American doctor to travel to U.K. in Charlie Gard case

LONDON – An American doctor who specializes in conditions such as that affecting Charlie Gard will travel to Britain next week to assess the critically ill baby.

High Court Judge Nicholas Francis said Friday he is “open-minded about the evidence” to come after the visit of Dr. Michio Hirano of Columbia University.

Hirano’s research focuses on mitochondrial diseases and genetic myopathies and he has treated others with conditions similar to that involving the 11-month-old.

Gard’s parents have been locked in a legal battle with Britain’s most famous children’s hospital over whether trying an experimental treatment is in Charlie’s best interest. The case attracted international attention after President Donald Trump and Pope Francis weighed in.

They have been fighting to take him to the United States for treatment. But after much legal wrangling, Hirano is now coming to them.

Hirano will assess Charlie, meet with his current immediate care team and other specialists, including a doctor from the Vatican children’s hospital. Charlie’s mother, Connie Yates, fought to attend and was given permission.

“We’ll have to wait and see the evidence,” Judge Francis said. He promised to rule by July 25.

Charlie suffers from mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a rare genetic disease that has left him brain-damaged and unable to breathe unaided.

Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital have fought the parents’ bid for treatment because they don’t think it will help and may cause him pain. The hospital says Charlie should be allowed to die with dignity.

A succession of courts has backed the hospital, but the case returned to the High Court Thursday after claims of new evidence and the high-profile interventions

Hirano, who testified in the case via video-link in the case on Thursday, said it was worth trying treatment that has only recently emerged.

Hirano’s name only appeared in public on Friday, as a court order had previously blocked its mention.