Connie Yates, the mother of Charlie Gard, has thanked US doctor Michio Hirano for flying in from New York to examine her son.
Dr Hirano arrived in London on Monday, and visited Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to examine her son. They spent five hours with Charlie and examined his latest brain scan, ordered by the court.
Yesterday, Dr Hirano - along with another doctor from the Pope’s hospital in Rome - attended a meeting with Charlie’s doctors, a UK expert in mitochondrial disease, and Connie. The aim of the meeting, which was chaired by an independent expert, was to discuss treatment options for Charlie.
After five hours of deliberations, the meeting concluded to allow Dr Hirano to fly back home. The Mail Online reports that, despite lengthy discussions, doctors from GOSH have not changed their minds about Charlie.
Connie extended her thanks to Dr Hirano, saying: “Chris and I are so grateful to Dr Hirano and the other clinicians for coming to see Charlie.
“Our gorgeous baby boy is still stable. We are at his bedside and feel satisfied he is not suffering or in any pain. As Charlie's loving parents, we are doing the right thing for our son in exploring all treatment options.”
Connie also revealed that Dr Hirano ordered an MRI of Charlie’s body, and an electroencephalogram (EEG) test to measure brain activity.
“As stated in court, we asked our experts what they required, and Dr Hirano requested that Charlie has a new MRI and also a 30-minute EEG.
“GOSH preferred a longer EEG, which the judge ordered. Our son has now undergone the scans. We have facilitated the experts in every possible way. Charlie will be having some more tests shortly.”
A transcript of the meeting will be given to the judge presiding over the case, Mr Justice Francis, next Tuesday; he will make the final decision on whether Charlie should have the experimental treatment in America, or whether his life support ought to be withdrawn.
Dr Hirano, who works at Columbia University Medical Centre, has developed an experimental therapy that he believes may be able to slow down the progress of Charlie’s rare genetic condition.
He claimed there was a 10 percent chance that Charlie’s muscle strength could improve, and a “small but significant chance” his brain function could if he were to receive the experimental neucleoside therapy in America, according to The Mirror.
Based on trials carried out on mice, the doctor told the High Court there was a chance of “between 11 per cent and 56 per cent” of “clinically meaningful improvement” in the seriously ill 11-month-old.
However, he added the disease could not be "fixed or cured".
