A High Court application aimed at securing medical treatment for a four-year-old boy against the wishes of his parents has been adjourned until Friday.
Lawyers for the Health Service Executive told the High Court there was 'a very serious risk' to the life of the child who has leukaemia.
The boy's parents are opposing the treatment, but their lawyers told the court this morning this was not a standard case where the parents have some 'philosophical objection'.
Senior Counsel Ronan Murphy said the boy, who also has Down Syndrome, has been in remission since last August.
He has undergone 23 weeks of the recommended treatment with the consent of his parents, but they are not prepared to go on to 'the next intensive stage'.
The HSE had asked for the case to be dealt with urgently.
However, lawyers for the parents say it is a complicated case based on a scientific problem and not a philosophical objection.
President of the High Court Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns said it was obviously a matter of urgency and adjourned the case for mention on Friday.
