Parents ask British court to let them take critically ill baby home to die

Chris Gard, the father of critically ill baby Charlie Gard finishes reading out a statement next to mother Connie Yates, right, at the end of their case at the High Court in London, Monday, July 24, 2017. The parents of critically ill baby Charlie Gard dropped their legal bid Monday to send him to the United States for an experimental treatment after new medical tests showed that the window of opportunity to help him had closed. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Chris Gard, the father of critically ill baby Charlie Gard finishes reading out a statement next to mother Connie Yates, right, at the end of their case at the High Court in London, Monday, July 24, 2017. The parents of critically ill baby Charlie Gard dropped their legal bid Monday to send him to the United States for an experimental treatment after new medical tests showed that the window of opportunity to help him had closed. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

LONDON — Charlie Gard's mother returned to a London court Tuesday to ask a judge to let her and the baby's father take their critically ill son home to die.

Lawyers for the family of the 11-month-old infant and the hospital treating him appeared in Britain's High Court, a day after Charlie's parents said they were dropping their long legal battle to get him experimental treatment.

The family attorney, Grant Armstrong, told a judge that parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates have held discussions with Great Ormond Street Hospital about sending Charlie home, but that there were obstacles. The hospital had suggested a hospice option.

"These are issues which cry out for settlement," Judge Nicholas Francis said.

Attorneys for the hospital said medics wanted to ensure the child was safe and had asked for a mediator. Charlie's parents had declined.

Charlie suffers from mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a rare genetic disease and cannot breathe unassisted. The legal case over his care has been in various British courts since March. His parents said Monday accept that his condition has deteriorated to the point where the experimental treatment would not work.

Francis presided over the case revolving around the family's wish to seek medical treatment in the United States. The London children's hospital opposed that, saying it would not help and would cause Charlie suffering.

British courts and the European Court of Human Rights sided with the hospital. The parents abandoned their bid for the experimental treatment on Monday, saying that time had run out for Charlie.

The case drew international attention after Charlie's parents received support from Pope Francis, U.S. President Donald Trump and some members of the U.S. Congress.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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