The mother of Charlie Gard returned to the High Court today (25 July) to seek permission to take her terminally-ill son home to die.
Charlie is expected to be removed from his life-support machine at Great Ormond Street hospital (GOSH) in the coming days after his parents said on 24 July that they were ending their legal fight to be allowed to fly Charlie to the US for experimental treatment.
Barrister Grant Armstrong, who represents Charlie’s parents, said the couple’s “final wish” is to take Charlie home.
Armstrong said that the hospital was putting “obstacles” in the way of Chris Gard and Connie Yates' wish.
Katie Gollop QC, the hospital’s lawyer, said the couple had, since Saturday, refused a number of offers of mediation over the issue “for reasons Great Ormond Street will never know.”
"We need to balance the parents’ needs and Charlie's best interests," she told the judge.
She added the hospital wanted to fulfil Charlie's parents' "last desire" but that providing intensive care to Charlie outside a hospital setting was not simple.
Presiding judge, Mr Justice Francis said: "If going home can be achieved within reason then I would like to achieve that for them."
He adjourned the hearing to allow private discussions to take place.
PICTURE: Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Charlie Gard's parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates reading a statement in the witness box at the High Court in London, after they ended their legal fight over treatment for their terminally-ill baby
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