Cancer expert fought parents in court over children’s treatment

A leading children’s cancer expert has revealed that he has had to go to the courts on a number of occasions to ensure that children receive cancer treatment against their parents’ wishes.

Dr Fin Breatnach — who established and developed the National Children’s Cancer Centre at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin — said that he has sought adjudication from the courts in instances where the parents did not want their child to receive cancer treatment, where Dr Breatnach believed the possibility for cure was significant.

The consultant paediatric oncologist said the number of instances where parents did not want their children to receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy “is very small” — four in all over 36 years.