London - US President Donald Trump on Monday offered to help a
sick British 10-month-old after the infant's parents were legally
blocked from bringing him to a treatment trial in the United States.
Charlie Gard, widely known as Baby Charlie, suffers from a rare
condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.
"If we can help little Charlie Gard, as per our friends in the UK and
the Pope, we would be delighted to do so," Trump said on Twitter,
referring to a message of support from Pope Francis on Sunday.
Specialists at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital had told parents
Chris Gard and Connie Yates the therapy proposed by a US doctor for
their son is experimental and will not help, and that life support
for the child should be stopped.
British and European courts had upheld lower court judgements ruling
that the infant's life support should be ended so that he could die
with dignity.
On Friday, Great Ormond Street Hospital granted the infant extra time
on life support but was expected to turn off life-sustaining
treatment in the coming days.
It was unclear from Trump's tweet what kind of help he was offering
the family.
If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2017
"Thanks @realdonaldtrump for your support," Gard and Yates wrote on
their official Charlie's Fight Twitter account, urging British Prime
Minister Theresa May to "do the right thing and save Charlie Gard."