THE Appeal Court decision not to order a child's life-saving operation against the parents' wishes is being seen as a landmark decision.

Doctors say that the 18-month-old boy will die without a liver transplant, but his parents have refused their consent. While this is bound to be a controversial decision, in this case, it appears to be the most humane. Loving parents, however, may not always make the right medical decisions for their children, and doctors' opinions may need to over-rule them. Certainly, each case needs to be decided strictly on its individual merits.

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