What path for Charlie Gard?

[henryp]

Regardless of the details of this case, the idea they can pull the plug on your kid because only proven treatment's have been ruled out is a little frightening.

If there's a real doctor in the US that has something they'd be willing to try, what's the problem?  Seems like that's a straightforward decision that should be made by the Doctor and the parents.

The problem is waste of money and resources at others expense. 

I'll wait and see what the US MD states about the case after his examination.

Utilitarian health care is certainly an alternative, and would solve a lot of problems in terms of health care expenditures.  The implications can get a little uncomfortable going down that road though.  

But all this seems like, is they want to take the kid out of the hospital, and go to america for an exam.   I assume it'd require some medical transfer of undetermined cost.  And it's not clear how it's being paid for. That doesn't seem like it'd be running a tab in the millions, though.

[Pat Mustard]

Regardless of the details of this case, the idea they can pull the plug on your kid because only proven treatment's have been ruled out is a little frightening.

It's a proven treatment in the same way I'm a Navy SEAL, dipshit. The potential treatment hasn't yet gotten past Stage one of medicines testing; trying it on clumps of cells in a petri dish.

Therefore the parents are being grossly negligent in their prolonging of poor Charlie's suffering in order to assauge their own emotions.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

The problem is waste of money and resources at others expense. 

I'll wait and see what the US MD states about the case after his examination.

Utilitarian health care is certainly an alternative, and would solve a lot of problems in terms of health care expenditures.  The implications can get a little uncomfortable going down that road though.  

But all this seems like, is they want to take the kid out of the hospital, and go to america for an exam.   I assume it'd require some medical transfer of undetermined cost.  And it's not clear how it's being paid for. That doesn't seem like it'd be running a tab in the millions, though.

You'd be surprised at the cost. Just running that equipment at great ormond street hospital + the legal expenses are probably running into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Regardless, he has a mitochondrial disease and advanced brain damage. There ain't no coming back from that. His parents have been sold a dream packaged as genuine hope. I can't blame them for wanting to try, but the reality is that any hope is misplaced at this point.

[Silver]

At least the 'Murican doctors will get rich selling them that impossible dream.

[henryp]

Utilitarian health care is certainly an alternative, and would solve a lot of problems in terms of health care expenditures.  The implications can get a little uncomfortable going down that road though.  

But all this seems like, is they want to take the kid out of the hospital, and go to america for an exam.   I assume it'd require some medical transfer of undetermined cost.  And it's not clear how it's being paid for. That doesn't seem like it'd be running a tab in the millions, though.

You'd be surprised at the cost. Just running that equipment at great ormond street hospital + the legal expenses are probably running into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Regardless, he has a mitochondrial disease and advanced brain damage. There ain't no coming back from that. His parents have been sold a dream packaged as genuine hope. I can't blame them for wanting to try, but the reality is that any hope is misplaced at this point.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/...duce-new2/

Reading this, it sounds like a long shot.  But it also sounds like it's not some make believe treatment, either.  I'd also guess that there would be scientific benefit to attempting this.

http://people.com/human-interest/us-doct...rlie-gard/

And the Doctor's resume is pretty stout.  It's not some bumpkin Kentucky pediatrician who is doing it for Jesus.

[brewer]

The problem is waste of money and resources at others expense. 

I'll wait and see what the US MD states about the case after his examination.

Utilitarian health care is certainly an alternative, and would solve a lot of problems in terms of health care expenditures.  The implications can get a little uncomfortable going down that road though.  

But all this seems like, is they want to take the kid out of the hospital, and go to america for an exam.   I assume it'd require some medical transfer of undetermined cost.  And it's not clear how it's being paid for. That doesn't seem like it'd be running a tab in the millions, though.

The parents raised the $1.6 mill through gofundme. You should read it. Full of unrealistic hopes and tugs at heart strings.: https://www.gofundme.com/please-help-to-...rlies-life  

Cost? Couldn't find anything specific to Columbia Hospital (the  MD's hospital in NY I think) but I found one in Ohio. The cost for room and board for pediatric ICU is in excess of $9000/day. That does not include all of the professional and ancillary charges.: http://www.uhhospitals.org/rainbow/patie...nformation

From what I understand the Dr. is traveling to Britain to do the examination/evaluation before transfer to the US is considered.

[henryp]

Utilitarian health care is certainly an alternative, and would solve a lot of problems in terms of health care expenditures.  The implications can get a little uncomfortable going down that road though.  

But all this seems like, is they want to take the kid out of the hospital, and go to america for an exam.   I assume it'd require some medical transfer of undetermined cost.  And it's not clear how it's being paid for. That doesn't seem like it'd be running a tab in the millions, though.

The parents raised the $1.6 mill through gofundme. You should read it. Full of unrealistic hopes and tugs at heart strings.: https://www.gofundme.com/please-help-to-...rlies-life  

Cost? Couldn't find anything specific to Columbia Hospital (the  MD's hospital in NY I think) but I found one in Ohio. The cost for room and board for pediatric ICU is in excess of $9000/day. That does not include all of the professional and ancillary charges.: http://www.uhhospitals.org/rainbow/patie...nformation

From what I understand the Dr. is traveling to Britain to do the examination/evaluation before transfer to the US is considered.

I think by default, parents asking for help to give their dying child a chance has heart string tugs built in.  

And reading about the doctor, he seems to be the guy.  Meaning, if this were Harry and Kate's baby instead of two rando's, I imagine there's a chance this is the doctor who would have been brought in (or more likely, they'd have brought the baby to the US), and would be doing the work already.

[brewer]

Just heard that permanent US residency was granted.

[Pat Mustard]

Just heard the permanent US residency was granted.

So the parents are now going to force him to die horribly in Amreica rather than making him die horribly in the UK. The more I think on this issue the less I think them isguided idiots and the more I see them as actively evil.

[Whateverist]

He's going to die.

Just another of those "mysterious ways," I imagine.

Perhaps God is testing him for purposes beyond our understanding? Oh lordy who are we to question God's plan? Right.