Charlie Gard's Dad on Hearing Latest on Dying Baby: 'Evil!'

Brain scans on little Charlie said to be 'sad reading'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 21, 2017 12:50 PM CDT
Charlie Gard's Dad on Hearing Latest on Dying Baby: 'Evil!'
Charlie Gard's parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, arrive at the court in London where the hearing will resume into the case of their terminally ill baby on Friday.   (Lauren Hurley)

The British parents of critically ill baby Charlie Gard have been told by a hospital lawyer that the results of their son's latest brain scans make for "sad reading." Great Ormond Street Hospital lawyer Katie Gollop broke the bad news to Charlie's parents at a pre-court hearing Friday in London, the AP reports. Charlie's father, Chris Gard, yelled "Evil!" at Gollop as Charlie's mother, Connie Yates, began to cry. The parents said at the hearing it was the first time they were being told about the latest results in the crucial test of Charlie's brain function. The hospital believes that 11-month-old Charlie has suffered irreversible brain damage that treatment can't repair; his parents disagree. Earlier this week, Charlie underwent brain scans in an attempt to determine whether his brain damage is irreversible. The results of the scans weren't made public.

The pre-hearing was the latest step in his parents' long legal battle to give Charlie, who suffers from mitochondrial depletion syndrome and can't breathe unaided, an experimental treatment. They believe the treatment, which has never been tested on a human with Charlie's condition, could restore his muscular and brain functions. Previous courts have sided with Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Charlie is being treated and which says the treatment would cause suffering and wouldn't help, suggesting that his life support be halted. Charlie's parents have, however, received support from Pope Francis and President Trump. Judge Nicholas Francis said in Friday's hearing that American specialist Dr. Michio Hirano and Charlie's parents could present evidence at a hearing Monday, as long as it's new and relevant to the case. (More Charlie Gard stories.)

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