A very sad case in our papers today, of a girl aged 11 who died after her parents did not seek treatment for her but relied on faith. The child had diabetes, she needed insulin and water, and she would be alive now if she had received this basic treatment.

Whilst the parents have the right to disallow treatment for themselves they should not be able to cause their child's death in the name of freedom of choice. The mother has been convicted of causing the death. The father is still to stand trial.

Doctors had nothing to do with this case as treatment, other than, I suppose, frantic prayer, had not been attempted.