US expert meets with Charlie Gard's medical team at GOSH as hospital warns baby has 'no quality of life'

The parents of critically ill baby Charlie Gard, Connie Yates and Chris Gard arrive at the High Court
Reuters
Francesca Gillett17 July 2017

The treatment of Charlie Gard will be discussed today in high level talks between a US expert and the baby's medical team at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Michio Hirano, a professor of neurology at the Columbia University Medical Centre in New York, has flown to the UK to join meetings of medical experts at GOSH, as part of the court battle over Charlie's future.

Dr Hirano has been given an honorary contract, which the hospital said gives him the same status as its own physicians.

This means he can examine Charlie, and has full access to his medical records and the hospital's facilities.

A judge ruled that Charlie's mother, Connie Yates, could be present for Monday's discussions about Charlie's treatment with the foreign doctor and other medical experts.

Meetings are scheduled to take place on Monday and Tuesday to talk about Charlie's condition, before litigation resumes.

Charlie's parents are fighting for their son to be allowed to go to the US for a therapy trial for his rare genetic condition, overseen by Dr Hirano.

The parents of Charlie Gard are continuing their fight for their son's treatment.

Great Ormond Street Hospital specialists say the treatment will not work, and the little boy's life support should be turned off.

His parents, from Bedfont, west London, have already lost battles in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. They also failed to persuade European Court of Human Rights judges to intervene.

Mr Justice Francis has considered the couple's latest claims at preliminary hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London over the last few days.

He is due to stage further hearings later this month following this week's specialist gathering.

Great Ormond Street Hospital said its medical director met the visiting doctor on arrival.

The judge was told by lawyers acting for Charlie Gard that he had been “in error” when previously assessing key medical evidence
Reuters

The hospital said clinical staff were "on hand to facilitate the visit".

As well as Charlie's medical records, Dr Hirano will also have access to "all clinical systems", which includes diagnostic images.

The hospital also said the visiting neurosurgeon would have the opportunity to examine the 11-month-old.

Charlie Gard's father Chris arrived at the hospital today after medics said the baby has "no quality of life."

A statement on Great Ormond Street Hospital website reads: “At the heart of Charlie’s parlous and terrible condition is the question, how can it be in his best interests for his life-sustaining treatment to be withdrawn?

“Charlie has been treated on GOSH’s neonatal intensive care unit for many months now and very sadly, the question that arises for him arises for other patients and families at the hospital too.

“GOSH has treated over a thousand patients with mitochondrial disease and offers pioneering treatment, including nucleoside treatment, where appropriate.

“Despite all the advances in medical science made by GOSH and the other hospitals around the world, there remain some conditions that we cannot cure and we cannot ameliorate.”

“It has been and remains the unanimous view of all of those caring for Charlie at Great Ormond Street that withdrawal of ventilation and palliative care are all that the hospital can offer him consistent with his welfare.

“That is because in the view of his treating team and all those from whom GOSH obtained second opinions, he has no quality of life and no real prospect of any quality of life.”

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