European rights court backs UK on allowing sick baby to die

STRASBOURG: The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday said it concurred with a British decision to withdraw life support for a baby with a rare genetic disease.

Two weeks earlier, the Strasbourg-based ECHR issued an interim ruling that doctors should keep providing treatment for 10-month-old Charlie Gard, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage.

That finding ran counter to rulings by British courts that the baby should be allowed to die with dignity despite an appeal by his parents to take him to the United States for treatment.

In its final ruling on Tuesday, the Strasbourg court backed the British judges.

A spokeswoman for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, which has been treating Charlie, acknowledged his parents would find Tuesday´s news upsetting.

"Our thoughts are with Charlie´s parents on receipt of this news that we know will be very distressing for them.

"Today´s decision by the European Court of Human Rights marks the end of what has been a very difficult process and our priority is to provide every possible support to Charlie´s parents as we prepare for the next steps.

"There will be no rush by Great Ormond Street Hospital to change Charlie´s care and any future treatment plans will involve careful planning and discussion," the spokeswoman said.

The child´s parents want to take him to the United States for experimental treatment for his illness -- an extremely rare form of mitochondrial disease which causes progressive muscle weakness.

His family have raised more than £1.2 million ($1.5 million, 1.4 million euros) has been raised online for the treatment, through more than 80,000 donations.