SIGN THE PETITION: Support Charlie Gard, forced off life support by judge

July 10, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Vice President Pence defended baby Charlie Gard on Rush Limbaugh's radio show today, saying his case shows how unfair government-run healthcare can be and that he's praying Charlie's parents will be allowed to continue caring for him.

Limbaugh's conservative talk show has some of the highest ratings in the country.

Pence said that as Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigns for a single-payer healthcare system, Americans should look to what's happening in England.

"The heartbreaking story of the 11-month-old Charlie Gard in England is a story of single-payer" healthcare, said Pence. "I know you’ve covered that on this program. And it’s back in court today and frankly we breathe a prayer and the hope that the single-payer system in England will see its way clear to allow the family – the mother and the father – to be able to choose the greatest extent of life-saving treatment that’s available to their child."

Otherwise, warned Pence, they will be "submitted to a government program that says, 'no, we’re going to remove life support from your precious 11-month-old child' because the government has decided that the prospects of their life are such that they no longer warrant an investment in health services."

"We hope and pray that little Charlie Gard gets every chance, but the American people oughta reflect on the fact that for all the talk on the left about single-payer, that’s where it takes us," the vice president said.

There has been a lengthy legal battle over whether Great Ormond Street Hospital or Charlie's parents have the right to decide on his treatment, with the former trying to pull the baby's life support and the latter wanting to move him elsewhere for experimental treatment. English courts and the European Court of Human Rights both sided with the hospital even though Charlie's parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, have raised more than $1 million from private donations to transfer him to the U.S.

A UK High Court judge said today it will take "drastic" evidence for him to reverse his decision. Chris and Connie have 48 hours – until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday – to provide new evidence in favor of keeping Charlie alive to the court.

President Trump and Pope Francis have also expressed their support for Charlie and his parents.