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The Charlie Gard Case, and the Ethics of Obstructing International Transfer of Seriously Ill Children.
- Source :
-
Pediatrics [Pediatrics] 2020 Aug; Vol. 146 (Suppl 1), pp. S54-S59. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- In 2017, the court case over medical treatment of UK infant, Charlie Gard, reached global attention. In this article, I will analyze one of the more distinctive elements of the case. The UK courts concluded that treatment of Charlie Gard was not in his best interests and that it would be permissible to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. However, in addition, the court ruled that Charlie should not be transferred overseas for the treatment that his parents sought, even though specialists in Italy and the US were willing to provide that treatment. Is it ethical to prevent parents from pursuing life-prolonging treatment overseas for their children? If so, when is it ethical to do this? I will outline arguments in defense of obstructing transfer in some situations. I will argue, however, that this is only justified if there is good reason to think that the proposed treatment would cause harm.<br />Competing Interests: POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The author has indicated he has no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)
- Subjects :
- Dissent and Disputes
History, 21st Century
Humans
Internationality
Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations therapy
Italy
Male
Medical Futility legislation & jurisprudence
Medical Tourism ethics
Medical Tourism legislation & jurisprudence
Parents
Patient Transfer legislation & jurisprudence
Refusal to Treat ethics
Refusal to Treat legislation & jurisprudence
Texas
Tracheostomy ethics
Tracheostomy legislation & jurisprudence
United Kingdom
United States
Withholding Treatment legislation & jurisprudence
Bioethical Issues
Medical Futility ethics
Patient Transfer ethics
Withholding Treatment ethics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1098-4275
- Volume :
- 146
- Issue :
- Suppl 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Pediatrics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 32737233
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-0818K