Charlie Gard: judge to decide on parent's 'last wish' that son can die at home 
 
 A judge will decide on Wednesday whether to grant the “last wish” of Charlie Gard’s parents and allow their son to go home to die. 
 
 
 
 A day after Connie Yates and Chris Gard ended their opposition to the removal of their critically ill baby’s life support system, the couple returned to court on Tuesday to ask that Great Ormond Street hospital’s objections to him being allowed to go home be overruled. 
 
 During another tense hearing, the court heard the objections related to the impracticality of providing the intensive care 11-month-old Charlie is receiving in hospital at home for the “period of days” his parents want him kept alive. 
 
 Timeline Charlie Gard Show Hide Birth Charlie Gard is born a “perfectly healthy” baby at full term and at a “healthy weight”. First symptoms His parents notice he is less able to lift his head and support himself than other babies of a similar age. Doctors discover that he has a rare inherited disease – infantile onset encephalomyopathy mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDDS). 
 
 Hospital Charlie has become lethargic and his breathing is shallow. He is transferred to Great Ormond Street hospital for children in London on 11 October. 
 
 Crowdfunding A crowdfunding page is set up to help finance trial therapy in the United States. Request to high court Great Ormond Street hospital bosses ask the high court judge, Mr Justice Francis, to rule that life-support treatment should stop. First ruling The judge says doctors can stop providing life-support treatment after analysing the case at a hearing in the family division of the high court. 
 
 Appeal Charlie’s parents ask three court of appeal judges to consider the case but less than three weeks later their appeal is dismissed. Supreme court ruling Charlie’s parents lose their fight in the supreme court. European court of human rights The case proceeds to the European court of human rights but a week later it is announced that the European judges have refused to intervene. A Great Ormond Street spokeswoman says there will be “no rush” to change Charlie’s care and says there will be “careful planning and discussion”. More time It is thought that Charlie’s life-support is due to be switched off but his parents say that Great Ormond Street doctors have agreed to “give us a little bit more time” with Charlie. They ask for privacy “while we prepare to say the final goodbye”. Interventions Pope Francis and the US president, Donald Trump, intervene; the former calling for the couple to be allowed to “accompany and treat their child until the end”, saying he has followed the case with “affection and sadness”. Vatican hospital Bambino Gesu, the Vatican’s children’s hospital in Rome, offers to take Charlie in. Return to high court Charlie’s parents return to the high court and ask Mr Justice Francis to carry out fresh analysis of the case. The judge says he will consider any new evidence. Dr Michio Hirano The New York neurology professor who offered to treat Charlie travels to London to examine the little boy, discuss the case with Great Ormond Street doctors and other clinicians and examine fresh scans. New scan The lawyer representing Great Ormond Street says the new scan makes for “sad reading”. Abuse Great Ormond Street chairwoman Mary MacLeod says doctors and nurses have been subjected to abuse in the street and received thousands of threatening messages. Charlie’s parents had previously urged people not to send abuse to Great Ormond Street staff. The end of the legal fight The judge’s decision was initially expected the next day but a lawyer representing Charlie’s parents say they are ending their legal fight over his treatment. 
 
 But Grant Armstrong, the lawyer for Yates and Gard, said he was at pains to understand why the hospital sought to deny them their “last wish”. 
 
 He said: “We struggle with the difficulties which the hospital has placed in the way of the parents’ wish to have a period of time probably a relatively short period of time … before the final act in Charlie’s short life.” 
 
 The infant’s parents abandoned their fight to allow him to be flown to the US for experimental treatment on Monday, having determined it was no longer viable. 
 
 But Armstrong said the couple had been forced to return to the high court in London on Tuesday for the “most difficult, emotional part of the case, [the] circumstances in which Charlie’s passing will be conducted”. 
 
 He claimed that, having agreed in principle in April that it would be possible for Charlie to be flown to the US for treatment, it made no sense for Great Ormond Street hospital (Gosh) to say the child could not be taken to the family home in west London or that of one of their relatives – the parents’ two preferred options. 
 
 But Katie Gollop QC, for Gosh, said the flight to the US would have required a specialist intensive care team, which would not be available in a home setting for days on end. 
 
 She said the hospital was willing to fulfil the parental wishes if it was “practical, possible and safe, and in Charlie’s interests so that he comes to no harm”. 
 
 Victoria Butler-Cole, the lawyer instructed by Charlie’s guardian, said the options with respect to him dying at home were withdrawing ventilation within “a matter of hours” or after “a period of days”. 
 
 But she said the latter option was unrealistic because it would require “replicating intensive care outside an intensive care unit”, including a team of three doctors. 
 
 Gosh said it was unable to provide such a team or source one from anywhere in the country. The court heard it was difficult to get medical professionals to provide such care at home because of the risk of complications and the fact that they would not be covered by insurance. 
 
 Speaking after the hearing, Yates pleaded for any paediatric intensive care doctor to come forward to help them. She said: “We promised Charlie every day we would take him home. It seems really upsetting after everything we’ve been through to deny us this.” 
 
 Gollop said Gosh had identified a hospice that was willing to take Charlie, which she said had been difficult given the publicity surrounding the case. But, as Yates wept and held her head in her hands, Armstrong said that although that was preferential to Charlie dying in hospital it would still be seen as “brutality” if he were only there for a few hours. 
 
 Describing it as “the most difficult, painful process for the parents”, Mr Justice Francis urged the parties to resolve their differences outside the courtroom. 
 
 Quick guide Charlie Gard and mitochondrial disease Show Hide What is wrong with Charlie Gard? Charlie has a very rare mitochondrial disease caused by a genetic defect inherited from his parents. The official diagnosis is infantile onset encephalomyopathic mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, referred to generally as “MDDS”. What is mitochondrial disease? Mitochondria supply energy to the cells in the human body. Mitochondrial failure leads to cellular injury and cell death. When multiple cells fail, the body’s organs are damaged and shut down. These diseases are usually fatal and kill children, although sometimes they don’t show up until adulthood. Where they don’t kill, they cause serious permanent brain damage. What is the damage to Charlie? Charlie is in intensive care at Great Ormond Street hospital in London, the leading children’s hospital in the UK. Life support machines are keeping him alive. The hospital says that he has severe brain damage, cannot move or breathe by himself, is deaf and has epilepsy. It says his heart, liver and kidneys are also affected. His eyelids cannot stay open and because of the weakness of the muscles, his eyes point in different directions and the damage to the brain will not allow his sight to develop. 
 
 As it became apparent there was no prospect of that happening, he said given what he had heard about the need for an intensive care team, were he deciding the issue on the civil standard of proof he would rule out the prospect of Charlie being ventilated for days, whether in a hospice or at home. 
 
 But he went on to say that “given the gravity of the situation and the need to be as human as I can” he would give Charlie’s parents more time to make their case and make a final decision, in the absence of any unexpected developments, on Wednesday afternoon. 
 
 At the end of the often acrimonious hearing, during which Butler-Cole told the court that the latest disagreement was a reflection of what happens when there was “such a fundamental breakdown in communications”, Armstrong, who was in tears in court on Tuesday, angrily confronted Gollop. ||||| Image copyright PA Image caption Charlie's rare disease has left him unable to cry and made him deaf 
 
 The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the parents of sick baby Charlie Gard, over plans to take him to the US for treatment. 
 
 Chris Gard and Connie Yates want the 10-month old, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, to undergo a therapy trial. 
 
 His mother broke down and screamed as the decision was announced. 
 
 Charlie can stay on life support for 24 hours to give the European Court of Human Rights a chance to give a ruling. 
 
 He has been in intensive care at Great Ormond Street Hospital since October last year. 
 
 The hospital said therapy proposed by a doctor in America is experimental and that Charlie's life support treatment should stop. 
 
 Charlie has mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a rare disorder that affects the genetic building blocks that give energy to cells. 
 
 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Family spokesperson: "Chris and Connie are absolutely devastated, they are inconsolable" 
 
 'Very sad day' 
 
 The family division of the High Court agreed two months ago that the hospital could withdraw Charlie's life support. 
 
 His parents have raised more than £1.3m through an internet appeal, in the hope they could take him to America for an experimental treatment. 
 
 A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital said it was a "very sad day" for Charlie's parents and family. 
 
 "It is never easy when medical and judicial opinion goes against the wishes of the parents but our first responsibility at Great Ormond Street Hospital remains to put the interests of the child first and foremost. 
 
 "It is also hugely difficult for any clinically-trained professional to be asked to treat a child who has no chance of survival or even improvement in his quality of life", the hospital added. 
 
 "For now, our priority is to ensure Charlie remains well cared for and to offer our support to Charlie's devoted parents at this distressing time." 
 
 BBC News correspondent Helena Lee, at the Supreme Court 
 
 Image copyright PA Image caption Following the ruling Ms Yates screamed outside court: "How can they do this to us?" 
 
 Friends of the family stood outside the court ahead of the hearing holding pictures of the 10-month-old and chanting 'Save Charlie Gard' and "give him a chance". 
 
 Inside his parents waited for the decision. This is the final court in the UK able to hear their case. 
 
 Justice Lady Hale began by praising their devotion, as parents we would all want to do the same she said. 
 
 But as judges and not as parents they were concerned with the legal position and the proposed appeal she said was refused. 
 
 Charlie's mother Connie left the court wailing and shouting "they've put us through hell". 
 
 Chris, Charlie's father, held his head in hands and cried. 
 
 This may though not be the end. They want to try and take their case to the European Court of Human Rights. 
 
 Katie Gollop QC, leading Great Ormond Street's legal team, said the case was "sad" but not "exceptional". 
 
 She said the couple seemed to be suggesting that "parents always know best". 
 
 "Fundamentally the parents don't accept the facts," she said. "They don't accept that nucleoside therapy will be futile." 
 
 The court had earlier heard how Charlie could not could see, hear, move, cry or swallow. 
 
 Ms Gollop added: "He is on a machine which causes his lungs to move up and down because his lungs cannot go up and down. 
 
 "Charlie's condition affords him no benefit." 
 
 Following the ruling Ms Yates screamed outside court: "How can they do this to us?" 
 
 "They are lying. Why don't they tell the truth?", she said. 
 
 Charlie's life support machine will continue until Friday at 17:00 BST to give judges in Strasbourg, France, time to look at the case, the court said. ||||| The video will start in 8 Cancel 
 
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 Charlie Gard has died today, less than 24 hours after the final stage of his distraught parents' court battle came to an agonising close. 
 
 The 11-month-old was born on August 4, 2016, with mitochondrial depletion syndrome - an incredibly rare condition that causes muscle weakness and brain damage. 
 
 It forced him to spend most of his short life in hospital. 
 
 Charlie's mother, Connie Yates, said tonight: "Our beautiful little boy has gone, we are so proud of you Charlie." 
 
 On Monday July 24, Charlie's parents Connie and Chris Gard abandoned attempts to persuade a judge to let him travel to America for experimental treatment, after a difficult five-month legal battle. 
 
 (Image: PA) 
 
 A Great Ormond Street Hospital spokesperson, said: “Everyone at Great Ormond Street Hospital sends their heartfelt condolences to Charlie’s parents and loved-ones at this very sad time.” 
 
 In a heartbreaking statement on Monday, the devastated couple told the High Court they had decided to let their little boy go after his illness had deteriorated "to the point of no return". 
 
 Connie said: "We only wanted to give him a chance of life. 
 
 “We will always know in our hearts that we did our very best for Charlie and we hope he is proud of us. 
 
 “Mummy and Daddy love you so much Charlie, we always have, we always will.” 
 
 (Image: PA) 
 
 (Image: Featureworld) 
 
 They said they wanted to spend their "last precious moments" with their child until life support for the terminally-ill tot would be withdrawn. 
 
 Connie and Chris fought to be allowed to take their son home for his final days, but a judge decided hospice care was in Charlie's best interests. 
 
 Yesterday, Mr Justice Francis approved a plan which would see Charlie ''inevitably'' die shortly after being moved to a hospice and having his life support treatment withdrawn. 
 
 (Image: Featureworld) 
 
 The little boy had survived two previous plans to switch off his life support machine. 
 
 His parents, of Bedfont, south-west London, had asked the judge, Mr Justice Francis, to rule that he should be allowed to undergo a therapy trial in New York. 
 
 But doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where the baby was being treated, said the therapy would not help and that life-support treatment should stop. 
 
 (Image: PA) 
 
 Mr Justice Francis in April ruled in favour of Great Ormond Street and said Charlie should be allowed to die with dignity. 
 
 Charlie's dad Chris said: "Put simply, this is about a sweet, gorgeous, innocent little boy who was born with a rare disease who had a real, genuine chance at life and a family who loved him so very dearly - and that's why we fought so hard for him. 
 
 "We are so sorry that we couldn't save you. 
 
 "Sweet dreams baby. Sleep tight our beautiful little boy. Charlie Matthew William Gard. Our hero."
– Charlie Gard's death seems inevitable, but what is yet to be decided is how it will occur, with the infant's parents and London's Great Ormond Street Hospital still at odds. A lawyer says Connie Yates and Chris Gard, who on Monday ended their legal battle to move their 11-month-old son to the US for experimental treatment of mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, want to take Charlie home where he can die in "tranquility" after "a short period of time," report the Telegraph and Reuters. In court on Tuesday, however, the lawyer cited "difficulties the hospital has placed in the way of the parents' wish," per the Guardian, which notes Charlie had been expected to be taken off life support at the hospital within a few days. A rep countered that the hospital would be willing to grant the parents' request if "practical, possible, and safe, and in Charlie's interests so that he comes to no harm." However, she says Charlie's parents have proposed no plan and the hospital is unable to provide a medical team to care for Charlie for the amount of time requested at home; the exact time requested isn't known, but Charlie's parents previously said the boy wasn't expected to live to see his first birthday on Aug. 4. The hospital rep also says Charlie's parents have refused mediation offers "for reasons Great Ormond Street will never know." After hearing from both sides in High Court on Tuesday, the presiding judge suggested a settlement would be appropriate.