Ashya King: Proton Boy
In August Ashya King was undergoing treatment in Southhampton General Hospital for a brain tumour when his parents removed him from the hospital without the consent of doctors after a dispute between the father of Ashya and a consultant when Ashya's father presented some internet research to the doctor who told him "the internet could not be trusted". The parents took Ashya to receive treatment elsewhere, landing in Spain. Meanwhile a European warrant for the parents arrest had been issued and they were detained by spanish police and brought in front of a spanish court for "gross neglect" of Ashya. Many organisations spoke out about the separation of Ashya from his parents including Nick Clegg and multiple brain tumour charities. They were set free whilst Ashya was being treated in Malaga.
Ashya is now undergoing proton therapy in Prague. He is going to undergo 13 bouts of generalised treatment aimed at a large amount of his central nervous system, and a further 17 will be specifically targetting his tumour. As of this articles publishing, Ashya is recovering with apparent "increased movement" and tests to check for metastisis have come back negative, so it sounds as though he is improving. It is very important to remember though that he has become a high profile case and so the media may have exaggerated or held certain information. A "parents fighting all odds and curing their son" story will produce a lot of sales.
What do you think? were Ashyas parents right to have taken him without doctors consent? and if so how can doctors in England improve patient trust? I took my UKCAT yesterday and in the situational judgement section scored in band 1. I know from revision that keeping patient trust in the profession and doctors is not of high priority. Shouldn't it be?
Check out the "Cutting Edge" tab where I will be posting a brief insight into Proton Therapy later!