"privately expressed their concern" when they realised that Butler-Cole is the chair of Compassion in Dying, a sister organisation of Dignity in Dying. At this stage agreed reporting restriction orders were in place to protect the anonymity of the medical team and those that have given second opinions, both from the UK and abroad. The restrictions in respect of Hirano were lifted by consent at the second hearing. First evidential hearing The first hearing took place on 3, 5, 7 and 11 April at what was then thought to be a full and final hearing. The court heard testimony from two doctors and two nurses from GOSH, four doctors from whom GOSH had sought second opinions, from a doctor appointed as expert witness by the parents with the court's permission, and from Hirano by telephone from the US. All of the UK doctors bar one gave written and oral evidence; one gave written evidence only. Doctors from GOSH testified that withdrawing treatment complied with Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health guidelines.<ref name=FrancisDecision201704 /> The conclusions of the doctor appointed by the parents was said by the judge to coincide with the opinions of the other UK doctors. Of the evidence of the UK doctors the judge said: Hirano testified, like the other doctors involved, anonymously. He described his work with people and mice with the TK2-mutation form of MDDS, reporting that the patients under the treatment improved muscular strength, becoming less dependent on ventilators, and did not develop seizures compared to those not receiving nucleoside supplements. He said the therapy was unlikely to reverse structural brain damage, but that if the case were at his hospital, he would be willing to offer the treatment if the parents so desired and could pay for it, but he would defer first to the intensive care unit to make the decision. Hirano had not seen Charlie but had had access to the medical records. Hirano had discussed the case on the telephone with some of the UK doctors and these discussions were relayed to the court. The judge quoted from Hirano's evidence Of Hirano's evidence, the judge said: The parents testified that they believed the nucleoside therapy could work, and that his brain damage was not as severe as the doctors thought. Whilst none of those giving evidence could be certain whether or not Charlie could experience pain the consensus was that