“JUDGED ASKED FOR NEW EVIDENCE, AND HE’S GETTING IT!”
by Sharon Rondeau
(Jul. 13, 2017) — As was reported on Monday, a hearing is taking place in a courtroom in London concerning the life of an 11-month-old British boy, Charlie Gard, who has been on life support and who the courts and hospital have indicated has no likelihood of improvement.
Thursday’s hearing was scheduled after Charlie’s parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, reported that a number of physicians from around the world know of a treatment which could help their child to regain muscle strength and breathe on his own.
Eyewitnesses in the courtroom are tweeting updates minute by minute.
On Tuesday, reports were issued claiming that the judge on Thursday would have to be given highly-compelling evidence that Charlie bears a viable chance of improvement with the experimental treatment in order to refrain from ordering that his life-support be terminated.
The parents wish to take Charlie to the United States to receive the experimental treatment, which reportedly has helped at least one child with a related form of his disease, mitochondrial depletion syndrome. Through a GoFundMe campaign, the family has raised more than $1.7 million to take Charlie to the U.S. for alternative treatment not offered in the UK.
At 10:07 a.m. EDT, LifeNews tweeted that the judge has ordered that Charlie’s head circumference be measured to determine if his brain is developing. It is unclear if previous measurements exist for comparison.
Previous to the international attention focused on Charlie’s case over the last month, the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) determined that Charlie should be given “death with dignity.”
Update, 1:13 p.m. EDT: LifeNews has reported that an unidentified physician considered an “expert” in the field into which Charlie’s medical condition falls told the presiding judge that the therapy regimen contemplated for the child is “worth trying,” with perhaps a 10% success rate.