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Charlie Gard

SIGN THE PETITION: Give Charlie Gard a chance!

ROME, July 6, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – The Vatican hospital that offered to treat Charlie Gard so he won't be pulled off life support against his parents' wishes says its request to help was denied. 

On July 3, the president of the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome, Mariella Enoc, said her hospital was reaching out to Britian's Great Ormond Street Hospital to ask if they could take 11-month-old Charlie.

Charlie's parents battled Great Ormond Street Hospital in European courts for months.

Charlie has a rare disease and the hospital wants to withdraw his life support. His parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, want to bring him to the U.S. for experimental treatment that has helped other kids given similar hopeless diagnoses. They raised over $1 million from private donations to do this, but the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the hospital, not the parents, can make this decision about his care.

Charlie's parents aren't even allowed to bring him home to die there, and the hospital can now at any time legally remove his life support. 

The case has captured the world's attention, with Pope Francis, President Trump, Cher, and 37 members of European parliament siding with Connie and Chris and their desire to let their son live. 

Enoc told the Washington Post that Great Ormond Street Hospital rejected this offer because of legal reasons.

Enoc said doctors at Bambino Gesù are working with international experts “to develop a protocol for experimental treatment for Charlie.”

Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Boris Johnson, also said Charlie can't be moved because of legal reasons. 

Decisions in the case should continue “to be led by expert medical opinion, supported by the courts” and in line with Charlie's “best interests,” he told his Italian counterpart, according to the BBC.