CASE STUDY

Case Study



Neon Roberts mother Loses Radiotherapy Court Battle

Overview of the Case

This case is related to the seven years old boy that is suffering from cancer. Neon that had already undergone two operations in order to remove cancerous brain tumor and nodule, on the other hand his mother Sally is against for Radiotherapy. According to doctors, treatment through this approach has 80 and 86% chance of survival. But his mother sally is concern with the side effect that Radiotherapy causes i.e. loss of hairs, being treated, sickness and tiredness. At times symptoms are much worse due to swelling but after the treatment these things get better. Hence, high court has stated that Neon Roberts can have radiotherapy treatment following surgery on a brain tumour against his mother Sally wish.

Objective of this paper

The objective of this paper is to identify the medico-legal issues that are involved in this case i.e. issues in cancerous brain tumour Radiotherapy along with the discussion on the implication of these issues for patient, family of the patient and staff involved.

Discussion

Cancer Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy for cancer treatment uses a high energy beams of radiation that stress on the cancerous tissues. This exterminates cancer cells or impedes this cancer cell for further reproduction. This Radiotherapy is used when there is less chance for operation or operation is not at all possible for malignant brain tumor. Beside this, it is also used along with the surgery when entire tumor was not able to remove from surgery (Radiotherapy for brain tumours A guide for patients and their carers, 2012, pp. 12).

Long term side effect of Cancer Radiotherapy

Long term side effect of Cancer Radiotherapy is as followed:

Hair loss

Sickness

Tiredness

Beside this, the long term side effects are much common in children. The reason for this is that the nervous systems of children are developing at that time and this radiation treatment destroyed (Yang, 2012, p. 139).

Medico-Legal Issues in Cancer Radiotherapy

Considering the case, the following are the Medico legal issues in Cancer Radiotherapy have been explained below.

Physical problem:

Physical problem would be depending on the area where brain tumor exit. Since this is a brain tumor, the treatment will leave a child with the weakness of an arm, leg or at least on one side of the body. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the USA, it is estimated that more than half of the children has been treatment with brain tumor and these children does have some sort of physical problem. Such as weakness in limb, poor balance i.e. tremors or shakes in the body. A child like Neon after his treatment, experienced any problem like this, then physiotherapy and various other rehabilitation strategies could assist him in overcoming its problems. As we know that brain could rewire itself to certain extent and Neon physical capability and strength might get better as time passes. Beside this, other physical problem which is rare would also depend on the kind and position of the tumor in the ...