Judge gives British boy’s parents go-ahead for Prague treatment

The parents of a sick five-year-old boy who hit the headlines after taking the child from a hospital without doctors’ permission have been given the go-ahead to take their son to the Czech Republic for treatment.

A high court judge in London last night said Brett and Naghmeh King could take their son Ashya – who has a brain tumour – to a clinic in Prague to receive treatment not available in England.

Mr Justice Baker approved a treatment plan after telephone discussions with lawyers representing the Kings and a hospital in Southampton, where Ashya was a patient.

An order by the judge was released by High Court officials after discussions were held over several hours. Officials said the judge would give more detail at a hearing in the family division of the high court on Monday.

Justice Baker said in his order that Ashya – who is in hospital in Malaga, Spain – could be taken to the University Hospital Motol in the Czech Republic. He had been told that specialists at a Czech proton therapy centre had considered a treatment plan.

He said he had seen evidence of the treatment planned, evidence of plans to fly Ashya to Prague and evidence that his parents could afford the cost of treatment and transport. The judge said he would cease to have responsibility for Ashya once the boy arrived at the Czech hospital. – (PA)