Appeal dismissed: Is this the heart-breaking end of the legal line for baby Charlie Gard?

I posted an article a few weeks ago following the much reported and desperately sad case of baby Charlie Gard. Mr Justice Francis had ruled that Charlie’s parents wishes could be overruled by the baby’s treating clinicians, and that he could therefore be moved to palliative-only care. The withdrawal of other treatment was suspended pending the parent’s appeal, but that appeal,  was yesterday dismissed .  

The appeal court judges supported the lower court’s decision that the state can and will in these kinds of exceptional circumstances interfere with the parents’ exercise of parental rights and make decisions that it deems to be in the child’s best interests.

Understandably said to be devastated to have lost their appeal, it seems likely that Charlie’s parents will now take their case to the highest court in England & Wales, the Supreme Court, in a last bid to prevent Charlie’s life-support treatment being turned off. As a parent, one can understand only too well their desire to keep fighting for their son at any price, and this final appeal will ensure that no stone is left unturned for them, legally. I wish them well.

Doctors can stop providing life-support treatment to baby Charlie Gard, Court of Appeal judges have ruled.
Charlie's parents appealed against a ruling made last month that would allow specialists to move their eight-month-old son to palliative care.
They had raised £1.3m to send him to the US for a trial treatment.
Doctors argued continuing life-support treatment would not benefit Charlie but 'prolong the process of dying'.

Chris Gard and Connie Yates have raised more than £1.3m for treatment in the US
Charlie has a disorder called mitochondrial depletion syndrome, which affects the genetic building blocks that give energy to cells.
Great Ormond Street Hospital said the baby was unable to see, hear make a noise or move.
Last month, High Court judge Mr Justice Francis concluded that life-support treatment should end and said Charlie should be allowed die with dignity.