Make it open season for hippies soon

[Gob]

How long can it be before being a fucking "alternative" wooo believing hippie automatically means that your kids get taken in to care.

Jesus, naming the poor bastard "Neon" is bad enough surely.

Neon Roberts is back receiving emergency medical treatment after a frantic week in which he and his mother were the focus of a nationwide search in the UK.

Neon, 7, who recently had surgery for a brain tumour, was described as a "very sick little boy", in desperate need of radiotherapy treatment. But his mother, 37-year-old UK woman Sally Roberts, believed it would damage his growth, hormones and intelligence, so she allegedly ran away with him to give him "natural remedies".


The story made headlines after a judge made the rare move to reveal Neon's identity, in fear he could die if he was not treated. In making the ruling to permit the identification of Neon, Justice Mary Hogg had urged Mrs Roberts to come forward.

"...The doctors say that, unless treatment is started next week, the prospects of Neon surviving are dramatically reduced. I have asked for the assistance of the public in looking for this very sick little boy." "He suffers from a brain tumour and has recently had surgery and the doctors responsible for his treatment believe he urgently needs radiotherapy," Justice Hogg said.

The story of Neon was picked up by major UK outlets including The Mirror, the Telegraph, the BBC and The Independent. The mother and son went missing from Tiverton, in Devon, on Sunday. Three days later they were found in Sussex, more than 250 kilometres away.


A statement issued by the police force on Wednesday said: "Following extensive press coverage... the high risk missing person, seven-year-old, Neon Roberts has been located by police officers in Sussex. "Emergency protection care has been put in place and Neon's welfare will be considered in the High Court. "Devon and Cornwall Police would like to thank the public, the media and police colleagues in Sussex for their assistance in securing Neon's safe recovery."

When their disappearance was revealed to reporters, Neon's father Ben Roberts said his estranged wife was worried about what radiation would do to their son.

"She wants to do everything she can and rely on natural remedies and things that are not too invasive, rather than radiotherapy and chemotherapy," Mr Roberts said, according to the Daily Mail. "She is worried about the damage that can be done. She wants him to be able to live a normal life. "Personally, I want everything for him. I want to make sure he has everything available to him.

"I understand there are lots of things that can be done to minimise the after-effects of radiotherapy, with various other pre- and post-treatments. "All the evidence I have been presented with has told me he needs to have that therapy, but I am also aware there are side effects. It concerns me as well."

Last week, an Australian judge ordered a couple to immunise their eight-year-old girl after the mother had tried to prevent the father and his partner doing so.

The mother made the application after discovering that her daughter's stepmother had secretly taken the child to a medical centre to have her immunised against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, HIB, measles, mumps, rubella and meningococcal C.

Previously, the mother had been arranging homeopathic vaccines.

She told the court she adhered to a "simple and healthy way of life", that included eating organic food, using non-toxic cleaning products and sending the child to a Rudolph Steiner school where the toys were made from natural products such as wool, wax and silk



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/doctors-bac ... z2EKDTZi3N

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/doctors-bac ... z2EKD9EuxQ

[TPFKA@W]

Siblings Freon and Argon were unavailable for comment.

[MajGenl.Meade]

... and their cousin, Jumping Jack Flash

[Daisy]

The woman is a fucking first class idiot.

Shes worried about the harm that radiotherapy will do to her son. I'd be far more worried what harm a fucking brain tumour was doing.

[Gob]

A barrister outlined Ms Roberts's position in written arguments at the start of the hearing in London.

"Much sympathy it is hoped will be felt for her overall position," said Robin Tolson QC.

"The mother's position in this litigation ... is principled, reasonable and in the best interests of Neon."

Ms Roberts apologised to the court and said she only wanted the best for her son.

In his best interest, apart from the fact that if she gets her way he will die.

Still, at least if he dies he won't have to suffer any of the nasty side effects of the treatments.

[Joe Guy]

Justice Mary Hogg had urged Mrs Roberts to come forward.

Just what we needed.

Another pig thread.

[Gob]

Oh it gets better....

She told the judge that whatever decision the court made, 'I would still like every day to be part of my son's life. I feel I must be part of his care . It is very important for me and my son. We are very close.'

Mrs Roberts said her big fear was Neon being left with a lowered IQ after the treatment.

'I want him to have the best quality of life and I fear that radiotherapy could damage and greatly affect his future,' she told the judge.

'He has an incredible sense of humour. He is a great artist.

'He has been made out that he is sick and this is not true. He is very well. He is running around. He is not a sick boy.

'I feel that, if you go ahead with the radiotherapy, we are depriving him of his talents. 'He is thriving . He has done so well since being in hospital.'

She said: ‘If I truly believed he had cancer now in his body I would agree to go ahead. But they are going after one cell that might be there. I am convinced it is not there because of the scans and because his spinal fluid is clear.

‘I don’t want to fry his brain and have his quality of life ruined just on the off chance there is a floating cell that is going to multiply. ‘All I’m doing is protecting my child. I’m doing what any mother would do.’


Neon has undergone a range of alternative therapies since his operation, including hours in an oxygen tank. Mrs Roberts will not allow mobile phones near Neon in case they damage his health, feeding him a diet of organic foods and juices. She is well-known in music circles and has performed as DJ Sally at venues ranging from Glastonbury Festival to Boujis Nightclub in London.

[Scooter]

She sounds in complete denial that her kid has cancer. She shouldn't have anything to do with decision making around his care until she is cured of those delusions, or until he is old enough to make medical decisions for himself.

[MajGenl.Meade]

"Glastonbury" - nuff said.

[rubato]

"
Neon has undergone a range of alternative therapies since his operation, including hours in an oxygen tank. Mrs Roberts will not allow mobile phones near Neon in case they damage his health, feeding him a diet of organic foods and juices. She is well-known in music circles and has performed as DJ Sally at venues ranging from Glastonbury Festival to Boujis Nightclub in London. "



http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRel ... quack.html

__________________________________
How Quackery Harms Cancer Patients
William T. Jarvis, Ph.D.

There is an old saying: "The highwayman demands 'your money OR your life,' but quacks demand 'your money AND your life!'" This statement is particularly true when it comes to dubious cancer treatment. The harm done by quackery may be categorized as economic, direct, indirect, psychological and societal.

Economic Harm

The amount of money wasted on cancer quackery is unknown but probably exceeds one billion dollars per year -- the amount spent for cancer research. The financial impact upon individuals and families can be catastrophic if they fall into the trap of heroically "leaving no stone unturned" in their quest for a remedy in hopeless cases. Some quacks are quite willing to bleed them dry financially. I know of cases in which survivors were deprived of the family's savings, were left with a large mortgage on a previously paid-for home, or even lost their home.

Direct Harm

Dubious therapies can cause death, serious injury, unnecessary suffering, and disfigurement. Cyanide poisoning from ingesting apricot pits or laetrile, Salmonella dublin infection from drinking raw milk, electrolyte imbalance caused by coffee enemas, internal bleeding from deep body massage, and brain damage from whole-body hyperthermia have all caused needless death of cancer patients. At clinics providing substandard care, intravenous infusions of various concoctions have caused septicemia and malnutrition. And the application of escharotics (corrosive chemicals) to the skin of cancer patients has resulted in needless disfigurement.

Ruth Conrad, an Idaho woman, had a horrible experience as a result of consulting one of the state's many unlicensed naturopaths. While seeking treatment for a sore shoulder, she also complained of a bump on her nose. The naturopath stated that it was cancer and gave her a black herbal salve to apply directly. Within a few days, her face became very painful and she developed red streaks that ran down her cheeks. Her worried phone call to the naturopath brought the explanation that the presence of the lines was a good sign because they "resemble a crab, and cancer is a crab." He also advised her to apply more of the black salve. Within a week, a large part of her face, including her nose, sloughed off. It took three years and 17 plastic surgical operations to reconstruct her face.

Mrs. Conrad's experience illustrates another aspect of cancer quackery -- fake diagnosis. She never had cancer in the first place. In addition to suffering direct harm from a caustic treatment, she also suffered the mental anguish of thinking she had a dread disease.

Indirect Harm

Some of the worst quackery-related tragedies result from delay or failure to act. An example of a needless death involved an Oregon man who treated his basal cell carcinoma of the mouth with a mail-order remedy for 15 years. What makes this case especially tragic is that since this type of cancer almost never metastasizes, he had many years in which to correct his folly. Although badly disfigured by the growing tumor, he continued self-treatment.

Overreliance upon dietary treatment is a common means by which indirect harm kills cancer sufferers. The appeal of dietary remedies is connected to folk medicine. Nearly every culture, beginning with the ancient Egyptians, has believed in the half-truth "you are what you eat." This implies that diseases are caused by faulty diet and, conversely, can be cured by eating the "right" foods. Publicity given to epidemiological speculations about "cancer-prevention diets" encourages the belief that diet holds great promise for both prevention and treatment of cancer. The fact is that, although nutrient deficiencies can cause some diseases and dietary excesses can cause or aggravate several others, the vast majority of diseases do not have a nutritional cause.

One food-as-medicine approach that is popular today is macrobiotics, which received widespread publicity when Anthony Sattilaro, M.D., a Philadelphia physician, concluded that the diet had helped him overcome prostatic cancer. National magazine articles, a book and television appearances spread the belief that macrobiotics had cured his cancer. Although Sattilaro had also undergone conventional therapy, macrobiotics seemed to fulfill some emotional need unmet by regular therapy. He eventually died of his disease, but this fact was not mentioned in the macrobiotic press.

... "
_________________________

yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

However, there had been a change overnight in the boy's ''ability to be treated with such therapies at this present time''. The medical landscape had changed, said the judge. ''Nature is no respecter of court timetables.''

Justice Bodey did not give any details of the change, but it had been said in court the previous day that Neon was undergoing new scans. A malignant tumour was removed from his cerebellum, just above the neck, in August.

If her arseing about has caused this kids condition to decline she should be charged with child endangerment, (or the UK equivalent.)

[Crackpot]

If her arseing about has caused this kids condition to decline she should be charged with child endangerment, (or the UK equivalent.)

Free housing?

[Lord Jim]

Whether it's from some misguided pseudo-religious fanaticism, or (as appears to be the case here) New Age nuttery, NO ONE has the right to endanger the life of their child by denying them proven scientifically based health treatment...

And anyone who does should be punished to the full extent of the law...

If you want to treat your own brain tumor with "natural remedies", feel free to go right ahead....

But you do not have the right to impose that sort of witch doctory on someone else....

[dgs49]

As we have discussed in this forum before, there is no excuse for making health decisions for your children based on rumors and hysteria, when the actual research is available.

But on the other hand, there are a lot of "accepted" medical practices (e.g., drugs for "heartburn") that stem from little more than doctors' reluctance to consider any treatment that is neither a drug or some surgery. Mainly, they often treat symptoms rather than diseases, which is not only stupid but extraordinarily expensive in the long run.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I flip-flop on these things many times. My cousin died of pancreatic cancer, did not undergo any of the "prescribed" treatments and lasted 4 months longer than they said he would but 2 months less than they said had he undergone the treatments. Unknown if his quality of life would have been better. He didn't look very good to me, but he was not tied down to the chemo/radio therapy they prescribed and went out fishing (his love for life) every day/chance he could.

Don't know this lady nor her son and have no idea if she is a nut hell bent on keeping him away from prescribed treatments. But sometimes (maybe not in this case but maybe so) people close know better.

Personally, I would go with teh most up to date treatment for my child, but sometimes, when the end game result is known, you make the best for all involved.

[Gob]

She's at it again!!!

Neon Roberts tumour case: Judge gives go-ahead for surgery

A seven-year-old boy with a brain tumour should undergo surgery against his mother's wishes, a court has ruled.

Neon Roberts had a tumour removed last year and his mother Sally was fighting legal action for him to have radiotherapy.

Doctors told the High Court the question had now become whether he had to have an "urgent" operation because some of the tumour remained.

Mr Justice Bodey ruled the surgery should go ahead on Wednesday.

Neon's case was in the Family Division of the High Court because New Zealand-born Mrs Roberts, 37, was opposing action taken by a number of organisations which wanted him to have radiotherapy.

At a hearing on 7 December, the court was told doctors recommended Neon had radiotherapy and said he could die if he did not receive the treatment.

At that hearing Mrs Roberts said she feared it could do long-term harm including causing brain damage and infertility.

She told the court she was not a "bonkers mother" and said she only wanted the best for her son.

On Tuesday, doctors told the court surgery was needed because an MRI scan revealed a residual tumour left from the boy's last operation.

A doctor said it was "highly likely" Neon would die within a "relatively short period" without further treatment.

Mr Justice Bodey said expert evidence showed Neon had a residual cancer growth larger than 1.5 sq cm.

Mrs Roberts told the court she wanted opinions from more doctors: "I feel I need more expert opinion on it before proceeding."

Addressing Mrs Roberts directly, as she had dismissed her counsel, the judge said she did not accept evidence from cancer experts, including a second opinion obtained on her behalf.

The judge rejected arguments that the newly found growth could have been inflamed scar tissue from the last procedure.

Mr Justice Bodey said no-one could fail to be sympathetic with Neon's mother. [I totally fail to have any sympathy for the stupid bitch.]

But he added that, in such a case of such extreme urgency, further delay would only postpone difficult decisions and "we do not have the luxury of time".

The judge told the court it was likely he would make a ruling by the end of week on any further treatment, including radiotherapy.

The court was adjourned until Thursday.

[rubato]

I flip-flop on these things many times. My cousin died of pancreatic cancer, did not undergo any of the "prescribed" treatments and lasted 4 months longer than they said he would but 2 months less than they said had he undergone the treatments. Unknown if his quality of life would have been better. He didn't look very good to me, but he was not tied down to the chemo/radio therapy they prescribed and went out fishing (his love for life) every day/chance he could.

Don't know this lady nor her son and have no idea if she is a nut hell bent on keeping him away from prescribed treatments. But sometimes (maybe not in this case but maybe so) people close know better.

Personally, I would go with teh most up to date treatment for my child, but sometimes, when the end game result is known, you make the best for all involved.

Pancreatic cancer nearly always has a rapid and bad outcome.

Not a great example of anything.

yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

A seven-year-old boy at the centre of a legal dispute over cancer treatment should be given radiotherapy as soon as possible, a High Court judge has heard.

Neon Roberts underwent surgery on a brain tumour on Wednesday against his mother's wishes.

Sally Roberts, 37, wanted a delay until more doctors had been consulted, and does not want him to have radiotherapy because she has future health concerns.

Doctors said Neon's condition would worsen without further treatment.

The hearing in London was earlier told by Ian Peddie, QC for Ms Roberts, that her son's operation on Wednesday "went well."

The court heard that during the surgery evidence was found of a tumour nodule which had been predicted.

However, tests on spinal fluid showed no evidence of cancerous cells elsewhere.

Doctors said they believed it would not be in Neon's interests to delay preparation for radiotherapy as it would worsen his prognosis.

They said radiotherapy normally took two weeks preparation but, in this case, they wanted to start as soon as possible.

One doctor said the impact of radiotherapy should not be overstated because "we use lower doses now".

Mrs Roberts previously told the court she was not a "bonkers mother" and she feared treatment such as radiotherapy could do Neon long-term harm including causing brain damage or infertility.

The court also heard Mrs Roberts had refused permission for her son to be given medicine in the last few days to stop him vomiting.

While hearing evidence from a child cancer specialist about the benefit and risks of radiotherapy, the doctor said research showed the treatment proposed for Neon tended to lead to a "modest" decline in IQ of maybe five points.

"I would expect the patient to go to mainstream school - with support. My experience is that they can take exams," he said.

When being cross-examined by counsel for Sally Roberts, the doctor was asked about alternative treatment and therapies.

The doctor replied that health staff were open to families interested in using complementary therapies alongside conventional treatment.

Giving evidence later, Mrs Roberts said she objected to anti-vomiting drugs because she was not sure Neon needed them and she was concerned he was being given medicines unnecessarily.

She said she knew about "thousands of studies" of children being treated without radiotherapy, but added she had not had time to find experts to testify.

Mr Justice Bodey said the court cold not have random studies presented but said Mrs Roberts should select one study she most wanted to rely on.

Neon's father Ben, who lives in London and is separated from Ms Roberts, has agreed to radiotherapy but is "apprehensive", the court heard previously.

When asked if he should have overriding consent over treatment, Mrs Roberts replied: "But I'm his mother."

The court heard Mr Roberts would like custody of Neon for the duration of any treatment. Mrs Roberts said she had no objection if she could visit daily.

Mr Justice Bodey said he was minded to make a default ruling on Neon's continuing treatment unless Mrs Roberts could produce someone who could offer other treatment that was in Neon's best interests.

Mrs Roberts wanted to seek an adjournment until January but that was rejected by Mr Justice Bodey, who said he was likely to give judgement on Friday.

The NHS asked for a final order to be made on Thursday.

The judge ruled on Tuesday the surgery should go ahead after an MRI scan revealed a residual tumour left from the boy's last operation.
.

[Gob]

A seven-year-old boy can be given radiotherapy treatment against his mother's wishes, a judge has ruled.

Neon Roberts has undergone two operations to remove a cancerous brain tumour and nodule but his mother Sally did not want him to have radiotherapy.

Doctors have told the High Court Neon could die without further treatment, saying there was only a 35% survival rate with chemotherapy only.

Mrs Roberts' legal team has said she plans to appeal against the judgement.

Summing up, Mr Justice Bodey said: "One can't enjoy a quality of life if one isn't alive.

"The mother has been through a terrible time. This sort of thing is every parent's nightmare.

"But I am worried that her judgement has gone awry on the question of the seriousness of the threat which Neon faces.

"The alternative treatments put forward were complementary and alternative medicine. Nothing put forward has undergone rigorous clinical trials.

"I find it difficult to see that doctors would withhold alternative treatment that would improve survival."

Neon's father Ben Roberts had agreed to the boy having radiotherapy.

His solicitor Gwen Williams said: "Mr Roberts is relieved that the judge has been able to make a final ruling on Neon's treatment.

"He now hopes that Neon can be allowed to recover from his latest operation and start the radiotherapy and chemotherapy that the doctors have outlined without any further delay."

The hospital and health trust involved in the case cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The Family Division of the High Court had been told by a Dr A: "We have always said there are side effects and I do understand the family's anxiety, but it does not reflect the risk-benefit balance."

Mrs Roberts told the court she believed conventional cancer treatment was "out of date". She said she feared radiotherapy would reduce Neon's IQ, shorten his life, put him at risk of having strokes and make him infertile.

But the counsel appointed for Neon argued "standard treatment" is the only option that could save his life.

The court was also told Neon's father needed the security of a residence order to allow the boy to live with his father during the treatment.

Neon had surgery in October after being diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour, but the judge ruled he should have further surgery after MRI scans showed a tumour nodule where the original operation was performed.

Mrs Roberts asked the court to delay its decision, claiming other "credible" alternative treatment was available.

She asked the court for more time to research any alternatives.

Ian Peddie QC, for Ms Roberts, told the judge : "Her stance merely reflects the love that she has for him.

"The mother, having considered the pros and cons of radiotherapy, does not believe it is in his best interests because of the significant and long-term consequences of this dramatic, powerful brain-altering treatment."

Mr Justice Bodey asked Ms Roberts whether "some sort of tie-up" with the media was influencing her thinking.

She said: "My son is the only important thing to me."

Earlier this month New Zealand-born Mrs Roberts went into hiding with her son.

Mr Justice Bodey said it would be remiss of the court not to prevent that recurring.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Mrs Roberts told the court she believed conventional cancer treatment was "out of date". She said she feared radiotherapy would reduce Neon's IQ, shorten his life, put him at risk of having strokes and make him infertile.

Being dead seems to do worse things.