Neon Roberts' Mum Loses Cancer Treatment Case

A seven-year-old boy should have radiotherapy treatment for cancer against his mother's wishes, a High Court judge has ruled.

Mr Justice Bodey dismissed Sally Roberts' attempt to prevent the treatment being given to her son, Neon - and expressed concern over her decision-making regarding the child's welfare.

Ms Roberts, 37, told the court she believed radiotherapy would cause Neon long-term harm and argued in favour of alternative treatment.

However, doctors have said Neon could die within months if he does not get the radiotherapy.

Mr Justice Bodey ruled that such treatment could now start.

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

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

Ms Roberts, a New Zealander who lives in Brighton, East Sussex, had told the court she was not a "bonkers mother" and insisted on alternative treatment.

She said she feared that radiotherapy would reduce Neon's IQ, shorten his life, put him at risk of having strokes and make him infertile.

But Mr Justice Bodey said he had to balance risk against benefit and said of the disadvantages of radiotherapy: "You can only suffer these detriments to your life if you are alive."

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Neon Roberts' Mum Loses Cancer Treatment Case