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Charlie Gard: Parents end legal fight to take sick baby to US for experimental treatment Charlie Gard: Parents end legal fight to take sick baby to US for experimental treatment
(35 minutes later)
Charlie Gard’s parents have ended their legal fight to take their critically ill son to the US for treatment.Charlie Gard’s parents have ended their legal fight to take their critically ill son to the US for treatment.
Connie Yates and Chris Gard said "it is no longer in Charlie's best interests" for him to receive experimental nucleoside therapy after he was shown to have suffered irreversible muscular damage. Connie Yates and Chris Gard said "it is no longer in Charlie's best interests" for him to receive experimental nucleoside therapy after it was shown he had suffered irreversible muscular damage.
Barrister Grant Armstrong told a High Court judge the couple were “extremely distressed” by the results of the new medical tests on the 11-month-old, who has a rare genetic disease.Barrister Grant Armstrong told a High Court judge the couple were “extremely distressed” by the results of the new medical tests on the 11-month-old, who has a rare genetic disease.
  
He said a "window of opportunity has been lost" to help Charlie, as the damage meant “the treatment can no longer be a success”.He said a "window of opportunity has been lost" to help Charlie, as the damage meant “the treatment can no longer be a success”.
The decision concludes a bitter five-month legal fight from Ms Yates and Mr Gard, whose appeal to give their son treatment was previously rejected by the European Court of Human Rights.The decision concludes a bitter five-month legal fight from Ms Yates and Mr Gard, whose appeal to give their son treatment was previously rejected by the European Court of Human Rights.
Doctors at Great Ormond Street in London maintained that it was kinder for the Charlie's life support to be switched off.Doctors at Great Ormond Street in London maintained that it was kinder for the Charlie's life support to be switched off.
The case caused an international furore, with Donald Trump and Pope Francis offering to help baby Charlie.The case caused an international furore, with Donald Trump and Pope Francis offering to help baby Charlie.
A fresh hearing was underway after the possibility of new evidence emerged, with judge Nicholas Francis due to make a ruling this week. A fresh hearing was underway, with judge Nicholas Francis due to make a ruling this week after examining claims that new evidence had emerged.
Charlie, who was born on 4 August 2016, inherited the faulty RRM2B gene, which affects the cells responsible for energy production and respiration, leaving him unable to move or breathe without a ventilator.Charlie, who was born on 4 August 2016, inherited the faulty RRM2B gene, which affects the cells responsible for energy production and respiration, leaving him unable to move or breathe without a ventilator.
In a statement, Ms Yates and Mr Gard the last year had been "the best, the worst and ultimately life changing months of our lives" but "all our efforts have been for him".In a statement, Ms Yates and Mr Gard the last year had been "the best, the worst and ultimately life changing months of our lives" but "all our efforts have been for him".
"We are truly devastated to say that following the most recent MRI scan of Charlie‘s muscles, " they said. "We are truly devastated to say that following the most recent MRI scan of Charlie‘s muscles," they said.
"As Charlie‘s devoted and loving parents we have decided that it’s no longer in Charlie‘s best interests to pursue treatment and we will let our son go and be with the angels.""As Charlie‘s devoted and loving parents we have decided that it’s no longer in Charlie‘s best interests to pursue treatment and we will let our son go and be with the angels."
Ms Yates and Mr Gard said they were aware the case had caused controversy, but now wish to treasure their remaining time with Charlie and asked for all protests to stop.Ms Yates and Mr Gard said they were aware the case had caused controversy, but now wish to treasure their remaining time with Charlie and asked for all protests to stop.
The judge said no one could begin to understand the parents' agony but they now had to "face reality" that it is in their son's best interests to die.The judge said no one could begin to understand the parents' agony but they now had to "face reality" that it is in their son's best interests to die.
Ms Yates said she wanted to address Mr Justice Francis at the end of the hearing. The couple said the new scan on Charlie's muscles had been requested by US neuroscientist Michio Hirano, who was offering to give Charlie nucleoside therapy.
Dr Hirano travelled from New York to London last week to examine the baby. 
In the statement, the parents said their son is "not brain dead (and never has been)". 
"He still responds to us, even now, but after reviewing the recent muscle MRI it was considered that Charlie‘s muscles have deteriorated to the extent that it is largely irreversible," they said.
"Were treatment to work, his quality of life would now not be one which we would want for our precious little boy."