Australian parents win right not to give treatment to their dying son

 

Two Australian parents made the most difficult choice of their life. They wanted their son, who is struggling with a rare brain cancer, to die without  doing chemotherapy, the only chance he would have got.  The hospital was the kid was staying did not agree with this, so the parents had to go to the Family Court Justice. The boy is just 6-years-old, so the choice could not be made by him.

A judge ruled in favor of the  Australian parents. He said that the case is only about Oshin Kiszko and his best interests as a individual child in the circumstances he faces because of the disease. The child was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year. His parents did not want him to have the treatment doctors recommended. They said there are too many side effects and his mental health could be in danger.

The hospital obtained a court order that forced the family to let the boy receive chemotherapy. After that, they said that he should also try radiotherapy. However, the court decided that he should continue with the first treatment. Unfortunately, chemo was not helping the boy so the hospital and parents agreed there is no benefit in doing this treatment. That is when the hospital wanted to force the Australian parents to try radiotherapy,  but the judge ruled in favour of the family.

Even though it might seem strange,  in Australia parents have the right to refuse the treatment doctor recommended for their child. However, a court can decide if the decision if against the interests of the child. It seems that what happened to Oshin Kizko is an example of how important are parents’ decisions in that country.

There are millions of children who die every year because of cancer. Some of them are trying all the treatments they can have, but there is no hope for them. There are others who manage to survive and live a happy life. What do you think? Did the parents take the right decision? Do you think the boy would still have a chance?

Many people will say this was not a wise decision, that he should fight against the disease. We do not now what is going to happen.  As a parent, you only want what is best for your child. Sometimes, this  means making a difficult choice.

Image source: Pixabay