Charlie Gard

Caged · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:02

Steedie said:
Such a tragic case poor little man.

Just out of interest, and this isn't specific to little Charlie's case, when they basically decide to turn off the life support, is it just a case of switching off the ventilator and any other support? Doesn't that mean he effectively suffocates, which doesn't seem a nice way to go. Or do they basically put him under some kind of anesthetic so there's no suffering? I feel very ignorant asking that but it's only with cases like this that I've ever thought about such horrible situations

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng61

Steedie · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:15

Caged said:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng61

What a horrible thing to have to read if you're in that situation

Minstadave · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:25

Steedie said:
What a horrible thing to have to read if you're in that situation

Try doing it

JUMPURS · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:30

I had sympathy for the parents at first but now it is just becoming a circus. How much money has this cost the NHS in lawyers? Why are this couple spending days and days in court when they have so few days left with their child is beyond me.

Minstadave · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:32

They suddenly gave up the case to take him overseas, immediately demanded GOSH provide a paediatric intensive care bed at their home for "a few days" and when told no rather than work with GOSH ended up straight back in court.

They've lost the plot. No one has the resources to provide such a service, especially not at the drop of a hat.

Vonhelmet · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:34

Steedie said:
Such a tragic case poor little man.

Just out of interest, and this isn't specific to little Charlie's case, when they basically decide to turn off the life support, is it just a case of switching off the ventilator and any other support? Doesn't that mean he effectively suffocates, which doesn't seem a nice way to go. Or do they basically put him under some kind of anesthetic so there's no suffering? I feel very ignorant asking that but it's only with cases like this that I've ever thought about such horrible situations

Probably irrelevant in this case given that doctors have said for a while that they don't think he's capable of feeling pain at this point.

Minstadave · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:35

Vonhelmet said:
Probably irrelevant in this case given that doctors have said for a while that they don't think he's capable of feeling pain at this point.

You still normally give some analgesia just in case.

omnomnom · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:35

Minstadave said:
Try doing it

I'd be a broken man. I'm presuming you have been through it. You're a stronger man then me mate.

Vonhelmet · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:41

Minstadave said:
You still normally give some analgesia just in case.

True, I'm sure.

Minstadave · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:43

omnomnom said:
I'd be a broken man. I'm presuming you have been through it. You're a stronger man then me mate.

Yeah I'm a paediatric registrar, done plenty of intensive care, said goodbye to a few little people over the years. You never forget.

abbviper · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:43

I'm just grateful we have a system that has the best interests of the child as a priority. The parents appear to spend more time in court and on their publicity campaign than they do with the child.

Efour · 25 Jul 2017 at 19:47

Yeah, its terrible. However, I'm pretty sure I would know when to call it a day if it happened to me. It turns into a gaudy freak show when it goes this far.

tom_nieto · 25 Jul 2017 at 20:31

If this whole case wasn't farcical before, it is now. How can they possibly expect the paediatric ITU to suddenly be setup in their home for a few days?

Minstadave · 25 Jul 2017 at 20:37

tom_nieto said:
If this whole case wasn't farcical before, it is now. How can they possibly expect the paediatric ITU to suddenly be setup in their home for a few days?

Probably because they know how much bad press they can kick up with the spotlight on the case. Which I suspect is why they wouldn't work with GOSH to resolve the issue and just kicked up a stink instead.

BuffetSlayer · 25 Jul 2017 at 20:43

.......10 days i have read or is that BS?

Also hearing the guy from America has financial interests in the treatment he was offering.........

Really feel for the parents and the hospital staff. Bang out of order they should be receiving threats, though.

Nobody wins in a situation like this

Its heart breaking for all involved.

tom_nieto · 25 Jul 2017 at 20:46

Minstadave said:
Probably because they know how much bad press they can kick up with the spotlight on the case. Which I suspect is why they wouldn't work with GOSH to resolve the issue and just kicked up a stink instead.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to remain objective and impartial in this case. The sad thing is that the parents and the media and to some extent the public look at this case as one side winning and another losing. In their "loss" the parents have acted pretty callously by continuing to fight every decision and making it public. They wanted their privacy respected apparently. Nobody wins here. It's a tragic, incurable genetic disease.

neil_g · 25 Jul 2017 at 20:54

American doctor sounds like an idiot.

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/the-truth-about-the-hospital-in-the-charlie-gard-case/

Tosno · 25 Jul 2017 at 21:20

Steedie said:
Such a tragic case poor little man.

Just out of interest, and this isn't specific to little Charlie's case, when they basically decide to turn off the life support, is it just a case of switching off the ventilator and any other support? Doesn't that mean he effectively suffocates, which doesn't seem a nice way to go. Or do they basically put him under some kind of anesthetic so there's no suffering? I feel very ignorant asking that but it's only with cases like this that I've ever thought about such horrible situations

They will give something so it *seems* dignified to the observer, sometimes even that fails.

Minstadave · 25 Jul 2017 at 21:31

Tosno said:
They will give something so it *seems* dignified to the observer, sometimes even that fails.

Although it's rare you can get some pretty upsetting symptoms at the end, which is why a hospice is by far the best place to withdraw care rather than at home.

Danthus · 25 Jul 2017 at 21:33

The American doctor who offered treatment and hope even though he had never seen any medical notes from the child is the real problem in this charade.