Hospital changes decision on infant

LONDON — In an abrupt shift, a London hospital said Friday it would reconsider its decision to turn off life support for Charlie Gard, a braindamaged and terminally ill British infant, in light of “fresh evidence” about a potential treatment.

Charlie, 11 months old, has a rare and debilitating genetic condition known as mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome that has no cure, and the hospital said letting him die was the only humane option to end his potential pain and suffering.

Great Ormond Street Hospital, where the boy has lived since October, had won a series of court rulings, most recently last week, authorizing it to withdraw life support.

On Friday afternoon, however, the hospital changed course.

“Two international hospitals and their researchers have communicated to us as late as the last 24 hours that they have fresh evidence about their proposed experimental treatment,” the hospital said in the statement. “And we believe, in common with Charlie’s parents, it is right to explore this evidence.”

The boy’s parents are convinced that an experimental therapy, developed by a U.S. neurologist, may help their son recover some functions.

The hospital said Friday it had not changed its view that Charlie had experienced “catastrophic and irreversible brain damage” and that the experimental treatment, known as, “would be futile.”