Charlie Gard case: US father says Professor Michio Hirano's experimental treatment 'saved my son'
Art Estopinan says it is unfair to criticise the "angel" US doctor for giving false hope to Charlie Gard's family.
Tuesday 25 July 2017 06:22, UK
The father of a boy with a similar condition to Charlie Gard has defended the US doctor who offered to treat him.
Art Estopinan told Sky News that Michio Hirano saved with experimental treatment.
Dr Hirano had offered to help Charlie Gard but Great Ormond Street Hospital were adamant the treatment would not help the British baby.
After Charlie's parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates withdrew their bid to take him to the US for the treatment, the hospital's lawyer Katie Gollop QC .
She said the hospital hoped those, like Professor Hirano, who "have provided the opinions that have so sustained Charlie's parents, their hopes and thus this protracted litigation with its many consequences, will also find much upon which to reflect".
She was joined in her criticism by Lord Robert Winston, professor of science and society at Imperial College London, who told Sky News that Professor Hirano had been "wicked" to give Charlie's parents the "idea that somehow had this baby been treated earlier it would have made a difference".
But Mr Estopinan, who has met Charlie's parents and been in contact with them throughout their battle, described the doctor as "an angel" and "a saint".
He told Sky News: "He saved my son and he has saved about 16 or 18 other children around the world with these devastating diseases and he is coming up with new, experimental medications for other neural generative muscular disorders.
"It is unfortunate and regrettable that GOSH decided to fight for Charlie to die in the legal courts in the UK rather than to treat him in the hospital.
"As doctors, everyone would expect they would try to save his life and fight for his life but regrettably GOSH and Charlie's doctors fought for him to die."
He described Professor Hirano as "an incredible... brilliant scientist... and incredible medical doctor and a compassionate father".
He said the professor had "wanted to save" Charlie but that the hospital had "allowed (him) to waste away for eight months", something he described as "shameful" and "despicable".
"We live in 2017," he said.
"This is a tech-advanced society.
"Without insulting anyone, I highly recommend these doctors in the UK to get informed."