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WORLD NEWS Saturday 15 July 2017

American doctor to travel to UK in Charlie Gard case

“open-minded about the famous children’s hospital given permission — even
evidence” to come after over whether trying an ex- though it would not nor-
the visit of Dr. Michio Hirano perimental treatment is in mally be allowed.
of Columbia University. Charlie’s best interest. The “It may be unconventional
The 11-month-old boy suf- case attracted interna- but this case is full of un-
fers from mitochondrial tional attention after Pope conventional aspects,”
depletion syndrome, a rare Francis and President Don- the judge said. Francis has
genetic disease that has ald Trump weighed in. promised to rule by July 25.
left him brain-damaged They have been fighting Charlie suffers from mito-
and unable to breathe un- to take him to the United chondrial depletion syn-
aided. Hirano’s research States for treatment. drome, a rare genetic
focuses on mitochondrial Hirano will assess Charlie, disease that has left him
diseases and genetic my- meet his current immedi- brain-damaged and un-
opathies and he has treat- ate-care team and other able to breathe unaided.
ed others with conditions specialists, including a Hirano, who testified via
similar to Charlie’s. They doctor from the Vatican video-link on Thursday, said
boy’s parents are fight- children’s hospital. Char- it was worth trying treat-
The parents of critically ill baby Charlie Gard, Connie Yates and ing an emotional legal lie’s mother, Connie Yates, ment that has recently
Chris Gard arrive at the High Court in London, Friday, July 14,
2017. The parents of the 11-month old, who has a rare genetic battle with Britain’s most fought to attend and was emerged.q
condition and brain damage, returned to court Friday hoping for
a fresh analysis of their wish to take baby Charlie to the United
States for medical treatment.
(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
By CAROLINE SPIEZIO affecting Charlie Gard will
DANICA KIRKA travel to Britain next week
Associated Press to assess the critically ill
LONDON (AP) — An Ameri- baby.
can doctor who specializes High Court Judge Nicho-
in conditions such as that las Francis said Friday he is

UK police appeal for information
after spate of brutal acid attacks

LONDON (AP) — Five linked ing mopeds. At least one,
acid attacks in quick suc- a man in his 20s, was left
cession by men on mopeds with life-changing injuries,
in London left several peo- police said. A 15-year-old
ple injured, British police boy and a 16-year-old boy
said Friday. They are the were arrested on suspicion
latest in a spate of assaults of robbery and grievous
with corrosive liquids that bodily harm. One was de-
have alarmed residents tained near the scene of
and politicians. The Met- an attack, the other at an
ropolitan Police force said address in east London on
two teenagers have been Friday. London police say
arrested in connection with the number of reported at-
the 90-minute rampage tacks with corrosive liquids
which began late Thurs- rose from 261 in 2015 to
day. 454 in 2016. Some appear
Two men on a moped related to gang activity or
tossed a noxious substance the theft of cars and mo-
into the face of a 32-year- torbikes. The latest assaults
old moped driver, then come after several other
jumped on his vehicle and high-profile attacks, includ-
drove away. ing one in which a man is
The pattern was repeat- accused of throwing acid
ed across a swath of east at an aspiring model and
London. All the victims her cousin as they sat in
were attacked while rid- their car. q