London - A British court will resume its hearing on Monday over
whether critically ill baby Charlie Gard can be taken to the US for
experimental treatment, officials said.
The High Court session is scheduled to begin on Monday afternoon and
continue on Tuesday, and it remains unclear when it will issue any
ruling, a government official said.
The baby suffers from a rare genetic condition called mitochondrial
DNA depletion syndrome that causes progressive muscle weakness and
has left him with brain damage and unable to breathe without a
ventilator.
British and European courts have so far upheld lower court rulings
that the infant's life support should be ended so that he can die
with dignity.
A judge is expected to hear more evidence from a US expert who has
been working with the London hospital treating the 11-month-old,
widely known as Baby Charlie.
An undated hand out photo of Charlie Gard provided by his family, at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London. Picture: Family of Charlie Gard via AP
Parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates hope evidence from Columbia
University neurology professor Michio Hirano will convince the judge
to allow their child to be taken to New York for treatment.
Media reports said Hirano told the court in an earlier session that
his team had "evaluated more data" since medical evidence was heard
in April, estimating the chance of treatment improving the infant's
condition was "at least 10 per cent."
But specialists at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital argued that
the proposed therapy, which is backed by the parents, was
experimental and would not help, and that life support for the child
should be stopped.