Frank Alegria, Patriot Academy Alumnus
Ten months ago in Middlesex, England, a baby boy was born. Suffering from a rare genetic disorder known as mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, Charlie Gard was written off by the medical establishment as terminally ill.
When his parents announced their intentions to take their child to the U.S. for experimental treatment, their efforts were effectively shut down as the many courts banded with the doctors, denying the couple the right to do so.
Their motive for doing so, they admitted, was based on fear of possible detrimental effects, including pain and possible mutations.
Indeed, the initial justice went as far as to invoke the possibility of the lifelong suffering Charlie would experience, even if the nucleoside therapy in question was ultimately successful.
But their focus throughout this whole ordeal, however, has been upon the “best interests of the patient.” Indeed, an equally prevalent issue, the idea of parental rights, has been largely cast aside. Look no further than the early agreement between the hospital and parents that, should young Charlie truly have no hope, he would be allowed to go home to die in the peace and care of his family.
Instead, thanks to the empowerment of the government in a previously private agreement, little Charlie will be forced to stay at the hospital, the day of his passing being left not to the condition of his mental and physical state, but to the will of a medical bureaucracy simply to upend the desires of his parents.
It’s hard to imagine similar things happening within the United States, much less our Great State of Texas, but the fact is it’s already here. Under current law, hospitals within the state have the authority to place “Do-Not-Resuscitate” orders on patients without their consent or, in the case of minors, their guardian’s. Thankfully, Governor Abbott has listed this issue as one of his priorities for the upcoming special session.
As we lament and pray for the Gard family in the midst of this great miscarriage of justice, may we Texans be challenged to value and fight for those “inalienable rights” mentioned within the Declaration of Independence in the coming weeks. May we stand firm in the belief that all have that sacred right to life, no matter what stage one is in. And may God bless our efforts.
