(continued from previous page)
The second basic question in this case is who should have the ultimate authority to make the decision concerning Charlie’s fate — his parents or the government? Historically, in Western civilization and particularly in the English-speaking world, that final decision-making authority has been vested with the parents, not the government. The only real legal precedent to the contrary has been if the parents are denying a child life-saving medical treatment because of religious convictions.

In such cases, the U.S. courts have concluded that the state has a “compelling interest” in the child’s right to survival. Thus, the courts have been willing to intervene to order, for instance, blood transfusions for a child even if it violates the religious convictions of the parents. The courts argue the child is not capable of understanding the consequences of such a decision, and so the court intervenes on the child’s behalf and orders the transfusions.

Related: What Becomes of the Persecuted Christians of Iraq and Syria?

Of course, in the Charlie Gard case, the medical treatment will almost certainly be palliative, rather than therapeutic or curative. Even so, the ultimate decision should reside with the parents, not the government’s doctors, judges or lawyers.

This child’s case also has enormous implications relating to current health care debates here in America. When the government runs health care, as it does in the single-payer NHS system in Britain, the supposedly “free” guaranteed access to health care is anything but free. First, consumers pay taxes for care. More importantly, perhaps the biggest price you pay with government-run health care is to surrender your autonomy to decide what is the best health care for you and your children’s welfare — a terrible price indeed.

Although Charlie Gard may be severely, perhaps terminally, medically challenged, he is forever his parents’ little boy — and they love and cherish him. They should have the right to seek whatever care they think may help him.

How dare government bureaucrats say otherwise.

Dr. Richard Land is an evangelical leader and president of Southern Evangelical Seminary. He served on President Donald Trump’s Evangelical Faith Advisory Board during the election and is still involved in a consulting capacity with the White House today. Land is featured in his nationally syndicated daily radio commentary, “Bringing Every Thought Captive,” which airs on nearly 800 stations nationwide. (photo credit: Featureworld)