The judgement of Solomon
Now the three-year-old HIV positive 'Camden' child and her
father are back in this country, and the girl is a Ward of Court, the
law faces an almost impossible task. Can she be forced to take antiretroviral
treatments?
The medical evidence is clear to most. Anti-HIV drugs keep Aids at bay
and clearly prolong life.
But it's not clear to the dad. To him, the drugs are poisons, and only
alternative therapies help. He has to believe that, or his wife died in
vain. "I will fight for my daughter till I drop," he says.
The trouble is, he will fight...but she will drop.
The law in this country has ruled over many agonising medical dilemmas
where a child must be treated to save life. But in this case, even if
the judge rules that the girl must take antiretrovirals, how can the ruling
be enforced?
Taking combination therapy is a lifelong commitment. If you stop and start,
resistant virus will develop. How on earth will the law ensure that the
child takes the drugs until she is an adult, and is legally entitled to
make her own decisions? Will doctors or social workers watch her twice
a day, every day to make sure she takes her tablets against her father's
wishes? Not only will that not work, it will also drive the family apart
and make the law look more of an ass.
An easier solution would be for some kindly doctor or well-informed complementary
therapist to talk some common sense to her father. There may be time.
Reports differ as to the girl's state of health.
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But if it comes to the line and a father risks his child's death to keep his
