TOT CHARLIE’S FRESH HOPE

Date set for new court battle

TERMINALLY ill tot Charlie Gard could be given another chance to have life-saving treatment.

Doctors bowed to global pressure over the weekend to give the desperately ill 11-month-old another chance.

They have twice planned to turn off his life support.

But Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where he is being treated, have asked the High Court to reopen the case after receiving fresh expert evidence.

The agonising case will be heard by Mr Justice Francis on Monday at 2pm, according to a court listing.

His mum Connie Yates said: “We’re hopeful and confident that Charlie may get a chance now.”

Connie and Charlie’s dad Chris Gard, from west London, have been battling to take their son to the US for pioneering nucleoside treatment.

But the High Court backed GOSH doctors claims that there was no evidence the treatment would work.

GOSH had described the experimental nucleoside therapies as “unjustified”.

The court will now review their decision after two international hospitals and their researchers contacted them “as late as the last 24 hours” to say they had “fresh evidence about their proposed experimental treatment”.

The hospital added in a statement: “We believe, in common with Charlie’s parents, it is right to explore this evidence. Great Ormond Street Hospital is therefore giving the High Court the opportunity to objectively assess the claims of fresh evidence.

“It will be for the High Court to make its judgment on the facts.”

Pope Francis and Donald Trump have also declared their support for Charlie and on Friday seven international scientists came to his aid, urging doctors to reconsider. They are all experts in mitochondrial depletion syndrome, the rare genetic condition Charlie suffers from.

They said there was “substantial direct and indirect evidence” that nucleoside treatment could benefit Charlie. Connie and Chris said the new evidence gave Charlie a much higher chance of survival than previously thought.

They said their son was not in pain or suffering and pleaded for him to be given another chance.

GOSH said it was acting in Charlie’s best interests. They described his condition as exceptionally rare and resulting in catastrophic and irreversible brain damage.