3 months ago
22
A West Australian father barred from interfering with his teenager’s chemotherapy has revealed he now supports his son’s cancer treatment.
The family, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, claim they wanted time to consider their options, but the boy was taken away before they could.
The teenager was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a rare form of blood cancer.
On Monday, the boy’s father told the Family Court his son had been kidnapped by the state, and he was there to retrieve him.
The father on Thursday revealed to 9News Perth what happened after his son was diagnosed.
“They said, ‘We’re taking the boy to Perth, we’re flying him right now to hospital’, and we felt very pressurised, and I said, ‘We need 24 hours just to review our options – there’s a few key people to speak to’,” he said.
But the family claims they didn’t get that time before police arrived at their home that night and the next day.
“The boy went back in the house because the house was surrounded, and it seemed that they were absolutely going to kidnap him,” the father said.
“Every time there’s a shape move behind us or a red and blue light, we’re all filled with terror.”
The father said he was handcuffed and his teenager taken to Perth Children’s Hospital for treatment.
Loading
The Family Court this week heard the treatment amounted to an emergency and, without it, the boy could die within weeks.
But on the weekend, his father cut his chemotherapy line after he says the teenager received a clear test.
“I asked for them to pause until we could then look at alternatives,” he told 9News Perth.
But now the boy’s father says he supports the treatment.
“We’re happy to go along with them. Honestly, I just need the time to do my own research,” he said.
“I feel that the reason that this is significant is human rights is part of this, and I do believe that each of us should be able to choose our own healthcare. That should be a human right.”
The boy’s chemotherapy continues, and it is expected he will need to attend Perth Children’s Hospital for at least the next four to six weeks.
“He’s a real talent and he’s an amazing boy. If anyone’s going to beat it, he will,” the father said.
Most Viewed in National
Loading
