CHARLIE MUM BEGS: PLEASE LISTEN TO US
IN BID FOR U.S. TREATMENT
CHARLIE Gard’s parents yesterday begged a judge for one last chance to save their terminally ill son.
The 11-month-old’s mum Connie Yates, pleaded with Mr Justice Francis: “He’s our son. Please listen to us.”
She was in tears during a tense High Court hearing at which her partner, Chris Gard, shouted at the legal team representing Great Ormond Street Hospital.
At the end of the hearing, the judge agreed to listen to new evidence which the couple say is available in the case on Thursday.
Doctors say Charlie, who has a rare genetic condition and is on life support, has irreversible brain damage and no chance of survival. They also say the experimental treatment his parents want him to have in the US could cause him pain and suffering.
But his parents, who raised more than £1million to take him to the US, insist other experts have said he has a 10 per cent chance of improvement.
Connie, 31, told the judge: “Ten per cent – if that was your son, you would take that chance. He’s our son. Please listen to us.”
Postman Chris, 32, shouted at the hospital legal team: “When are you going to start telling the truth?”
The couple’s lawyers failed in a bid to get Mr Justice Francis – who ruled against them in April – to stand down.
The judge said:“If you bring new evidence to me and I consider that evidence changes the situation ... I will be the first to welcome that outcome.”
During two hours of legal argument, Great Ormond Street questioned whether the alleged fresh evidence is anything new.
The courts have given the hospital the right to withdraw Charlie’s life support but they have chosen not to do it to allow his parents more time with him.
US president Donald Trump and the Pope have both offered help in getting treatment for Charlie.
But the judge said yesterday that he must decide the case “on evidence, not tweets”,