Charlie Gard’s parents fury as it emerges the baby’s state-appointed lawyer is head of a charity which backs assisted dying
CHARLIE Gard's parents are said to be furious that the lawyer appointed to represent their son heads a charity which backs assisted dying.
Victoria Butler-Cole, who represents the 11-month-old in court, is chair of trustees at Compassion in Dying, which was founded by its sister organisation Dignity in Dying.
While it doesn't campaign for assisted dying itself, the two organisations share the same chief executive and trustees can only sit on the board if they support the other charity's aims, reports
Dignity in Dying - formerly called the Voluntary Euthanasia Legalisation Society - founded its sister group 10 years ago to carry out research and provide information to the public about people's rights.
A source close to Charlie's parents Connie Yates and Chris Gard said: "The family find it astonishing.
"The implication is obvious. It looks like a profound conflict of interest.”
It comes as a US specialist prepares to examine Charlie today after claiming there is a ten per cent chance his experimental treatment could "significantly" improve the terminally-ill tot's brain function.
Dr Michio Hirano will attend a crucial meeting on Monday with doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital, who believe the treatment is futile and say Charlie has irreversible brain damage.
Charlie's parents are fighting to take him to the US to undergo nucleoside bypass therapy, believing it could treat their son's extremely rare mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
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High Court judge Mr Justice Francis is due to make a decision on the little boy's fate on July 25.
Mrs Butler-Cole was appointed to the role by Charlie's legal guardian Cafcass, the publicly-funded state body which acts in the best interests of children in court cases.
Connie Yates and Chris Gard, from Bedfont, in west London, believe that as his parents they should represent Charlie in court.
Mrs Butler-Cole reportedly said she was unable to comment while the High Court case was ongoing.
Compassion in Dying said there was no conflict of interest between Mrs Butler-Cole’s role in court and her view that adults with full mental capacity should be allowed to plan their own death.
A charity spokesman said: “There are clear differences between this case, the work of Dignity in Dying and the work of Compassion in Dying.
"The Charlie Gard case is about making decisions in the best interests of a seriously ill child.”
Charlie's family are locked in a second High Court battle after Great Ormond Street applied for a new hearing to look at "new evidence" from international hospitals claiming they can treat Charlie.
The High Court ruled in April that Charlie should be allowed to “die with dignity”, a decision confirmed by the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
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