The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) yesterday refused to intervene in the case of terminally ill baby Charlie Gard.

The parents of terminally ill baby Charlie Gard wanted their 10-month-old son, who has a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage and was ventilator dependant, to undergo trial treatment in America. 

Charlie is cared for at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and doctors there say the USA treatment proposed was experimental and would not help Charlie. 

The parents had applied to the ECHR after losing their legal case in the English Court System. The Court had ruled that doctors could withdraw life support from the baby, deciding that to do so was in the child’s best interests, and that he should not be taken to the USA for experimental treatment, despite that being what his parents felt was in his best interests.

The Court agreed with the Great Ormond Street medical team that it was in Charlie’s best interests to be given end of life care.

The ECHR decision is final and the parents have now exhausted legal remedies available to them.

If you are in dispute with medical professionals about treatment for a child, contact our specialist Children team for advice.