Charlie Gard's parents storm out of court after disagreement with judge
The court hears from a US expert who said new evidence had emerged since April and that therapy had a 10% chance of success.
Friday 14 July 2017 04:35, UK
Charlie Gard's parents stormed out of a High Court hearing while trying to convince a judge that their son's life support machine should not be switched off.
Connie Yates and Chris Gard were angry after apparently being misquoted regarding the 11-month-old's quality of life.
Mr Gard punched a table, stood up and said: "I thought this was supposed to be independent."
His wife said: "We said he's not in suffering and in pain. If he was we wouldn't be up here fighting."
The pair left behind their son's toy monkey as they walked out.
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Mr Justice Francis, who made the original ruling back in April that "in the best interests of Charlie" his life support machine should be switched off, later apologised to his parents in court.
He told them he had located the transcript of evidence they gave three months ago, and that they would not be misquoted.
Charlie's parents - who returned to his bedside on Thursday evening - have submitted new evidence to the court that experimental treatment overseas could improve their son's condition.
"If there is important evidence which suggests that I should change my decision then I will change it," Judge Nicholas Francis told the packed courtroom in central London.
Charlie suffers from a rare genetic disorder called mitochondrial depletion syndrome which affects the cells' ability to generate energy.
He is currently on a ventilator at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where doctors say he cannot breathe, see, hear or cry.
Specialists at the hospital have argued that a trial therapy on offer in the US would not help Charlie as he has "severe and irreversible" brain damage and should be allowed to "die with dignity".
But an eminent New York expert, who has requested anonymity, says some new evidence has emerged since the last court decision in April.
Testing of nucleoside therapy on mice with a similar condition reduced muscle weakness, he said.
The expert claimed there was at least a 10% chance of clinically meaningful improvement - and that this was a "somewhat conservative" estimate.
But when cross-examined he said he had viewed only summaries of Charlie's medical records and had not seen the judge's comments in his previous decision.
The New York expert, who was giving evidence via videolink, said he would be prepared to come to London to examine Charlie.
A Vatican-run hospital in Rome has also said treatment may be possible.
Another point of contention is doctors at Great Ormond Street claiming the baby's head is not growing because his brain damage is so advanced.
Charlie's mother disputes this and the court heard she had measured the circumference of Charlie's head and found it had grown by two centimetres.
The judge expressed frustration that such a discrepancy had not been clarified and requested the issue be resolved by Saturday.
A statement read out on Charlie's parents behalf when the court was adjourned for the day said: "Let's pray that British justice that is known throughout the world for being fair, for being decent and for being compassionate, comes through for baby Charlie."
The couple, from West London, have also already fought and lost legal battles in the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
The case will resume at 2pm on Friday.