The Charlie Gard case: British and American approaches to court resolution of disputes over medical decisions (19 October 2017)

Summary

On 8 June 2017, the Supreme Court in the United Kingdom rejected a legal appeal in the high-profile case of Charlie Gard, a British infant with a severe genetic disorder whose parents had disagreed with medical professionals and were requesting treatment that the doctors believed was futile.

The case was the latest in a series of UK legal cases where courts have authorised withdrawal of treatment against the wishes of parents. In such disputes, British judges have, with rare exception, sided with health professionals. In contrast, in North America when disputes have reached the court, the courts have invariably sided in favour of life-sustaining medical treatment requested by a loving family.

Paris et al. discuss the case of Charlie Gard.