This 5 Year Old - Removed From Hospital

[DTCwordfan]

The kid has a brain tumour - his parents have removed him from hospital and have taken him to France......surely that is their legal right? The hospital has triggered an enormous police search on either side of the Channel.

I am not debating the right or wrongs of this, though it's coming to light that they may well be Jehovahs (with an Islamic name for the kid), just questioning the legality of the hospital to impose without a court order.

[Zacs-Master]

Naomi, so is mine. That's my point.

[agchristie]

It seems that JW's can interpret the medical treatment at their own discretion.

[naomi24]

I know, but I clicked on one of the links on the page you provided, and came up with that. I think it means that some take their refusal of blood transfusions further, for example by refusing to accept treatment that involves any product of the human body. (I'm not at all sure I've worded that clearly - probably not - but I hope you know what I mean).

[naomi24]

ag, exactly.

[Zacs-Master]

Naomi, the extract below is a frightening insight to the way JWs are told to think:
A Witness will view the making of each decision as if he were a driver approaching a busy intersection. If he just followed the cars ahead and sped through the intersection, he could cause serious damage. A wise driver will slow down and evaluate the flow of traffic before proceeding. Likewise, Witnesses do not rush into making medical decisions, nor do they blindly follow popular opinion. Instead, they weigh their options and examine Bible principles before making a decision

[DTCwordfan]

I don't approve of what they have done but the parents have the legal right surely, not unless they have been abusive....Do we have someone like NJ or barmaid who can clarify on this one - or at what point does responsibility pass to the hospital. Do they assume 'in loco parentis' once the child enters the hallowed portals of Southampton or any other hospital?

[naomi24]

Zacs, they're all potty.

[agchristie]

@ Zacs

You just hope that the same serious consideration is taken by would be followers and the potential implications....

[naomi24]

DT, //There have been cases where doctors have gone to court to get permission to give blood to children against the wishes of parents who are Jehovah's Witnesses.//

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/witnesses/witnessethics/ethics_1.shtml

[ummmm]

Surely this is a form of child neglect?

[black_cat51]

to actually answer the question, unless the child is subject to a court order, the parents can remove him from the hospital legally

[andy-hughes]

Come on newlife - let's be 'avin' you!!!

[kvalidir]

If the little boy has a good prognosis with treatment then he does need to be found, and I think that it might be on that basis that the police are looking for him, as if it is known that without the feeding tube having it's battery replaced today he will almost certainly die, to remove him and not make provision for appropriate medical treatment could be termed as neglect ( at the very least). In this circumstance I believe the police are within their rights in terms of 'crime prevention'.
Tgh same could be argued if he was terminal, but I think if he is, then everyone ought to have the decency to let this family have whatever time is left with each other without disturbance.

[ToraToraTora]

more religiou nutters killing their own kid out of some mis guided belief that "god" will save him.

[DTCwordfan]

that's what I thought, black cat, and, naomi, there's no sign of a court order that I have seen or heard about.....

[Daffy6543]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2737458/Ashya-King-missing-parents-snatched-hospital.html

Daily Mail update on the story.

[boxtops]

it's just on the BBC news - he needs medication tonight or his life is serioustly at risk.

[DTCwordfan]

thanks Daffy.....

[Retrochic]

For a start off he was not 'snatched' as some papers report,neither was he 'taken without permission' . There was no Court Order in place and they had the lawful right to remove him. If he is terminally ill then I can see no point in letting him die in hospital. If he is not terminally ill then the parents need to be found and persuaded to allow treatment. If they won't accept then its up to the courts to get a court order. The child has Rights despite his parents Beliefs. I hope he's found soon if he can be helped. If he can't be helped then he should be allowed to die with his parents and family in a way that is suitable to their religion.

[pixie373]

Very sad. I don't see that the hospital can insist he stays, but the parents will still be at risk of prosecution if he comes to harm through their actions. I wonder if they're desperately looking for other treatment for him.