to all GN's living in France 4 year old boy missing

When my husband had his operation to remove his brain tumour he was home within a week. There was no problem with the parents taking Ashya out of hospital a week after his operation. They usually wait a couple of weeks before giving any radiotherapy. A mask has to be made, and the swelling allowed to go down. They usually give steroids for that.

Do hope it works for him, as you said, nightowl.

I have read somewhere (can't remember where) that his prognosis is in fact not as bleak as first suggested and with treatment he could be cured. That would be wonderful if its true.

Sadly, I fear it may be too late to really help him.

Wow! Hope he gets some treatment that will really help him.

Just heard on news, his parents have permission to take him to Prague. He will go on private jet.

In a much worse position than they are now I imagine.

There is a charity for the promotion of proton therapy and so far they have received £30,00 or so in donations from the general public. Added to this, a mystery donor has contributed £150,000.

The charity will keep any money which is left over.

I wonder where the parents would be now, without the media publicity.

Sorry. Didn't see your post Mamie. Hard to really tell what's what isn't it?

petallus

So deceitful.

We must not lose sight of the fact that this poor little lad has already suffered brain damage that will be irreversible. That is clear from the videos. Whatever happens now, the family are likely to blame the doctors for the outcome; but sometimes there is no cure and no way forward and there is no-one to blame.

There were two operations, one six weeks before and one a week before.
I do not agree with splashing the comments of a distraught father across the papers either. I can't see that it helps anyone, least of all other parents.

"will not find this helpful" - slip of the finger.

The media invite these sort of comments - last night an interviewer said to the father "I expect you are feeling very angry" - I think that is what is called a leading question. Just trying to get a reaction that will make a good soundbite. It is unacceptable.

Unfortunately when things are reported in the news media, many people believe them to be fact rather then an opinion expressed while in an emotional state. The father's statement should not have been splashed around. Others facing the same difficult decisions will to find this helpful - it is clearly not fact.

Yes; that's the impression I got petallus.

There are reports this morning that the Czech hospital confirms it took Southampton two weeks to respond to their request for medical records.

Also, did anybody else get the impression the child's operation was a couple of weeks ago at most. Seems it was six weeks ago today.

Mishap

It was the father who said the words on camera whilst being spoken to, the media cameras were merely the conduit for his words.

If anybody was watching in real time the events of yesterday it was very confusing because of the contradictions from comment to comment. When you read papers or look on-line it doesn't give you the same perspective possibly.

If the family thought the hospital were going to 'kil him or turn him into a vegetable', the fathers words not any media outlet, then it would have a possible bearing on his removal from hospital.

We don't seem very intent on leaving the family alone on here, do we? Why would the newspapers be any different to us, their readers.

But, if that is what the father really thought, Mishap, why not report the fact? We know they must have had strong feeling regarding choice of future treatment.

Mishap Another good point in this sad saga.

‘They were going to kill him or turn him into a vegetable’ - just the sort of nonsense headline that has fuelled the fire. Some of these media people make me furious. These are the words of a desperate and sad man and should have been treated as such and not splashed as a headline to whip up emotions.

The British doctors assertion that Ashya needs chemotherapy has been borne out by the second opinion of the Czech doctors and he is being returned to UK for this to happen, as was originally advised. This whole sorry saga has been simply a breakdown in communication from the highly emotionally charged nature of the situation, fuelled of course by the media for whom the words "kidnap" and "dying child" are entirely irresistible.

It would be so good if the family could now be left in peace to engage in discussions with the doctors about what is best for the child. Let us hope that the family themselves will not seek further publicity - it is very seductive to be in demand and on the news.

My own choice for myself if I'm ever that ill would be only for palliative treatment and, yes, to be "allowed to die" sooner rather than later.
So, if that's what his parents want and think is right, why shouldn't they ask for that too? It's not wrong to choose not to have life-prolonging treatment when one is dying anyway.

I am most certainly not saying don't give any more treatment because he is disabled.

It is a question of whether or not there is a realistic chance of the child recovering and benefiting.

Chemotherapy has very unpleasant side effects and will probably make the poor child even more ill. He is unable to move, needs turning. What happens when a child who cannot move starts vomiting? Fluid in the lungs etc needs sucking out, more stress and discomfort.

There has to be a consideration of the ethics of this with regard to a reasonable chance of the child's survival.

Read the information at 09:18 today 11:01; 11:09. The father himself @11:25.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2014/sep/03/ashya-king-and-his-parents-to-be-reunited-live-coverage
I do feel for the parents who are so desperate but as others have said raising what the experienced Doctors know to be very vain hopes of "cures" in relatives etc is not helpful.

Because obviously he's going to need more treatment - all the hospitals/authorities involved will insist on it anyway...

Do you mean they should just give up and allow him to die, Nelliemoser?

Jingle In a television interview the mother was saying the this poor child needs turning every half hour or so as he is unable to move by himself. He is already one very disabled little boy.

I just hope the family can deal with their distress over the illness of their child and find a way of helping him without need for yet more unpleasant and debilitating treatment.