Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

Congressmen Propose Idea That Just Might Save Charlie Gard’s Life

Photo credit: CitizenGo/Twitter
Photo credit: CitizenGo/Twitter
Share Tweet
By Carly Hoilman
Writer

July 11, 2017

As the British High Court case regarding baby Charlie Gard drags on, U.S. leaders have rallied behind the critically ill child and his parents. Up until now, every court ruling has upheld the right of Great Ormond Street Hospital doctors to take Charlie off life support, against the will of the Gard family.

READ: ‘They Are Lying to You!’ — Mother of Charlie Gard Cries Out to Judge During High Court Hearing With GOSH Doctors

Recently, however, two U.S. congressmen proposed a potential solution that would reinstate Chris Gard and Connie Yates’ right to choose what’s best for their son, including seeking experimental medical treatments for Charlie in America.

On Friday, congressmen Trent Franks (R-A.Z.) and Brad Wenstrup (R-O.H.), introduced a bill that would grant 11-month-old Charlie, who suffers from a rare mitochondrial disease, American citizenship.

As the Daily Wire’s Amanda Prestigiacomo reports, Charlie’s parents have raised more than $1.6 million to pay for a potentially life-saving experimental treatment offered in the United States, but U.K. and European courts have forbade them from leaving the country.

“Our bill will support Charlie’s parents’ right to choose what is best for their son, by making Charlie a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. in order for him to receive treatments that could save his life,” the congressmen write.

“Every human life has dignity, including the lives of those who cannot speak up for themselves,” they continue. “When government is able to overrule a parent or guardian in determining a patient’s best interest, every vulnerable patient is put at risk. We offer Connie Yates and Chris Gard our heartfelt support as they seek to care for their son.”

The Daily Wire’s Prestigiacomo notes that the idea to grant Charlie citizenship was first proposed by Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro on July 3.

“Congress has the power under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution to ‘establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization.’ This gives Congress plenary power over naturalization,” Shapiro wrote. “So, why can’t Congress pass a private bill sponsoring Charlie Gard and his parents as American citizens? That would then give us legal standing to challenge Charlie’s inability to travel to the United States at the behest of his parents.”

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump voiced his support for the Gard family, stating in a tweet that the United States would “be delighted” to help in any way possible.

If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2017

Trump’s comments helped push Gard’s case into the national media conversation.

Charlie Gard now a story in US papers after Trump weighed in last week offering to help family. @newyorkpost pic.twitter.com/frNKYxhzRQ

— Katty Kay (@KattyKayBBC) July 11, 2017

A few days after Trump’s tweet, pro-life leaders from around the country gathered in D.C. to declare, “We’re all Charlie Gard,” the Media Research Center’s Katie Yoder reported. At a press conference last Thursday, leaders from various pro-life organizations pleaded with the British government to reverse the “death sentence” placed on Charlie Gard by GOSH doctors.

“President Trump is showing us the leadership of a president and the kindness and strength of a loving father in the case of baby Charlie Gard,” Susan B. Anthony List’s Marjorie Dannenfelser declared at the start of the conference. Addressing her pro-life peers, she added, “We insist that the British government intervene.”

This week, the High Court reopened the case of Charlie Gard in light of “new evidence relating to potential treatment for [Charlie’s] condition.” Mr. Justice Francis presided over a hearing on Monday, which was attended by GOSH doctors and Charlie’s parents.

A day prior, Gard and Yates joined protesters outside Great Ormond Street, and delivered a petition signed by nearly 400,000 people who believe doctors should give Charlie a chance to seek treatment abroad before they withdraw the infant from life support. The petition was created by pro-life group, Americans United for Life.

#CharlieGard’s Parents Deliver 370,000 Petition Signatures to Hospital to Save His Life:https://t.co/bNwjo9fY5o pic.twitter.com/I8PP5fcmgD

— CitizenGO (@CitizenGO) July 10, 2017

Judge Francis concluded Monday that he would be open to reversing the Court’s previous decision if Charlie’s parents could present “new and powerful” evidence for why additional treatment could benefit Charlie. He gave them until Thursday to do so.

Latest

  • News

    Charges Dropped Against Christian Woman Arrested After Silently Praying in Her Head Outside Clinic — but She Plans to Continue the Battle

  • Entertainment

    What’s the Biggest Mistake Christians Make When Balancing Truth & Love? Christian Singer Mike Donehey Unveils His Take

  • News

    ‘A Football Coach…Not a Pastor: NFL Legend Deion Sanders Targeted by Atheists for Alleged ‘Unconstitutional Actions’

  • News

    ‘God Is With Me’: Woman Was Just Seconds From Potential Death When 3,000 lb Boulder Burst Through Her Living Room

  • News

    PRAY: Police Search For Answers After NJ Christian Councilwoman Killed Outside Her Home


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Charges Dropped Against Christian Woman Arrested After Silently Praying in Her Head Outside Clinic — but She Plans to Continue the Battle
  • What’s the Biggest Mistake Christians Make When Balancing Truth & Love? Christian Singer Mike Donehey Unveils His Take
  • ‘A Football Coach…Not a Pastor: NFL Legend Deion Sanders Targeted by Atheists for Alleged ‘Unconstitutional Actions’
  • ‘God Is With Me’: Woman Was Just Seconds From Potential Death When 3,000 lb Boulder Burst Through Her Living Room
  • PRAY: Police Search For Answers After NJ Christian Councilwoman Killed Outside Her Home

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • culture
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?