Court: Six-Year-Old Boy With Cancer Will Not Be Forced to Undergo Radiotherapy

The parents of a six-year-old boy with cancer has won their court battle so that the boy will no longer be forced to undergo radiotherapy or more chemotherapy.

Oshin Kiszko was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last year, but his parents, Angela Kiszko and Adrian Strachan, opposed the treatment that doctors suggested because of its severe side effects.

A court order in March has forced Oshin to undergo chemotherapy and he was given two cycles of the treatment.

Then, Family Court Chief Justice Stephen Thackray considered whether Oshin should also be given radiotherapy and ruled in May that the parents had given an undertaking to continue chemotherapy instead.

However, the case was back in court last week after both sides agreed there was no longer any benefit to continuing chemotherapy alone.

The hospital has made an application to force Oshin to undergo further medical treatment, which includes radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but his parents wanted him to receive palliative care.

WA Today reported that on Thursday, Justice Richard O’Brien said that it was in the best interests of Oshin to not force him to undergo radiotherapy and further chemotherapy. He said that the case was about deciding the most beneficial outcome for the child and not about Oshin’s right to live or his right to die without suffering.

He also emphasised his decision is not a precedent for decisions to be made about the provision of curative or palliative treatment to other children.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk