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Charlie Gard: High Court hears dispute over baby's skull size | Charlie Gard: High Court hears dispute over baby's skull size |
(35 minutes later) | |
The judge hearing the case of terminally ill Charlie Gard said it was "absurd" that a dispute over his head size was "undermining" the case. | |
His parents' lawyer told the High Court Charlie's mother had regularly measured her son's head and disagreed with the hospital's measurements. | His parents' lawyer told the High Court Charlie's mother had regularly measured her son's head and disagreed with the hospital's measurements. |
Doctors have said the baby's skull has not grown in three months, suggesting a lack of brain function. | Doctors have said the baby's skull has not grown in three months, suggesting a lack of brain function. |
His parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, have walked out of the hearing. | His parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, have walked out of the hearing. |
The judge is due to rule on whether the 11-month-old baby, who is on life support at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), can be given a trial treatment. | |
The court heard Ms Yates had measured her baby's head this morning and there was a 2cm difference with the hospital's measurements. | The court heard Ms Yates had measured her baby's head this morning and there was a 2cm difference with the hospital's measurements. |
Mr Justice Francis said he wanted the matter resolved and ordered for an independent person to measure Charlie's head within 24 hours. | |
"It is absurd that the science of this case is being infected by the inability to measure a child's skull," he said. | "It is absurd that the science of this case is being infected by the inability to measure a child's skull," he said. |
The couple, who come from Bedfont, west London, left the hearing after two hours over a disagreement with the judge about what they had said at a previous hearing on whether Charlie was in pain. | |
Mr Gard stood up and said: "I thought this was supposed to be independent." | Mr Gard stood up and said: "I thought this was supposed to be independent." |
Mr Justice Francis then offered to adjourn but was told the pair already knew the evidence being given by their legal team. | |
Charlie has a rare genetic condition called mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDDS). | Charlie has a rare genetic condition called mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDDS). |
Doctors say he should be moved on to palliative care but his parents have raised more than £1.3m to take their son to the US for an experimental treatment. | |
The treatment, called nucleoside therapy, is not a cure and there have not been any trials to see if it would work in Charlie's condition. | The treatment, called nucleoside therapy, is not a cure and there have not been any trials to see if it would work in Charlie's condition. |
Charlie has severe brain damage, cannot open his eyes or move his arms or legs and needs to be on a ventilator. | Charlie has severe brain damage, cannot open his eyes or move his arms or legs and needs to be on a ventilator. |
Doctors at GOSH have said his life support should be switched off and he should be allowed to die with dignity. | Doctors at GOSH have said his life support should be switched off and he should be allowed to die with dignity. |
The case returned to the High Court following reports of new data from foreign healthcare experts who suggested treatment could improve his condition. | |
Doctors at the hospital have said the evidence is not new but it was right for the court to explore it. | |
The couple have already lost battles in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to allow them to take their son elsewhere for treatment. | |
They also failed to persuade European Court of Human Rights judges to intervene in the case. |