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| Neon Roberts brain tumour case: Court delays ruling | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A judge has postponed a decision on whether a mother should be allowed to prevent her son from receiving radiotherapy for brain cancer. | A judge has postponed a decision on whether a mother should be allowed to prevent her son from receiving radiotherapy for brain cancer. |
| Sally Roberts, 37, has been told seven-year-old Neon could die if he did not receive the treatment. | Sally Roberts, 37, has been told seven-year-old Neon could die if he did not receive the treatment. |
| She said she feared the treatment could do long-term harm. | She said she feared the treatment could do long-term harm. |
| At the High Court in London, Mr Justice Bodey said he would rule at a hearing beginning on 18 December - unless agreement could be reached beforehand. | At the High Court in London, Mr Justice Bodey said he would rule at a hearing beginning on 18 December - unless agreement could be reached beforehand. |
| During the Saturday morning hearing, he said that although he had intended to rule on the matter, developments had "changed the medical landscape". | During the Saturday morning hearing, he said that although he had intended to rule on the matter, developments had "changed the medical landscape". |
| After the hearing at the Family Division, New Zealand-born Ms Roberts said she "can't add to what the judge said". | |
| She added that, health-wise, her son was "very good in himself". Neon's father, Ben, said he would not comment. | |
| 'Lower IQ' | 'Lower IQ' |
| Sally Roberts went into hiding with her son on Wednesday, sparking a nationwide search before both were found unharmed. | Sally Roberts went into hiding with her son on Wednesday, sparking a nationwide search before both were found unharmed. |
| The boy was operated on last year and a tumour was removed successfully. | The boy was operated on last year and a tumour was removed successfully. |
| The judge is being asked to decide whether it is in Neon's best interests to undergo treatment. | The judge is being asked to decide whether it is in Neon's best interests to undergo treatment. |
| Doctors have said it was "clearly" in Neon's best interests to undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy, arguing the treatment was standard procedure and offered Neon the best chance. | Doctors have said it was "clearly" in Neon's best interests to undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy, arguing the treatment was standard procedure and offered Neon the best chance. |
| However, Ms Roberts said she only wanted her son to have chemotherapy, as she feared radiotherapy would result in long-term brain damage, reducing his IQ and also possibly making him infertile. | However, Ms Roberts said she only wanted her son to have chemotherapy, as she feared radiotherapy would result in long-term brain damage, reducing his IQ and also possibly making him infertile. |
| A lawyer representing the health authorities who are treating him told the court the "alternative is death". | A lawyer representing the health authorities who are treating him told the court the "alternative is death". |
| A barrister outlined Ms Roberts's position in written arguments at the start of the hearing. | A barrister outlined Ms Roberts's position in written arguments at the start of the hearing. |
| "Much sympathy it is hoped will be felt for her overall position," Robin Tolson QC told the court. | "Much sympathy it is hoped will be felt for her overall position," Robin Tolson QC told the court. |
| "The mother's position in this litigation... is principled, reasonable and in the best interests of Neon." | "The mother's position in this litigation... is principled, reasonable and in the best interests of Neon." |
| Ms Roberts told the court on Friday that she was not a "bonkers mother" and her barrister described her position as "principled". | Ms Roberts told the court on Friday that she was not a "bonkers mother" and her barrister described her position as "principled". |
| Ms Roberts apologised to the court and said she only wanted the best for her son. | Ms Roberts apologised to the court and said she only wanted the best for her son. |
| The judge has described Neon's illness as the "stuff of every parent's nightmare" and has said he will balance what radiotherapy treatment would achieve against the "downsides". | The judge has described Neon's illness as the "stuff of every parent's nightmare" and has said he will balance what radiotherapy treatment would achieve against the "downsides". |