New York Doctor Calls in to UK Hearing on Charlie Gard; ‘Significant Evidence’ Presented
“Significant evidence” was introduced during a sometimes emotional hearing at London’s High Court to determine whether Charlie Gard may receive therapy.
At one point early in the day the 11-month-old’s parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, stormed out of the courtroom over some comments by judge Nicholas Francis. Francis later said he understood how difficult the hearing was for them and that they could leave again if necessary.
Gard and Yates are fighting to take Charlie to the U.S. He has mitochondrial depletion syndrome and is unable to move or breathe on his own. A U.S. doctor offered to try nucleoside therapy, a treatment administered orally, on Charlie. For months, his doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London have insisted he must be taken off life support to prevent more suffering, and U.K. courts have backed them.
GOSH only applied for a rehearing at the High Court after several doctors signed a letter saying there was new evidence indicating the nucleoside treatment had an even better chance of working than previously thought. The appeal came after Pope Francis, President Donald Trump, and hospitals in the Vatican and in New York offered help and support to Charlie’s parents.
On Monday, Francis told Gard and Yates they had 48 hours to collect and turn over all the new evidence. Today the case continued. Francis reportedly noted there would not likely be a decision Thursday, but that he doesn’t want to delay either.
Americans United for Life president Catherine Glenn Foster is in the U.K. helping support Charlie’s parents. She spoke with The Stream Wednesday, saying that the international support has been “meaningful” to them. She live-tweeted Thursday’s hearing, which featured testimony from a doctor in New York who says nucleoside therapy could help Charlie.
Below are some of her tweets, beginning Wednesday night. Click here for more.
Counting down to his day in court! Doesn't Connie have beautiful handwriting? #IAmCharlieGard #SaveCharlieGard #CharlieGard pic.twitter.com/CkhVeZ9239
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 12, 2017
#CharlieGard lawyers presenting new evidence on: (1) Likely to be muscular improvement, (2) Likely that will cross blood brain barrier…
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
and (3) Likely to impact not only muscular cells but also brain cells. & fighting contentions of irreversible structural brain damage.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Will hear evidence from a doctor at 2:00 p.m. London time. Doesn't expect to reach a decision today. #CharlieGard #IAmCharlieGard
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Judge: If there is evidence to change my decision, I will and will be very happy to change it. #IAmCharlieGard
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
#CharlieGard lawyers: the likelihood of success of cutting-edge therapy shifts the balance to treatment being in Charlie's best interests
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Armstrong: Lead doc advocating therapy "not a lone voice" or "fringe"; rather, "at the forefront of his particular field." #CharlieGard
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Grant Armstrong is the lawyer representing Gard and Yates.
Armstrong: respect conscience rights. Not seeking to require GOSH to treat in violation of conscience. But NY, Rome hosps want to treat.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Judge comparing U.K., U.S. therapy criteria: "sometimes you have to look at the quality of the life you're going to sustain."
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Hearing may stretch into tomorrow.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Katie Gollop, GOSH's lawyer, arguing that evidence isn't "new" and therefore shouldn't be considered. #IAmCharlieGard
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Chris, Connie walked out of court very unhappy. I've had meetings with Chris, Connie, legal team during break.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Chris, Connie trying to stay upbeat; Chris winked at me, and Connie smiled bravely as I mouthed "love you"
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
That issue with none of the docs deciding Charlie's fate, good or bad, having seen him, is why Connie, Chris stormed out of court.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Judge to Connie, Chris: I understand why you left the courtroom. Understand how difficult this is for you both. No prob if need to do again.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Going through doctor's background. He is extremely distinguished. #CharlieGard #IAmCharlieGard
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
New: Top doctors have established in mice that treatment can cross blood-brain barrier! Not available in April…
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
"Clearly indicates" that meds can penetrate blood-brain barrier, convert to triphosphates = building blocks for mitochondrial DNA
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Doc: GOSH MRIs show NO DEFINITE STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES. IMPLIES DYSFUNCTION, NOT STRUCTURAL BRAIN DAMAGE.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Doc on chance of clinically meaningful success: "AT LEAST 10%" based on 9 TK2 pts, one who was on vent 24 hrs/day and now totally off.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Doc: "IN MY VIEW, KEEPING CHARLIE ON ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION WILL NOT CAUSE HIM HARM BC HE DOESNT SEEM TO BE IN ANY SIGNIFICANT PAIN."
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Seems that this is GOSH's strategy to defend self after the awkwardness in court on Monday re Charlie's medical record.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Doc: Charlie has already beaten prognosis, expectations. Disease course could be different. Who knows why.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
GOSH trying to prove that doc had access to new evidence, so not new. Doc: had access to it, but had not evaluated it. So new!
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Doc: Therapy has evolved over last few months, more time to examine data, put into perspective. Had some data, but not considered in-depth.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
GOSH arguing against Charlie, but court-appointed guardian is too. Sad. All too common.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Guardian pushing on brain damage. Implies if can't be certain that therapy will work to improve Charlie's brain, not worth trying.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Armstrong: Without treatment, we'll never know if irreversible brain damage or treatable condition, right?
Doc: Yes.— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Armstrong: Is the info you're providing to the High Court new or no?
Doc: Yes, new.— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Feed with doc now closed. GOSH lawyer now saying media don't have full info and sometime report misinformation. Tying this to doc.
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
Judge has rec'd doc evidence. "It is significant evidence."
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
All rise…court adjourned!
— CatherineGlennFoster (@cateici) July 13, 2017
