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The paper also reported that an application for proton beam therapy for Ashya
to be paid for by the NHS was turned down, because it would not add extra
benefit compared to radiotherapy for patient, like Ashya, who have had
surgery.

Dr Wilson said: “”Where we have been really misrepresented by the
press and the family is where people have talked about a dying child.”

In fact, Ashya’s chances of survival were in danger of being harmed, Dr Wilson
said, because he was due another course of radiotherapy following surgery.

He said: “Ashya is sick because of the surgery he has had. He has a 70-80
per cent chance of survival. For every week we do not treat him from this
week, his chances of survival decrease.

“For this particular tumour, the reason why the proton beam was not
deemed to be of any benefit is because you have to irradiate most of the
brain and spine anyway.”

For children with medulloblastoma, Ashya’s condition, it is vital that surgery
is followed by radiotherapy to ensure that all remaining cancer cells are
killed. More targeted proton beam therapy may not be appropriate in such
cases because cancer cells may be diffuse throughout the brain.

Responding to the criticism that the hospital and police had been
heavy-handed, Dr Wilson denied that the hospital had ever threatened to take
away control over Ashya’s treatment away from his parents.

He said: “”We have to be really clear – we never threatened this
family. What happened is that during discussions there were obviously
disagreements between the paediatric oncology team and the family as to some
of the treatment options. The parents asked if we refused any treatment for
our child, what would happen to us?

“What was explained to them was that in certain circumstances, if a parent was
to refuse treatment on behalf of their child and it was felt that would be
putting the child at risk, we would consider going to the court.”

A spokesman for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said: “Today’s
judgment will allow Ashya to get the treatment he urgently needs without any
further delays.

“Throughout the period that we cared for Ashya and over the last few
days, our only interest has been his health, medical treatment and welfare.
We will continue to support any clinicians involved in his future care with
advice and information.”