Charlie Gard’s fate could be decided by court today as timing allowed for hearing is dramatically reduced
CHARLIE Gard’s fate may be decided today after a lastminute change to his court schedule.
His parents Connie Yates and Chris Gard were said to be ‘considering their next steps’ last night.
The British High Court had been due to hear two full days of evidence today and tomorrow, about whether the 11-month-old should be allowed to try experimental therapy in America or ‘die with dignity’ at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The judge said last week that the hearings would start early and finish late, and added that he was worried that two days might not be long enough.
But yesterday a judiciary spokesman unexpectedly announced that the hearing would be shorter, beginning at 2pm instead of 10am. Neither the family, the hospital nor the judiciary offered an explanation
‘Heaviest of hearts’
for the sudden change.
Charlie has had three scans in the past eight days as doctors try to decide whether there is a chance of improving his rare type of mitochondrial disease. Last Friday, the High Court was informed his latest scan report made for ‘very sad reading’ – prompting Ms Yates to shriek in anguish because the parents had not yet read the report themselves.
Mr Gard shouted that the hospital’s QC was ‘evil’. The parents, from southwest London, are furious with Great Ormond Street for not letting Charlie try the therapy in December or January, when he was ‘a relatively normal boy’. Previously, Mr Justice Francis has urged the two sides to come to an agreement on the best course for Charlie. He said if there was agreement, he was ‘bound to agree’ too. The judge ruled ‘with the heaviest of hearts’ in April that it would be kinder to let Charlie die. The case was reopened after US specialist Dr Michio Hirano and six other experts brought ‘new’ evidence. Pope Francis and Donald Trump tweeted support and a radical US pastor and fellow pro-life campaigners arrived.
On Saturday Great Ormond Street chief Mary MacLeod said in a statement the hospital had called in police as medics were being abused online, in the street and in the hospital. Charlie’s parents yesterday said they too were victims of abuse.
Ms Yates, 31, said: ‘We are extremely upset by the backlash we have received after Great Ormond Street put out their statement.
‘We do not and have not ever condoned any threatening or abusive remarks…We would have appreciated it if … they had asked the public not to say anything hurtful to us, as well as their doctors.’
She said they had ‘utmost respect’ for hospital staff, adding: Mr Gard, 32, said: ‘Without the excellent care of the doctors at Great Ormond Street, our son would not even be alive.’