Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

According to MSN Charlie Gard and his parents have been granted U.S Citizenship by congress. The floodgates will likely open now given that they have in not so many words granted asylum to British parents. And if they make one sick child American citizen they have to make all american citizens.

I wonder if they will now grant citizenship to Andre Patterson :rofl:. He could try I suppose :sarcasm:

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

:rofl: Permanent Resident

MSN as a news source?

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

This is a total disgrace to use the immigration system to grant him resident status, just to highlight the perceived flaws of socialised medicine, while halting immigration from war zones.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Especially as there is very little chance of the promised treatment making any difference to his condition or quality of life.
Totally disgraceful for so many reasons, poor little kid.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

You have written my own thoughts.

Utterly disgusting and beyond contemptible.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

The whole situation is a disgrace -- they make a big exhibition of all this compassion for a British child, but show none for their own citizens as they try to rip away any semblance of healthcare.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

It has been numerous news sources who have been reporting it as citizenship in headlines, despite saying it was residency in the article body.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

It would have to be citizenship because having a U.S green card won't do spit to change the mind of the english courts he may now be a U.S Resident but he is a first and foremost a British Citizen and the British courts will have the final say. Anything short of USC would be meaningless gesture. Though I fail to see how being an american citizen would make a blind bit of difference to the english courts?

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

The claims concerning citizenship are at best in quote marks with no attribution or citation, the actual quotes attributed to lawmakers are saying "residency". That's all I know,

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Those that passed this amendment dont really care if he comes or not. (Other perhaps than the member with a family member with similar medical issue: Jaime Herrera Beutler) It also needs to be passed in both houses, before its even a thing. It only got passed in a committee.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

I saw the same in a Daily Mail headline on Facebook - headline screams 'US citizenship for Charlie' but the article states it's actually Lawful Permanent Residence aka a Green Card for the child and his parents. Even if he was given US citizenship it wouldn't make a scrap of difference to the High Court ruling and the ability to remove him from the UK.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

And nor should it, given that the US is willing to execute dual citizens.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

That poor little boy :(

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Yup...but I wonder what you or I would do in similar circumstances? We may think we know...but...:unsure:

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Ok serious question here:

Would the baby have to become a US citizen by some sort of act and also renounce British citizenship in order for him to travel against the UK high court's order?

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Agreed. I'm fairly certain I would put any future quality of life first and I'd certainly trust GOSH but yeah until you're in those shoes....

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

In theory...quality of life of the child concerned...quality of life of siblings or future siblings etc...but until we've walked in the parents' shoes...who knows what we would chose. :unsure:

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

That's the saddest thing, he has no quality of life, is only alive because of the machines that are sustaining him, and even if this experimental drug can ease his condition a teeny bit, he still has very little brain function and that is damage which can't be reversed. As you know, GOSH is the best in the world, and if they could do anything for him they would have done it. All they can do now is take the objective view, which Charlie's parents are understandably incapable of.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

I hear you Poll...but if it were my child I would wrestle with letting him go and trying all avenues possible. I truly don't know what I would do...

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

My niece had a premmie in the best neonatal dept for her area. She moaned about their behaviour all the time she and the bub were there, and even more so when she was released but visiting. Nothing but negativity. A year later she was banging on about how great they were. A bit of distance from the scary situation and the brain understands why certain things were done by the experts. It's impossible to be objective when you're hormonal, emotional and in the midst of a nightmare. No one wins in this situation and that includes the staff who are getting abused by complete strangers around the world. :(

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

That's it in a nutshell, well put. No-one can be objective when its their child in that situation.And the staff at GOSH are being made out to be the Big Bad Wolf, which is so wrong. Charlie has been there since November - even the hardest hearted nurse on the unit will have become emotionally attached to him to some extent.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

From where I stand looking in, I have to agree.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Miss Moo spent time in an ICU after she was born. The most stressed I've ever been in my life - and she was in there less than a week. I trusted the doctors implicitly, because I desperately wanted them to keep her alive at all costs (she wasn't ever really in any danger, but what does a terrified brain know?). When the Gorilla was whisked off to ICU after his birth, I was pretty calm; we'd been down this road before. I questioned everything and argued against lots of 'unnecessary' stuff. Two very different experiences. But both made me appreciate how staff do everything they can because (and here's the crucial bit) they don't want your kid to die, either. (It might be because they don't want to be sued, but that's beside the point.) At some point I accepted that they were professionals who knew more about medical stuff than I ever will. If they're saying you need to let this person go, you need to listen to that. Not put your faith in 'likes' on the Internet and unproven miracle-cures. I'd hope my family would tell me that, even if I wouldn't let the doctors convince me because of my reverting to magical thinking.

The poor kid's situation just sounds so hopeless. And certain political elements in the US trying to score points off the back of it is reprehensible.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

I agree but if it were my child....:unsure:

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

I'm not making comment regarding the parents understandable longing for their child ( loved one) to be made miraculously somehow well via a therapy trial.

Hell. Any of us that have been given 'the talk' would, over the weeks ,move hell and high water and virtually grasp at any straw to make it not be so. Just not be so. However in the end we are moved by our love to accept an inevitable and to let those we love go with good grace and dignity.

I'm making comment regarding the dreadful circus train as per this by Geordie George.

"And certain political elements in the US trying to score points off the back of it is reprehensible. "

How could these people sink so low as to use these parents and this baby , who is being kept alive artificially, as pawns .

I have to hope that GOSH, this Dr Hirano et al are talking privately with each other for the good of the parents and their terminal baby.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ser/491769001/

LONDON — American immigration officials refuted claims by British media Wednesday that a terminally ill 11-month-old British infant received permanent resident status that would allow him to fly to the United State for urgent treatment.

A U.S. congressional committee voted unanimously Tuesday to grant permanent residency to the family of Charlie Gard, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, so he can receive an untested experimental therapy from a New York neurologist. But the bill still needs approval by the full Congress.

The case was thrust into the international spotlight after President Trump and Pope Francis weighed in, saying they favored moving the infant to the U.S. or the Vatican for treatment.

The vote by the House Committee on Appropriations was added to legislation to pay for a wall President Trump wants to build along the U.S.-Mexican border. The procedural vote was lost on several British newspapers, including The Telegraph, which reported the amendment granted permanent residence status.

"We are aware of the amendment and, should the legislation be passed by Congress, stand ready to act as necessary," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

I agree. He is sick and can visit the US for treatment on a B visa. There is absolutely no need for him to become a US PR other than to get him FREE medical care. Just a bunch of tired old man trying to make themselves look good to the world.

The UK doesn't have the ability to care for his medical condition?

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

It will make no difference at all. If the High Court orders the child remain in the UK anyone attempting to remove him gets arrested.

I assisted the FBI at the Embassy once with a child abduction. A US father living in New York removed his son from the US via Heathrow enroute to Israel without mothers consent. We contacted the High Court and got an order forbidding the child be removed from the UK. When the father went to board the flight to Israel I used the power of arrest I had requested the Judge add to the order to arrest him.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

The UK and Great Ormond Street Hospital has everything and more for all manner of sick and terminally ill children Rete. They are and have been caring for this wee babe with his medical condition. He is terminal, being kept alive on life support.

The hospital is recognised as a world leader in child health & education.

Here is the page from Great Ormond Street itself. As you can read they have been extensive over this.

The wee babe is in the very best hands possible & all those people involved will be honestly and selflessly looking to the interests of him and also his parents . They will have no agenda but this family in their care.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

I dont get what you are saying regarding free care. How will he get free care? The parents have two million pound for his health care, will the US government over look this and give it free?

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Oh. I didn't see that about the reference to FREE heralthcare . Sorry Rete.

It isn't about gaining free healthcare. He already has the very best of the best free healthcare that there is on the planet.

It is about something else entirely and that something else is unsavoury on every level.


Link fundraising page for the parents .

Sad thing is , it will not save this wee babe's life at all. Although it could be used to help further research somehow.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

That money is going to 'save Charlie'. If they can't get him to the US for this pointless treatment (imo) what happens to that money? If it's decided that his life support needs to be turned off (please for the sake of this baby) what happens to that money?

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Practically - he cannot go anywhere without paediatric life support, nursing and consultant. Assuming he doesnt die en route simply moving him will cost 250-500k? How cruel is it to move him? Unsure? I am sure that GOSH go to the courts to get a dispassionate legal decision supported by their expert clinical knowledge, and in this i trust them. They have gone back to court also to cover their axxes which is required... Nobody working in that hospital wants anything but the best outcome for the child, it is his, not his parents interests they have a duty to maintain.

The childs parents have pr advisers, lawyers etc etc all paid for by i assume their collection of money for their child, which is all a little unsavory but understandable.

IMHO this child will not live as a vegetable much longer, but the longer he lives the more money will be collected, harsh but true.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

That's the problem with these GoFundMe things. Although they are set up to raise money for x cause or y person, if the person dies or the cause ceases to exist what happens? The mother was quoted as saying that if he can't have the treatment or if he dies before he can get here then the money will be used for research. But that's not why the people gave the money.

I see this being used as a political argument here to "prove" to people that nationalized healthcare doesn't work. A B visa would have been completely suitable - just the same as anyone else who has been brought here for treatment has been given - but they are making a song and dance over granting him PR to make a point.

Many of us have had to watch the life support system being switched off for a loved one. It's harrowing. I have had to say goodbye to a child. There's no worse feeling in the world. Whilst I do feel for the parents and applaud their determination, I'm confident that GOSH would have released him to the USA or the Vatican or wherever if there was any chance of improvement to his condition. The sad fact is he's only alive because a mechanical pump is forcing air into his lungs. I'm actually surprised his machine has been kept on as long as it has.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Indeed. Although the parents have raised over a million, which to the average Joe in the U.K. seems to be plenty of money for medical treatment, most people have no idea that £1 million doesn't go very far when we are talking about this level of care. A good chunk will be taken just getting him to the USA. He's not going to be on a BA plane - it will be a Med Jet. Just to take someone by air ambulance to a hospital 50 miles away costs over $10,000. To take a baby on life support with full medical team across the Atlantic will be astronomical.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

The family state that the money will go to the research into Charlie's condition if it cannot be used for him personally.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

As you say, if GOSH could have found viable treatment options then they would have followed them up. The fact is that even the research that has been done into the condition has so far resulted in only experimental drugs. Nothing has been tested or proven as the condition is so rare.

Charlie's condition is such that even a few minutes fof the life supporting machines would be fatal. The machines are being kept on now because the courts have ordered it. At one point a month or so back the UK courts determined that GOSH could withdraw treatment, but Connie and Chris (the parents) then went to the European Court of Human Rights, which ordered that Charlie be kept alive whilst they investigated the case.
At that point the added publicity led to the likes of Trump and the Pope getting involved.
Then the US doctor offered to go to the UK to meet with GOSH, and as the hospital has always said, it will investigate any viable treatment, hence more prolonging of Charlie's life.
Now this latest issue has come up. The US has taken this step because it believes that if Charlie is a US citizen then that may overrule the UK courts current ruling, which states that Charlie cannot be removed from GOSH without the High Court's permission. It is thought that if the child is a citizen of another country, that may affect the ruling.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

Guess the sarcasm didn't come across. I know that the baby is getting the best of medical care in the UK and that the care in the US will not be any better than what he has been receiving at present. US medical care is good but so is the medical care in England, France, etc.

Doctors and hospitals are notorious for playing benefactors and offering up their services at no cost just for the sake of getting their names before the public. I applaud those medical institutions and personnel who come to the aid of children who need a life saving surgery or treatment that they are unable to get in their own country. This, however, is not what Charlie Gard is about. He is being admirably cared for in his own country.

As a parent and grandparent, I, too, would do all I humanly could do to save their life. There does come the time when a parent must confront the reality that there is nothing that can medically be done to save the life of the child they love. It is the most heart retching situation a parent could be in to make that decision that support is to be turned off and a life allowed to ebb away.

The decision does not belong in a court. It belongs with the parents and the medical team. I'm glad to hear that the US doctor was willing to come to the UK and explain the new treatment to GOSH. That is what I originally thought should have been done from the beginning. The US needs to keep itself out of the decision of another country's high court. They certainly would be angry if the another country's court or government tried to interfere in their decision.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

You are so right Rete, Charlie is getting the best care possible, in a hospital renowned for being the best in the world for children's care. If there was any treatment available then GOSH would have done all it could to facilitate Charlie's access to it. Facilitating meetings with the doctor from the US may result in something, who knows, if it does then GOSH will re-evaluate his treatment plan, naturally.

So many people seem to think this is a sudden issue. Its not. He's been in the care of GOSH since November. Its just come to a head because of the court action taken by the parents when GOSH advised they could do no more for him.
Equally so many people seem to think that there is treatment available somewhere. There isn't. The hospital isn't preventing access to treatment, there just is no treatment available. Heartbreaking for the whole family, and a really tough one for the staff who have cared for him for months.

Turning his case into a circus is doing no-one any good. Some of the comments on facebook are just ludicrous, abusing the staff, the hospital, the courts. People really need to take a step back and understand that everyone wants the best for him, but sometimes the best is also the saddest option.

Re: Charlie Gard granted U.S Citizenship by congress
 

It's the medical team at GOSH that want his life support removed.

Whilst I agree with you morally that the decision as to what happens to a child should lie with the parents, the law in England is different. Under the Children's Act a public body can request that the courts overrule the parents if they feel, based on professional evidence which they must present, that it is in the best interests of the child.

Incidentally this is not the only time such a thing has happened. But this one has a more slick PR campaign behind it. Recently there was a child with cancer in Southampton Hospital (Ashya King) whose parents had heard about and researched proton beam therapy in Prague that could cure him but was not approved by NICE in the U.K. as a treatment for cancer (so not available). The parents snuck him out of the hospital and took a ferry to the continent. A manhunt ensued and they were found in Spain and arrested and spent a night in jail. The boy was able to get to Prague, has his treatment and by all accounts is now healthy and well. I do remember that case initially only making the local news on the south coast and then eventually making the main news. His parents were somewhat vilified by people for removing him from Southampton Hospital and putting his life at risk (as it was claimed by the hospital) whereas this time the parents are being seen as heroes, stopping at nothing to try and help their son.