Call me cynical, but in the exclusive BBC interview with the parents I thought the father was being, shall we say: "economical with the truth".
This is one of several BBC articles on that:
BBC News - Ashya King's mother 'cried and prayed'
Huffington Post and The Independent have a different slant:
"Ashya King's Father: 'They Were Going To Kill Him In England Or Turn Him Into A Vegetable' ".
The whole thing just feels like one of those "structured reality" shows (which I don't watch, but have accidentally lingered on now and again).
I'm sorry we already have a precedent with the Mid Staffs Trust and the Robert Francis report which highlighted clear issues and gave 290 recommendations..
Such as:
Openness, transparency and candour throughout the healthcare system (including a statutory duty of candour), fundamental standards for healthcare providers
Improved support for compassionate caring and committed care and stronger healthcare leadership.
Medical staff are not infallible, there seems to be an assumption that the NHS medical staff know what is best for a patient against the judgement of highly qualified, experienced and objective specialist from another country...
And I don't remember the recommendation in those reports that if someone disagrees with the NHS they should be arrested and locked up...
That's a bit harsh.
The heavy handedness of the authorities was already taking place before the ground swell of opinion due to social media helped to change that.
Arguably, social media played a strong part in remedying the injustice of the situation. How many would have know - the authorities themselves included - had not the family had access to social media to put their case forward.
Ten years ago they would still be languishing in jail, and we would none the wiser as to the reasons why, other than blindly accepting the word of the authorities.
Of course it seems some people would prefer that in exchange for a quiet life...
Who and when was that then?, because as I understand it the Czechs have only now been given the patients details to be able make any judgement as to whether the procedure was suitable.
As far as I am aware the father looked it all up on the internet, had he contacted the Czech specialist?I could be wrong though and will withdraw that point if so data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
What a strange thing to say.
As you well know, a child was abducted from the hospital - vanished without trace. What was the hospital supposed to do - forget it? Sweep it under the carpet that a child was kidnapped from the hospital? Walk away and put the kettle on?
... Or notify the police. As a doctor responsible for the child, what would you do?
Yet more speculation.
Except they knew full well he was with his parents. And because they disagreed with the Doctors, they threw the full weight of the law at them.
It isn't that the NHS nor police should have done nothing that is the issue, it is the heavy handed way in which they went about it.
Your opinion may differ, but we are both allowed one.