UPDATE (2:30 p.m. ET): The U.K. Supreme Court announced Monday that it will grant a three-week extension in the case of Gard and Others v. the United Kingdom, pending a decision by the European Court of Human Rights.
UKSC extends stay for three weeks in Charlie Gard case, to give time to ECtHR to consider parents’ application https://t.co/qM4bcUsaQs
— UK Supreme Court (@UKSupremeCourt) June 19, 2017
Original story continues below.
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The European Court of Human Rights released a statement Monday confirming that the parents of 10-month-old Charlie Gard have submitted a “substantive application” in their case against the U.K. Supreme Court.
https://twitter.com/ECHR_Press/status/876857838223622150
Last week, the ECHR ruled that Charlie’s doctors must keep the child, who suffers from a rare mitochondrial disease, on life support until midnight Monday, June 19. That decision allowed Charlie’s parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, time to put together a legal case for why they should be allowed to go to the United States to take advantage of a potentially life-saving treatment.
READ: Father of Charlie Gard Celebrates First Father’s Day Fighting for Son’s Right to Live
Monday’s announcement states that the U.K. government must allow for Charlie to remain on life support “until such time as the European Court makes its decision on the substantive application.”
The statement continues:
Under this interim measure, the United Kingdom Government has been requested, in the meantime, to ensure that Charlie Gard, a baby suffering from a rare genetic disease, is provided with such treatment and nursing care as may be appropriate to ensure that he suffers the least distress and retains the greatest dignity consistent, insofar as possible, with maintaining life.
The court’s extension will likely come as a relief to many who have been following the Gard family’s fight for Charlie’s life.
Some of Charlie’s doctors have argued, however, that the European Court has no jurisdiction in a national case.
According to the latest news updates, the European Court of Human Rights’ initial decision has been sent back to the U.K. Supreme Court for review. The Supreme Court is expected to rule today or tomorrow on whether doctors can continue to provide life support for Charlie, and for how long.
Based on the initial ECHR ruling, which expires tonight at midnight, the Court told doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital that it “would not be unlawful” for them to continue to provide life support until a final decision is made, Sky News reported.
Though the outcome of the case is still uncertain, what is certain is that through their tireless efforts, Chris Gard and Connie Yates have successfully bought some additional time for their beloved Charlie.
Please continue to keep the Gard family in your prayers as they await these court decisions, and be sure to check back with Faithwire for more updates.