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Children (Access to Treatment)
18 March 2020
Lead MP
Bambos Charalambous
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Justice & Courts
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Bambos Charalambous raised concerns about children (access to treatment) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Charalambous moved a Bill to address the issue of disagreements over medical treatment for seriously ill children, highlighting cases such as Tafida Raqeeb and Ashya King. He emphasised that current dispute resolution systems lead to lengthy court proceedings, emotional harm, stress, and loss of time which could otherwise be spent on treating the child. The Bill aims to introduce mediation services, access to clinical ethics committees, swift second medical opinions, legal aid provision for families, and a new legal test on whether an alternative treatment causes disproportionate risk of significant harm.
Southgate and Wood Green
Charalambous argued that existing dispute resolution systems for disagreements about medical treatment for seriously ill children are flawed, causing emotional distress and expensive court proceedings. He mentioned the cases of Tafida Raqeeb and Ashya King to illustrate successful outcomes despite initial disputes. Charalambous introduced a Bill aimed at improving early access to mediation services, clinical ethics committees, second medical opinions, legal aid provision for families, and a new legal test regarding alternative treatments.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.