Parents of sick Bedfont baby Charlie Gard are waiting for a ruling on their son's future amid a disagreement on whether he should travel to America for treatment.
Postman Chris Gard, and Connie Yates, clutched onto their baby's cuddly monkey at the Family Division of the High Court as a judge analysed evidence before deciding what is in the little boy's best interests.
A barrister representing Charlie's parents told Mr Justice Francis at the hearing on Monday (April 3), that the boy's normal life did not cause him pain, however doctors say the boy will suffer unnecessarily if taken to America for treatment.
Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) believe it is time to stop the life support treatment for Charlie who is nearly eight months old, but his doting parents disagree.
Doctors say baby Charlie who suffers from a rare genetic condition - a form of mitochondrial disease - and has brain damage should move to a palliative care regime.
However his parents, both in their 30s, want to be allowed to take him to a hospital in America where he has been accepted to receive treatment which could help.
To make this happen, two months ago an appeal was launched on GoFundMe to raise £1.2m which has been achieved thanks to over 80,000 people's generous donations.
A specialist in paediatric medicine at GOSH told the judge that Charlie was "extremely unwell" and likely to be feeling pain, adding there was a "very small" theoretical chance treatment would result in any improvement.
The specialist said the possible benefit was outweighed by the continued suffering Charlie would endure.
"Charlie is suffering and that outweighs the small theoretical chance that this may be effective treatment," she said.
"It has never been about cost to us. This treatment could theoretically be given here.
"We don't feel it is right for this child at this time because of the suffering and the extent of the neurological damage."
The specialist who would oversee any treatment for Charlie in the US also gave evidence, via a telephone link.
He said Charlie was in the terminal stage of illness and proposed a six month therapy with a "small chance" of a meaningful improvement in Charlie's brain function.
"It may be a treatment, but not a cure," he said. "(Charlie) may be able to interact. To smile. To look at objects."
Mr Justice Francis has ruled the doctors involved in Charlie's treatment cannot be identified.
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