Despite Charlie Gard’s tragic story, we must respect the process of our courts | Ian Kennedy

The judicial process is not infallible, but even heartbreaking decisions must not lead us to undermine the reasoned process that protects all of our rights

• Ian Kennedy is emeritus professor of health, law, ethics and policy at UCL

No one can be other than deeply moved by the sad story of Charlie Gard. His short life has been one of illness and suffering. His parents have lived every hour of the past 11 months with the nightmare that is every parent’s worst fear – what’s going to happen to Charlie?

It is common, but glib, to talk of Charlie Gard as a “case”; he is not a case, he’s a very sick, terminally ill little boy with a rare genetic condition and consequent brain damage. But he has also become a “case” – challenging us how to respond to his condition; a case that has attracted worldwide attention. His parents, his doctors and nurses and Great Ormond Street hospital have found themselves in a maelstrom of attention, opinion, concern and worse, stretching from the White House to the Vatican.

Related: We will always know we did the very best for Charlie | Connie Yates

Parents cannot always be the ultimate arbiters of their children’s interests

Related: Charlie Gard’s doctors can’t speak out, but they truly care | Zoe Williams

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from Children | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2uQkC5f