all haven't) as if they would do the right thing.

 

[AntraxSuicide]

To be honest, I'm shocked we'd allow the doctor here in the States to try this in any situation. If you haven't even tested it on rats, you shouldn't be able to subject humans to it.

It's kinda gross to essentially look for a goner somewhere to poke and prod. Certainly not a child.

 

[Aaronrules380]

Is there a reason to use the word torture. I agree with the court here. I do. And I know someone in this thread will say something to the effect of "Well what do you call.....Blah" but we all know words of the same meaning have very different connotations. Unless I'm missing something, these parents are nothing more than human parents. Yes, emotions got the best of them. Yes they are attempting to make a mistake. I hope one day they can see the morality in finally ending it. But for now they are completely grief stricken.There's other ways to describing that places less negative impressions of the parents losing there baby. Prolonging his suffering would have sound better but torturing?? We don't have to use the word torture as if it's their intention for their child to hurt. It was their intention, as irrational and misguided and full of foolish hope, that their child live. I can't image what they must be going through as parents. i can't imagine what that child had to go through either.

Sad day all around. I hope everyone can somewhat recover from this. Good on the court for doing this, and I'm sure it wasn't easy for those making the decisions either.

I don't think anyone (or at least, not many of us) here thinks the parent's have bad intentions or are evil or awful parents. More that they're simply being irrational at this point and that if they got the way it would only be harming the child. It's understandable why they feel the way it is, but that doesn't make them right

 

[Raguel]

Right well ignoring this fingers in the ears "I can't hear you" post.


Here are some facts for everyone in this thread to read:

Charlie Gard was being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital - widely regarded as the best childrens hospital on the planet. They specialise in dealing with children that have extremely rare health conditions.
It was their experts who first ruled against any further attempts at prolonging Charlie's life.
In their own words treatment would "continue to cause Charlie significant harm".

The case then went to the European Court of Human Rights which concluded that Charlie was "being exposed to continued pain, suffering and distress" and undergoing experimental treatment with "no prospects of success... would offer no benefit".

As for Charlie's condition:


That's not from some tabloid, it's from Great Ormond Street Hospital themselves - you can find more information about the situation on their website: http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions-about-charlie-gard-court-case
Does that sound like a good quality of life to you?

Furthermore this treatment (which has never been tested on mice let alone Humans) will not cure the condition, it will just prolong his life. Again he's still be in the same condition he's currently in.


It's a horrible terrible situation and my thoughts are with the parents but multiple doctors and medical professionals have ruled against prolonging his life any further for a reason.
Again,the dedicated section on the Great Ormond Street Hospital website is informative:
http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions-about-charlie-gard-court-case

Haha this. It's like people here arguing that an experimental cure would save him and that courts shouldn't interfere didn't bother to fucking read the full details of what happened. Just went with emotions and then straight to blame, knee jerk reactions and one extreme to the next. It was the fucking doctors who were the one that issued the god damned go ahead to pull the plug and not the courts. The court was there to uphold their decision after extensive and thorough expert analysis. There were checks and balances. The court didn't just say fuck you all we're killing the kid.

Listen, it's completely horrible what the parents are going through but there was not one fucking shred of evidence that the kid would return to any semblance of living. He'll still be brain dead. He still won't function. He still won't be alive in any sense of the word. He won't have a life because he never had one. The poor child has been through hell like his parents. Let him go.

 

[Amikami]

I don't think anyone (or at least, not many of us) here thinks the parent's have bad intentions or are evil or awful parents. More that they're simply being irrational at this point and that if they got the way it would only be harming the child. It's understandable why they feel the way it is, but that doesn't make them right

Of course not. But using the word torture isn't by accident. We all feel for the child obviously. We should. I'm saying try and take the perspective of the parents. Nearly everyone has acted irrationally due to emotion. Losing a child must be one of the most emotional experiences on earth. We all know the parents are irrational. My issue with some of us in this forum is that many of us take on a preachy or judgmental nature in these kind of issues when we are so far removed from them. Again, torture isn't necessarily and it has a particularly strong negative connotation. Maybe gaffers using the word weren't thinking about it when they wrote it but the judgement is there. Believe it or not, words are powerful and that power goes beyond the content of their dictionary meaning.

Yes it's understandable why gaf feels the way that they do, but we should take a step back and chill. Torture is superfluous and insensitive. The parents are already grieving. They don't need to read up on reports of the court decision on their son and find a bunch of people saying they tortured their son. Jesus.

As I said above, gaf is a mostly reasonable forum that tries it's best to operate on reason and rationale and logic. That's one of the things that makes this forum so great, but it also gets in the way of perspective taking because it tend to bare a better than thou attitude. I'm sure many of us would have attempted to make better decision but these parents didn't and I can understand why in this situation, they couldn't see it. I can see why the parents felt what they felt just as I can see why gaf feels as they feel.

 

[Dylan Sexbang]

The child will not live a life, it will never get better, it will not be able to crawl, walk, cry, eat, hell even breath on its own. The parents can prolong its life as long as they could, but at the end of the day- the child will just be a damaged brain, in a body that died long ago, forever trapped in a never ending hell hooked up to a foray of machines and endless experimental medical procedures only enduring this horrifying nightmare of a life, if you can even call it a life.

The parents are being selfish because they "can't lose their child", but goddamn it- if they truly love their child, let it go. Because until it's heart beats its final beat, every single moment of "life" will be borderline torture.

Prolonging the inevitable isn't what's best for the child, and just because they can't withstand the loss of their child doesn't give them the right to extend its agony. They have to accept that they aren't trying to drag out its life for the child, they're doing it for their own pain. And it isn't fair, it isn't right, and no parent should ever have to bury their child, but it is their job as parents to shoulder this burden so the child can be free of this mortal coil.

 

[cpp_is_king]

The alternative outcome is basically the Jahi McMath case, and I'm pretty sure it's universally agreed upon that those parents are out of their minds (granted, losing part of your sanity is understandable when you lose a child)

 

[AntoneM]

Of course not. But using the word torture isn't by accident. We all feel for the child obviously. We should. I'm saying try and take the perspective of the parents. Nearly everyone has acted irrationally due to emotion. Losing a child must be one of the most emotional experiences on earth. We all know the parents are irrational. My issue with some of us in this forum is that many of us take on a preachy or judgmental nature in these kind of issues when we are so far removed from them. Again, torture isn't necessarily and it has a particularly strong negative connotation. Maybe gaffers using the word weren't thinking about it when they wrote it but the judgement is there. Believe it or not, words are powerful and that power goes beyond the content of their dictionary meaning.

Yes it's understandable why gaf feels the way that they do, but we should take a step back and chill. Torture is superfluous and insensitive. The parents are already grieving. They don't need to read up on reports of the court decision on their son and find a bunch of people saying they tortured their son. Jesus.

As I said above, gaf is a mostly reasonable forum that tries it's best to operate on reason and rationale and logic. That's one of the things that makes this forum so great, but it also gets in the way of perspective taking because it tend to bare a better than thou attitude. I'm sure many of us would have attempted to make better decision but these parents didn't and I can understand why in this situation, they couldn't see it. I can see why the parents felt what they felt just as I can see why gaf feels as they feel.

I generally agree with you. But, I've been with this forum since 1999 for better or worse and it actually used to be worse than it is now. So, I guess the best action that can be taken is to call out egregious actions; or, otherwise try to ignore some of the actions you describe; or, to skip the shitty posts and assume they are made out and ignorance (and know that you can't fix all of that).

 

[LincolnSixEcho]

I'm a parent of three great kids. The court made the right call, based on the facts and advice of this child's physicians. My take on it, is if my child cannot live in a natural state, where they don't have consciousness and need machines to perform their natural functions for life, and it's a permanent condition, then it's time to let go. Its not natural to keep a brain-dead person going on in that kind of existence. I myself would abhor it if it was me in that state.

 

[Mr. E. Yis]

I'd wager that being the child is more painful

This. Why there is more empathy for parents losing their child, than to the same child being tortured for months, I don't know why.
It's ironic and sad that some people think that anyone who agrees with the court decision (in the best interest of the actual child) are the 'cold' and unempathetic ones.
Ya, that reminded me also I definitely need to do a DNR sometime soon in case I am in a sudden accident, and people around me want to prolong my pain because they cant say goodbye.

 

[The_Kid]

The question is, at what cost are you prolonging someone's life? Its not always best that parents have free reign in these decisions because they can't always take a logical approach.

 

[Amikami]

I generally agree with you. But, I've been with this forum since 1999 for better or worse and it actually used to be worse than it is now. So, I guess the best action that can be taken is to call out egregious actions; or, otherwise try to ignore some of the actions you describe; or, to skip the shitty posts and assume they are made out and ignorance (and know that you can't fix all of that).

Well yes. Your suggestions are basically actions I've taken. I may either go on with my day or take it upon myself to comment. I don't assume most gaffers are mean-spirited at all and nothing nor nobody is perfect but I thought it right to finally point out one of gafs major flaws, not that it's gotten worse per se, but I've gotten more aware of it. I don't have any intentions of dumping neogaf.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

The parents had a possibility of taking their child to the US for some treatment that they felt would help their child. They felt, based on what they know about this information, that it could possibly help him and give him a better life than he has now. Is that a fallacy and completely wrong? It might very well be. But it's what they feel they should do and I for one feel they should be allowed to try it.

People continue to throw around the term "children are not property" and yet the second a parent doesn't do something in the child's best interest, someone like CPS gets called and they get their children taken away. So they have to do everything they can to give them a good life but when the doctors all agree that there's very little hope, they just have to say okay and not be allowed to still try. That's what I'm getting at. At least allow them to do what they can and make their own choices. If they're just sitting in the hospital and pleading to not take the child off life support with no plan of action, then of course, step in and try to help them make another decision.

But I'm speaking to an audience that clearly shares the opposite opinion and I'm okay with that. I just don't care for the condescending remarks (or questions) that clearly are trying to invoke a response that seems will get brushed aside.

The response will get "brushed aside" because in this case it's very clearly just a purely emotional one and in no way in the best interests of the child if you read all the information and find out the extent of the brain damage.

What was far more condescending was your OP which couldn't see any way a decision by the courts supported by doctor's advice on what was best for the child was so terrible. It certainly didn't feel to me like you started this thread with an open mind.

 

[StickSoldier]

I reckon that parents that are desperate make horrific choices for children quite often that backfire, putting the child in more pain and suffering than they deserve. This isn't about one person telling the parents that there's nothing more that can save it, it's a multitude of doctors who are stating that nothing is going to change or be done.

I'm sorry but if parents are refusing to do what's right for the child because they don't want to lose him from their lives, sometimes another person that isn't thinking off emotions has to intervene and do what's right for the child, not the parents. Regardless if parents loves their children, they can only take the pain away from their child to an extent. A parents love doesn't remove suffering and pain that a child goes through when issues like this arise.

In this case, the parents can't do anything to save their baby, but refuse to do the right thing out of sheer love.. It's sad, but think of the life the infant will have if they continue to let him live. It's awful.

 

[Randam]

ah, the good old "are you a parent?", "do you have Kids?", "If you were a parent you would understand." reponses.


what is the difference between having Kids and being a kid of someone? having parents? having a brother or a sister?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOP2aaWUwzI

 

[norinrad]

Too complex, the parents, doctor's and all involved are all going through a very difficult period. Hopefully they can all find some peace. I feel for the parents.

 

[ShironRedshift]

you're looking at it from the point of view of the parents. people have the right to die with dignity. Treating the kid like a lab rat in the face of overwhelming medical advice is too much.

Nah. I know it's just an expression but to be clear, letting the kid live would be treating him worse than a lab rat. Scientific experiments involving animals have extremely strict standards for how you care and treat the animals. You're not allowed to cause the animals used anymore pain or suffering than absolutely 100% necessary, and have to do your best to make sure their as comfortable and pain-free as possible. If this were an animal experiment, because of those ethics and standards there would be absolutely no question of the decision that would be reached: with no chance of improvement or success of any treatment, euthanizing the animal would certainly be the call.

In any case, that aside, I can't begin to imagine what this whole situation is like for the parents. But that of course is why the courts exist to begin with: because it's naturally impossible for parents to make a decision in this type of situation. How could any parent make the decision to just let their child die, even in a situation where that is the correct decision? For the vast majority of parents in the world, that's the hardest decision they could possibly ever be asked to make. It's just an impossible thing to even ask. And that's why the courts exist: to weight the respective needs of parents and child, and make the best possible call given all the information available.

A terrible situation, but I understand why all reacted the way they did and feel the correct decision was reached. Death is a terrible, permanent thing, but all deserve the ability to die with grace and dignity, and no matter how terrible death itself is, no matter how well-intentioned, inflicting all kinds of pain and suffering to another for not even a 1% chance of improvement, nevermind survival, just seems untenable. In my mind, there are some dates which are worse than death, and inflicting unecessary pain and suffering without the slightest chance if even improving an individual's condition is one of them.

Of course, I get the parents' point of view and why they acted as they did, but like I said, that's why the courts exist and stepped in, precisely because of how impossible a situation that is for them. May he rest in peace and the parents find some inner peace now that it's been decided.

 

[Orbis]

Been following this case for a while as it's been in the UK headlines. I have massive sympathy for the parents as, while not exactly the same, have been asked to agree to a 'do not resuscitate' order for my mum. It's a horrible decision because you feel like you're giving up and maybe they don't want you to.

The medical case here is very clearly that the child will not recover. It is a battle that can't realistically be won and I feel sad that nobody could convince the parents of this, to the point they saw everyone else as the enemy. Love does silly things but they need help to accept this and move on.

 

[Anticol]

Because there is nothing, ever, on this earth more painful than losing your child.

If you were a parent you would understand, I don't agree with their choice, he was hurting and they had to let go.

But the idea of letting your child die is worse than your own death, it's hell.

This will haunt both of them for the rest of their lives, I feel immense sympathy for them.

Yes it is hard but sometimes you have to think what is the best for your love one than being selfish and just care about your emotions.

 

[LostCaress]

No matter what you want your child to fight. To try to live. You don't ever give up on your child ever and some people will hope and pray and strive for a 1 in 484828829482829929585883829295882717378488828284 chance of a miracle that defies all the experts theoretical and practical models. Because it's your child and you want them to live.

I'm not an advocate of the state deciding when my child dies.

Well there's a 1 in 484828829482829929585883829295882717378488828284 chance the euthanasia drugs will reverse the disease and cure the kid 100%, even the brain damage, so would you try that?

 

[YourMaster]

People continue to throw around the term "children are not property" and yet the second a parent doesn't do something in the child's best interest, someone like CPS gets called and they get their children taken away. So they have to do everything they can to give them a good life but when the doctors all agree that there's very little hope, they just have to say okay and not be allowed to still try. That's what I'm getting at. At least allow them to do what they can and make their own choices. If they're just sitting in the hospital and pleading to not take the child off life support with no plan of action, then of course, step in and try to help them make another decision.

And that's where you're missing the point. They are not doing everything they can to give him a good live - even though that's their wish - they are doing everything they can to prolong the suffering. They are horrible monsters that are causing the suffering of a small baby because they don't have what it takes to make a hard decision.
As a parent you can make a lot of your 'own choices', but you can't and shouldn't be able to make choices that seriously harm your child, especially against the expert recommendations of many, many highly qualified doctors.

 

[Elandyll]

Why on Earth would you want to inflict this to your baby... It's...

I can't, and yes I am a father of two.

 

[azyless]

Good decision.

 

[RSP]

ah, the good old "are you a parent?", "do you have Kids?", "If you were a parent you would understand." reponses.


what is the difference between having Kids and being a kid of someone? having parents? having a brother or a sister?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOP2aaWUwzI

Well, having a child does change your perspective on a lot of things.

The Family guy video is making fun of the fact that some people constantly bring it up, but you have to imagine that everything that is most important to you in your life (even yourself) becomes less important to you when your child is born.

It is hugely different from having a mom, dad, brother or sister.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

The baby is brain dead, so unless I missed some amazing new medical advances that are proven to reserve that, this is the right call.

Parents are too attached to make rational decisions, sucks to say it but there does come a point where you have to let go. Chasing after experimental procedures so you can keep some sliver of hope alive isn't the right way to go about this.

We're more humane to animals than we are to people who are often in a lot more pain and suffering a lot more because we let our emotions and attachments get in the way of doing what's right.

 

[danthefan]

No.




Any "terrifying possibiilties" of pursuing extraordinary treatment are child's play compared to the terrifying possibilities of a governmental organization deciding when enough treatment is enough and overruling the family's wishes to get treatment elsewhere.

Nonsense. The medical industry is one of the most tightly controlled there is. Every single pill sold is the government deciding what treatments are ok. They're denying the child going for this other treatment because it isn't a treatment at all, it's totally and utterly untested and unproven.

 

[Kazuhira]

I don't have children so i don't know what it feels like but i won't judge the kid's parent.
As a random internet person,it's easy for me say what they should've done with a completely lack of empathy.
We humans are emotional beings so logic and reason is not everyhing,maybe they still had hope to save him,who knows what kind of thoughts would cross my mind in a situation like this.

 

[MarkMclovin]

It's the right decision, but I certainly don't blame the parents for trying.

RIP little guy.

 

[KarneeKarnay]

It's the right decision, but I certainly don't blame the parents for trying.

RIP little guy.

This. Truly tragic and I wouldn't wish this situation on anyone.

 

[Greddleok]

I think this statement is rather telling of the "US experimental treament"

She said ”if we don't consider something is in the child's best interest" then they would not do it, but ”in America, provided parents have the money, the financial means to access care, doctors will do anything parents would like to be done regardless of what is happening to the child."

In other words, in America, if you can afford it, the doctors will milk you by trying hypothetical treatments - because please, experimental implies is much further along than we tested this in a cell culture dish and it sorta worked.

 

[DR2K]

The court stopped the parents from continuing to prolong the suffering of their child. If you're terrified about government intervention, realize they do this all the time.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

I don't have children so i don't know what it feels like but i won't judge the kid's parent.
As a random internet person,it's easy for me say what they should've done with a completely lack of empathy.
We humans are emotional beings so logic and reason is not everyhing,maybe they still had hope to save him,who knows what kind of thoughts would cross my mind in a situation like this.

Empathy doesn't just extend to the suffering parents. What they are trying to do is unnecessarily cruel, trying to keep him alive because that's easier than dealing with the reality of the situation. He's brain dead and there's no hope of recovery, they are being selfish in trying to keep him alive and further his suffering.

 

[Moobabe]

Right well ignoring this fingers in the ears "I can't hear you" post.


Here are some facts for everyone in this thread to read:

Charlie Gard was being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital - widely regarded as the best childrens hospital on the planet. They specialise in dealing with children that have extremely rare health conditions.
It was their experts who first ruled against any further attempts at prolonging Charlie's life.
In their own words treatment would "continue to cause Charlie significant harm".

The case then went to the European Court of Human Rights which concluded that Charlie was "being exposed to continued pain, suffering and distress" and undergoing experimental treatment with "no prospects of success... would offer no benefit".

As for Charlie's condition:


That's not from some tabloid, it's from Great Ormond Street Hospital themselves - you can find more information about the situation on their website: http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions-about-charlie-gard-court-case
Does that sound like a good quality of life to you?

Furthermore this treatment (which has never been tested on mice let alone Humans) will not cure the condition, it will just prolong his life. Again he's still be in the same condition he's currently in.


It's a horrible terrible situation and my thoughts are with the parents but multiple doctors and medical professionals have ruled against prolonging his life any further for a reason.
Again,the dedicated section on the Great Ormond Street Hospital website is informative:
http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions-about-charlie-gard-court-case

This is the post to read guys. GOSH are among some of the most incredible people on the planet - I'm sure they didn't make the recommendation lightly.

 

[Ushay]

Came into this thread expecting support for a government denying parents a last-ditch chance to save their child's life. Never change, GAF.

Spoiler

Please change, GAF.

I know right, really disheartening. Being a parent I can understand why they fought, nothing is more dear than your own child's life.

God knows aim going to fight every last inch for mine. My prayers go with these unfortunate parents.

 

[Carl]

Yup, right call

I've always said if I'm having a child that I know will be born severely disabled then I'd rather not have it. This is beyond being severely disabled and is really barely even alive. Death is a mercy in that situation

 

[Rmagnus]

I know right, really disheartening. Being a parent I can understand why they fought, nothing is more dear than your own child's life.

God knows aim going to fight every last inch for mine. My prayers go with these unfortunate parents.

Even if your child is in great pain and suffering and his or her brain is damaged beyond repair? I mean did you even read what is going on with the baby? But no I don't care if child is in tremendous pain I will do everything to prolong his suffering. That's your way of showing your love? Jesus I hate to be your enemy if that's how you show love.

 

[RangerX]

Weird OP.The doctors were absolutely right in this case. The child had no quality of life.

 

[CyclopsRock]

I'm quite surprised at home many responses are so quick to say that this is the right call and the parents need to just let him go. How many of you are parents and have children? Is this something you honestly think you'd be able to do if you were in this situation?

Probably not, which is exactly why there are checks and balances to stop parents doing this.

 

[H.Protagonist]

Really feel for the parents. You will do anything, try anything, to save your child's life and sometimes that can blind you to the awful reality of the situation. Don't blame them at all, and I can't imagine the agony of being told by the government that I have to give up. Hoping they can find some closure after this and the baby some measure of peace.

 

[Coxy100]

Weird OP.The doctors were absolutely right in this case. The child had no quality of life.

Not really weird - people have different opinions.

As a parent I can see why the parents are doing what they're doing. it must be so hard.

Feel so sorry for them - but ultimately from the outside you have a clear perspective and it is sadly the right call.

 

[SephiZack]

Man, there are so many scientific experts here. Didn't know so many people on GAF had a scientific background.

You really want to make the kid suffer through experimental science just to please some selfish parents?

No matter what you want your child to fight. To try to live. You don't ever give up on your child ever and some people will hope and pray and strive for a 1 in 484828829482829929585883829295882717378488828284 chance of a miracle that defies all the experts theoretical and practical models. Because it's your child and you want them to live.

I'm not an advocate of the state deciding when my child dies.

Do you realize that it's an experimental procedure that hasn't even been tested on animals and if there is a 1 in 484828829482829929585883829295882717378488828284 chances of it working, it means that there are infinitely more chances that the kid will suffer even more than without treatment?

What if in that 99.99999999% of not working, 50% of the time the kid would have received more brain damage that caused his pain to increase.

https://www.gofundme.com/please-help-to-save-charlies-life

Even in the slight chance this worked, you're not going to fix brain damage by fixing the kid's mitochondria

 

[Romez]

I know right, really disheartening. Being a parent I can understand why they fought, nothing is more dear than your own child's life.

God knows aim going to fight every last inch for mine. My prayers go with these unfortunate parents.

Not being able to eat and breathe on his own, not being able to move his arms and legs or even blink, being partially deaf and brain damaged is a life saved to you?

 

[Chris1]

I'd probably be in the parents shoes if it was my kid but I think the right call was made

 

[Grug]

What an incredibly simplistic, mean-spirited way to treat the loss of a parent's child. What is with this forum and its lack of empathy?

Exactly. So little fucking nuance most of the time. Everything is so goddamn binary.

Turning off life support sounds like the right thing to do in this situation, but as a dad I absolutely ache for them. My mind can't even fully put myself in their position - it shuts the thoughts off because the full measure of them it is just too difficult to fully conceive

I noticed a few people saying "you don't need to have kids to understand". I hate to adopt the cliche... but unless you have kids, you really, really don't.

 

[Rmagnus]

Exactly. So little fucking nuance most of the time. Everything is so goddamn binary.

Turning off life support sounds like the right thing to do in this situation, but as a dad I absolutely ache for them. My mind can't even fully put myself in their position - it shuts the thoughts off because they are just too difficult to fully conceive.

I noticed a few people saying "you don't need to have kids to understand". I hate to adopt the cliche... but unless you have kids, you really, really don't.

You don't need to have kids to have empathy. Yet for some reason the so called parents only have empathy towards the parents and it seems no shit is given to the suffering baby.

 

[wesleyshark]

I think it's the right call to have been made, as unfortunate and devastating as that is for the parents.

 

[nekkid]

Exactly. So little fucking nuance most of the time. Everything is so goddamn binary.

Turning off life support sounds like the right thing to do in this situation, but as a dad I absolutely ache for them. My mind can't even fully put myself in their position - it shuts the thoughts off because the full measure of them it is just too difficult to fully conceive

I noticed a few people saying "you don't need to have kids to understand". I hate to adopt the cliche... but unless you have kids, you really, really don't.

Completely agree. Especially the bolded part in circumstances involving heavy emotion.

My heart breaks for them.