Baby’s brain scan ‘sad,’ parents told

LONDON — 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 news to Charlie’s parents at a pre-court hearing Friday in London.

Charlie’s father, Chris Gard, yelled “Evil!” at Gollop as his mother, Connie Yates, began to cry. The parents said at the hearing it was the first time that 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 cannot 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 were not made public.

The prehearing Friday was the latest step in his parents’ long legal battle to give Charlie, who suffers from mitochondrial depletion syndrome and cannot breathe unaided, an experimental treatment. They believe the treatment, which has never been tested on a human with Charlie’s exact condition, could restore his muscular and brain functions.

It’s not clear how much longer Charlie can live without the treatment.

Judge Nicholas Francis, who has overseen the latest round of appearances at London’s High Court, said in Friday’s hearing that Charlie’s parents could present evidence at a hearing Monday.