US doctor in London to advise on treatment for Charlie Gard

0 Charlie Gard is on life support which Great Ormond Street doctors say should be turned off The American doctor who has offered to treat Charlie Gard has attended a meeting at Great Ormond Street Hospital, to help decide whether the 11-month-old will go to the US for treatment.

Michio Hirano, a professor of neurology at the Columbia University Medical Centre in New York, spent around four and a half hours inside the hospital yesterday.

Great Ormond Street Hospital said there was an honorary contract in place, meaning that for the duration of the visit Dr Hirano had the same rights as one of the hospital’s own clinicians.

He was also given full access to Charlie’s medical records, and hospital and clinical facilities, including diagnostic images.

Dr Hirano was also given an opportunity to examine Charlie, according to the hospital.

Meetings between the American neurosurgeon and other medical experts are due to continue today.

A judge has previously ruled that Charlie’s mother, Connie Yates, can be present for the meetings with Dr Hirano.

Charlie’s parents are fighting for the right to take the 11-month-old to the US for a therapy trial for his rare genetic condition, overseen by Dr Hirano.

Great Ormond Street Hospital specialists say that treatment will not work, and the little boy’s life support should be turned off.

His parents, from Bedfont, west London, have already lost battles in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. They also failed to persuade European Court of Human Rights judges to intervene.

Mr Justice Francis has considered the couple’s latest claims at preliminary hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London over the last few days.

He is due to stage further hearings later this month following this week’s specialist gathering.

Bosses at Great Ormond Street have spelled out doctors’ thinking in a statement posted on the hospital website.

“At the heart of Charlie’s parlous and terrible condition is the question, how can it be in his best interests for his lifesustaining treatment to be withdrawn?” says the Great Ormond Street statement.

“Charlie has been treated on GOSH’S neonatal intensive care unit for many months now... It has been and remains the unanimous view of all of those caring for Charlie at Great Ormond Street that withdrawal of ventilation and palliative care are all that the hospital can offer him consistent with his welfare.

“That is because in the view of his treating team and all those from whom GOSH obtained second opinions, he has no quality of life and no real prospect of any quality of life.”