Sir, Ashya King was found as a result of completely correct action by the police. They were right to do all they could in their search, but the removal of a sick, five-year-old child from his parents is crass in the extreme. The authorities appear to be acting without due consideration to the child’s welfare.
Your Q&A (Sept 1) pointed out the facts of delicate cases of this sort. However, there is a glaring omission in all the coverage. As a former hospital social worker and director of social services for ten years, I have had to deal with similarly fraught family situations.
However, I would never have acted alone. The medical, nursing, social work and police always acted as a team, each of us bringing a unique insight and set of skills to help to manage complex family and legal situations.
It seems that in this case the unique social skills on family dynamics and emotional care of a sick child are missing. Let’s hope that this crucial element will soon be rectified.
julia ross
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London E14
Sir, My daughter died several years ago from cancer and I spent many years trying to help the medical profession to look at the situation from the family perspective as well as from theirs — not quite the same thing. Parents with a seriously ill or dying child may not be rational or logical. The internet, with all the suggestions of different treatments, increases the problem.
Parents know their child and may have to continue parenting after medical treatment ceases. I have also been a family magistrate for many years and know the danger of pontificating without all the facts. However, this child needs his parents. He must be missing their touch, sound and smell. It is not in the child’s interest to put them in custody and cannot contribute to his wellbeing in any way. Instead of justifying their positions it behoves all those involved to find a practical and legal way of protecting this child and not tearing the family apart.
jane davies
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Charlbury, Oxon