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Charlie Gard: Death threats sent to Great Ormond Street staff | Charlie Gard: Death threats sent to Great Ormond Street staff |
(35 minutes later) | |
Staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) have received death threats over the treatment of Charlie Gard. | Staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) have received death threats over the treatment of Charlie Gard. |
In a statement, the hospital said the police had been called after families were "harassed" and "unacceptable behaviour" recorded in the hospital. | In a statement, the hospital said the police had been called after families were "harassed" and "unacceptable behaviour" recorded in the hospital. |
GOSH is involved in a legal battle to remove life support from Charlie who has a rare genetic disorder. | GOSH is involved in a legal battle to remove life support from Charlie who has a rare genetic disorder. |
Charlie's parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, want to take the 11-month-old to the US for pioneering treatment. | Charlie's parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, want to take the 11-month-old to the US for pioneering treatment. |
Charlie, who was born on 4 August 2016, has a form of mitochondrial disease, a condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and irreversible brain damage. | |
His parents have lost a succession of court cases to overturn the GOSH's decision that it would be in the child's best interests to be allowed to die with dignity. | |
The latest involves new testimony from a US neurologist who has visited Charlie in hospital to decide whether he should travel to America for therapy. | |
Charlie's parents want to take him to New York for experimental treatment, which the US doctor said might give him a 10% chance of improving his health. | |
Mary MacLeod, chairman of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said Charlie Gard's case was "a heartbreaking one", adding the hospital understood the "natural sympathy people feel with his situation". | |
"However, in recent weeks the GOSH community has been subjected to a shocking and disgraceful tide of hostility and disturbance," Ms MacLeod said. | |
She added: "Staff have received abuse both in the street and online. | |
"Thousands of abusive messages have been sent to doctors and nurses whose life's work is to care for sick children. | |
"Many of these messages are menacing, including death threats. | |
"Families have been harassed and discomforted while visiting their children, and we have received complaints of unacceptable behaviour even within the hospital itself." | |
Ms MacLeod, who also chairs the hospital's Clinical Ethics Committee, said "there can be no excuse" for patients, families and staff "to have their privacy and peace disturbed". | |
A spokeswoman for Charlie's parents have said they will not be commenting on the threats. | |
The case is due back before a High Court judge on Monday. |