Soldato
But you're putting parental wishes above the needs of the child there. That's like saying parents should be able to do what they like with their kids regardless of any laws, because parents know best.
The parents have parental responsibility, they are the child's guardian and in all other situations are responsible/accountable for the child's actions. While I absolutely agree that the state have a duty to protect children from harm/torture, the problem is that those definitions are subjective. I could argue that withholding food/medical treatment is equal to torture... we don't let a dog with a terminal illness suffer that way.
I also accept that the NHS should be able to stop providing free treatment at some point (although that could be open to some fairly scary legislation, i.e. who decides when) However, the patient should not be prevented from seeking paid for treatment elsewhere.
Just think about that statement "You are not allowed to seek treatment, we have decided that the best thing for you is to die" Would you accept that?
I actually can't read about this story anymore, simply thinking about it horrific, made 10x more real when you have a child.
For clarity, I have nothing but respect for all NHS staff, involved or otherwise.