Mother must not be told her estranged child has cancer, court rules

Teenager’s father knows about illness but child insists mother should not find out, court hears

The case was heard in the Family Division of the High Court in London (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

A woman must not be told that her estranged teenage child has a rare form of cancer, a High Court judge has ruled.

Mr Justice Hayden imposed an information ban in June after the teenager urged doctors and social workers not to say anything to their mother.

The judge on Tuesday ruled that the ban should stay in place after reviewing evidence at a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

He said the teenager was continuing to insist that their mother should be told nothing.

Council social services officials with responsibility for the teenager's welfare had asked Mr Justice Hayden to impose the ban.

Lawyers representing council officials had said the order they wanted was very unusual.

The teenager lived with another family member and mother and child had been estranged for several years, they told the judge.

They said the teenager's father was aware, but the child was adamant that their mother should know nothing.

Mr Justice Hayden has ruled that council staff should not tell the mother about her child's condition.

He has also released teachers at the teenager's school from any obligation to pass on information.

The judge was told that managers at the hospital where the teenager is being treated had decided that they would not give out information against the teenager's wishes.

Mr Justice Hayden said he had taken into account the woman's parental rights and the teenager's human right to respect for privacy before reaching his decision.

He said nothing which might identify the child can be revealed in media reports of the case.

PA