Charlie Gard's family vow 'fight is not over'
The terminally ill baby's family are expected to join a demonstration outside Great Ormond Street Hospital later.
Sunday 9 July 2017 04:56, UK
The family of terminally ill baby Charlie Gard have said the "fight is not over" ahead of a fresh court battle over his treatment.
On the @charliesfight Twitter campaign account, the family thanked supporters for sharing the story of their 11-month-old son worldwide.
"A HUGE thank you to all you out there supporting and sharing Charlie's story! please keep going!the fight is not over!!!! #charliegard," they wrote.
Connie Yates and Chris Gard, from Bedfont, west London, want to take their baby son to a hospital in the US for experimental treatment, but lost a lengthy legal battle after judges ruled in favour of doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), who argued the therapy would not improve Charlie's quality of life.
The couple are expected to join a demonstration outside Great Ormond Street Hospital today when a petition of over 350,000 signatures will be delivered, calling on doctors to allow the baby to travel to the US for treatment.
The Sun reported the family had spoken to the father of young cancer patient Ashya King, whose parents took him out of hospital and abroad for proton beam therapy not offered on the NHS.
Brett King, 54, accused GOSH doctors of making a "boardroom decision" on Charlie's case and told the paper: "There's no logic in refusing them."
GOSH said on Friday it had applied to the High Court for a fresh hearing "in light of claims of new evidence relating to potential treatment for his condition".
The decision was prompted by claims of "new information" from researchers at the Vatican's children's hospital.
Clinicians from the Bambino Gesu paediatric hospital's neurosciences department said tests in mice and patients, with a similar but not the same genetic condition as Charlie, had shown "dramatic clinical improvements".
Charlie inherited the faulty RRM2B gene from his parents, affecting the cells responsible for energy production and respiration and leaving him unable to move or breathe without a ventilator. The therapy is not a cure.
GOSH said it will now be for the High Court to make its judgement on the facts.
Previous legal attempts by Charlie's parents failed as judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in London ruled in favour of GOSH doctors, while the European Court of Human Rights declined to hear the couple's appeal.
Charlie's case will be heard by Mr Justice Francis on Monday at 2pm, according to a High Court listing.