New hope for parent of 11-month old son suffering from terminal illness

World Today

A High Court judge in Britain has said he’ll reconsider the case of terminally ill baby Charlie Gard following the promise of new evidence.

Eleven month-old Charlie can’t breathe or eat unaided, but his case has attracted international attention, including messages from U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Francis in Rome.

CGTN’s Richard Bestic reports on a medical dilemma dividing medical and ethical opinion.

With supporters on the doorstep of the U.K High Court, the parents of Charlie Gard have been offered a glimmer of hope for the life of their baby. Fighting to overturn a High Court ruling that allows doctors to switch off Charlie’s life support, the court is now to reconsider. The latest challenge accepted after reports about new data from foreign healthcare centers.

Baby Charlie and Charlie’s parent Connie and Chris are thankful for the outcome of the hearing of the High Court today in front of Justice Francis.

At the weekend Charlie’s parents handed in a petition with a 350,000 signatures to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where doctors treating the baby said his case is hopeless.

Charlie’s mother said, despite long odds, she’s hopeful about the new medication.

“I think this has a chance. It’s got… up to 10 percent chance of working for Charlie and we feel that it’s a chance worth taking. We’ve been fighting for this medication since November. We’re now in July. He’s our son, he’s our flesh and blood and we feel it should be our right as parents to decide to give him a chance of life,” Yates said.

Charlie’s case has attracted attention from around the world. U.S. President Donald Trump Tweeted offers of help and there have been prayers from the Pope in Rome.

In the High Court, a lawyer for Charlie’s family said new and unpublished data suggested a ‘dramatic clinical improvement’ could be achieved.

Charlie inherited the rare condition mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome, which has left him brain damaged and entirely dependent on a respirator.

The tragedy of Charlie Gard’s short life story is that there can be no winners here. Whatever a ruling from a High Court would dictate, it can’t get around the love demonstrated by the parents of little Charlie nor the time and expertise by dedicated medical teams here in Britain. This is a battle of parents rights with Charlie unknowing at the center of it all.