For immediate release: Friday, July 28, 2017 For more information: Tatiana Bergum, (202) 626-8825, mediarelations@nrlc.orgNATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE MOURNS THE DEATH OF CHARLIE GARD WASHINGTON – National Right to Life today joined a chorus of organizations and people worldwide in mourning the death of Charlie Gard, the British boy at the center of a worldwide euthanasia debate. Connie Yates and Chris Gard, the parents of Charlie Gard, announced via social media today that “our beautiful boy” is gone after his life support was turned off. Charlie Gard’s case sparked a worldwide debate about a so-called “quality of life” ethic after courts in the United Kingdom ruled against Charlie's parents in their struggle to seek experimental treatment for a rare mitochondrial disease. It is believed that Charlie could have benefitted from such experimental treatment, but the efforts of Yates and Gard to seek such treatment for their son were denied by the British hospital treating Charlie. The hospital decision was consistently upheld by the British courts. The following statement may be attributed to Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life: Our hearts break for Charlie Gard’s parents, and we join with them in their grief over Charlie’s death. No parent should ever have to bury a child; and certainly no parent should ever be told by a court or government that their child must die. The case of Charlie Gard brings into grave perspective what can happen when the government controls a health care system: it alone can decide who lives and who dies. Rest in peace, Charlie. Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates and more than 3,000 local chapters, is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. Recognized as the flagship of the pro-life movement, NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia. # # #
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