This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-40552026
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Charlie Gard: High Court hears new evidence in case | Charlie Gard: High Court hears new evidence in case |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A High Court judge is hearing fresh evidence in the case of terminally-ill baby Charlie Gard. | |
| Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has referred the case back to court after reports of new data from foreign healthcare facilities. | Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has referred the case back to court after reports of new data from foreign healthcare facilities. |
| Charlie's parents had made several unsuccessful challenges to a decision to end the 11-month-old's life support. | Charlie's parents had made several unsuccessful challenges to a decision to end the 11-month-old's life support. |
| On Sunday, they handed in a 350,000-signature petition calling for him to travel to the US for treatment. | On Sunday, they handed in a 350,000-signature petition calling for him to travel to the US for treatment. |
| 'Dramatic clinical improvement' | 'Dramatic clinical improvement' |
| Mr Justice Francis is overseeing the preliminary hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in the presence of Charlie's parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates. | Mr Justice Francis is overseeing the preliminary hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in the presence of Charlie's parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates. |
| They are seeking permission to remove Charlie - who has the rare condition mitochondrial depletion syndrome - from the care of Great Ormond Street hospital so he can undergo experimental treatment abroad. | They are seeking permission to remove Charlie - who has the rare condition mitochondrial depletion syndrome - from the care of Great Ormond Street hospital so he can undergo experimental treatment abroad. |
| The judge said: "There is not a person alive who would not want to save Charlie." | The judge said: "There is not a person alive who would not want to save Charlie." |
| However, he warned he would need to be persuaded something had happened that would change a judge's mind. | However, he warned he would need to be persuaded something had happened that would change a judge's mind. |
| A lawyer for the family said new and unpublished data was recently shared with the hospital that suggested treatment could produce a "dramatic clinical improvement" in Charlie's condition. | A lawyer for the family said new and unpublished data was recently shared with the hospital that suggested treatment could produce a "dramatic clinical improvement" in Charlie's condition. |
| Previously doctors had indicated Charlie had irreversible structural brain damage. | |
| Lawyers representing the family have now said using "cutting edge genetic science" there was a "small chance" of brain recovery. | |
| They questioned whether Mr Justice Francis was the correct person to be assessing the fresh medical evidence, given that in April he had ruled Charlie's life support should be withdrawn. | |
| In reply, the judge said: "I did my job." | |
| "I will continue to do my job." | |
| 'Decision out of our hands' | |
| Charlie inherited the faulty RRM2B gene, affecting the cells responsible for energy production and respiration and leaving him unable to move or breathe without a ventilator. | Charlie inherited the faulty RRM2B gene, affecting the cells responsible for energy production and respiration and leaving him unable to move or breathe without a ventilator. |
| GOSH describes proposed experimental therapies as "unjustified" and said the treatments being offered are not a cure. | GOSH describes proposed experimental therapies as "unjustified" and said the treatments being offered are not a cure. |
| Charlie's case explained | Charlie's case explained |
| However, the hospital's decision to go back to court came after researchers at two international healthcare facilities said they had "fresh evidence about their proposed experimental treatment". | However, the hospital's decision to go back to court came after researchers at two international healthcare facilities said they had "fresh evidence about their proposed experimental treatment". |
| Charlie's parents, from Bedfont in west London, want their son to have nucleoside therapy. | Charlie's parents, from Bedfont in west London, want their son to have nucleoside therapy. |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Yates described the situation as a "living hell". | Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Yates described the situation as a "living hell". |
| "I couldn't sit there and watch him in pain and suffering, I promise you I wouldn't," she said, adding: "I think parents know when their children are ready to go and they've given up, and Charlie is still fighting. | "I couldn't sit there and watch him in pain and suffering, I promise you I wouldn't," she said, adding: "I think parents know when their children are ready to go and they've given up, and Charlie is still fighting. |
| "It's horrible that this decision has been taken out of our hands. It's not just about us knowing best, it's about having other hospitals and doctors saying we want to treat [Charlie] and we think it's the best thing to do." | "It's horrible that this decision has been taken out of our hands. It's not just about us knowing best, it's about having other hospitals and doctors saying we want to treat [Charlie] and we think it's the best thing to do." |
| Ms Yates said they were not criticising Great Ormond Street Hospital as "they do great things". | Ms Yates said they were not criticising Great Ormond Street Hospital as "they do great things". |
| She said she hoped the judge would take into account new evidence as when the decision was made previously, Charlie's chance was rated at being close to 0% but now this has increased to 10%. | She said she hoped the judge would take into account new evidence as when the decision was made previously, Charlie's chance was rated at being close to 0% but now this has increased to 10%. |
| Analysis by Nick Triggle, BBC health correspondent: | Analysis by Nick Triggle, BBC health correspondent: |
| Charlie is thought to be one of 16 children in the world to have mitochondrial depletion syndrome. | Charlie is thought to be one of 16 children in the world to have mitochondrial depletion syndrome. |
| It is a rare genetic condition which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage because he is unable to get energy to his organs. | It is a rare genetic condition which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage because he is unable to get energy to his organs. |
| Doctors have said he now cannot see, hear, move, cry or swallow and has irreversible brain damage. His lungs are only able to keep going because of the treatment he is receiving. | Doctors have said he now cannot see, hear, move, cry or swallow and has irreversible brain damage. His lungs are only able to keep going because of the treatment he is receiving. |
| They have argued he should be allowed to die with dignity. | They have argued he should be allowed to die with dignity. |
| But his parents and supporters have been fighting for him to be given an experimental treatment in the US. | But his parents and supporters have been fighting for him to be given an experimental treatment in the US. |
| The treatment is not a cure - there isn't one - but it has been suggested it could reduce the effects of the disease. | The treatment is not a cure - there isn't one - but it has been suggested it could reduce the effects of the disease. |
| Although doctors in the US have since said the benefits they have seen have not been in cases as advanced as Charlie's. | Although doctors in the US have since said the benefits they have seen have not been in cases as advanced as Charlie's. |
| US President Donald Trump and the Vatican have supported the parents' campaign for Charlie to be treated abroad, but a leading expert has described interventions from high-profile figures as "unhelpful". | US President Donald Trump and the Vatican have supported the parents' campaign for Charlie to be treated abroad, but a leading expert has described interventions from high-profile figures as "unhelpful". |
| Prof Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said in an open letter that Charlie's situation was "heartbreaking" for his parents, but added that even well-meaning interventions from outsiders could be unhelpful. | Prof Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said in an open letter that Charlie's situation was "heartbreaking" for his parents, but added that even well-meaning interventions from outsiders could be unhelpful. |
| Mr Gard said: "If we won the court case and we got to America, and then within the first week of treatment he started suffering and he was in pain, we would let him go. | Mr Gard said: "If we won the court case and we got to America, and then within the first week of treatment he started suffering and he was in pain, we would let him go. |
| "This isn't about us. This is about Charlie and giving him the chance he needs." | "This isn't about us. This is about Charlie and giving him the chance he needs." |
| Timeline | Timeline |
| Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning | Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning |