A seven-old-year boy whose mother does not want him to have radiotherapy for a cancerous brain tumour is recovering well after having surgery, the High Court heard Thursday.
Neon Roberts is at the centre of a legal battle brought by his mother Sally, 37, who fears that radiotherapy will harm him in the long-term.
A judge ruled on Tuesday that Neon could have further surgery against his mother’s wishes and this took place on Wednesday.
The court has now begun hearing more evidence about what kind of follow-up treatment he should have.
Specialists say Neon might die within months without radiotherapy.
Ian Peddie, QC for Sally Roberts, told High Court judge David Bodey: “The mother… is happily relieved to report that the operation went well.”
But he added that Roberts “remains concerned that radiotherapy is not in Neon’s best interests.”
“We assert that there are doctors who can offer credible alternative treatment to the therapy that is proposed,” he added.
Victoria Butler-Cole, representing doctors involved in Neon’s care, told the judge that his mother was proposing “experimental therapies” which are “unproven” alternatives to radiotherapy.
Earlier this month, Sally Roberts disappeared with Neon in what she later said was a move to protect him.
The pair were found safe after a judge ordered a search and Roberts apologised for her actions.
She had applied for an adjournment of today’s hearing until January but the judge declined, saying a decision in the “urgent” case had to be taken.
Boy, 7, in cancer treatment battle 'recovering well'
