Father in drug plea for dying son

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6945427.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The father of a four-year-old boy with leukaemia has made a desperate plea to doctors to help save his son's life.

Charles Afolabi from Harrow, north London, wants doctors treating his son Tomi to use the drug nelarabine which is used in America.

Initially doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital had considered treating Tomi with the drug but now say it could kill him, because he is so ill.

Mr Afolabi found the drug by searching the internet for possible cures.

They told him about a trial that was being run by pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline.

'Best interests'

However as Tomi's condition deteriorated they said he was too poorly to take part.

"On Saturday they said my son's condition is so bad that it could kill him," said Mr Afolabi, 49. "But he has got three-to-six weeks to live. What is there to save?"

Tomi was diagnosed with leukaemia in March last year. Since then he has been in and out of Great Ormond Street Hospital - the third largest centre for treating children with cancer in the world.

A hospital spokesman said: "We are actively engaged in discussions with the family to agree a way forward.

"The central issue is the best interests of the child and we must consider the best available evidence regarding treatment."