Can an absent father be forced to provide medical help

LegacyUser

Hypothetical question here following a conversation I had with someone recently.

Child has medical condition which requires blood possibly bone marrow.
Mothers side all screened not a strong enough match.
Doctors suggest contacting absent Dad, he decides he still wants nothing to do with child doesn't care about possible outcome, his family all siding with him, his decision.

Can you apply to the court to get the father tested as a possible match, similar to the DNA test procedure where Mam or Dad can apply for a test to be carried out if it is in the interest of the childs health?

Also if absent father is a better match than mothers side, does he hold the trump card on decieding the outcome for the child i.e. refuse to provide what is possibly required.

Where are the rights of the child in this, although I know you can argue the father has right to make choices too, anyone with any insight into this one?

January

I've moved this here, since it's hypothetical it's the best place for it and more people may be able to answer

drkpower

I suspect you already know the answer.

However distasteful and irresponsible it may be, a father, a mother, a brother nor an uncle can be obliged/forced to undergo a bone marrow biopsy or to donate bone marrow, even if it means certain death for the child.

Victor

The father quite possibly would be no better a match than the others anyway. Siblings, in particular identical twins, are the best match as they come from the same gene pool. Parents are a much poorer match as there is only perhaps 50% commonality (of the variable genes).

Delancey

People can not be compelled to donate a kidney to a relative , the scenario as described really changes nothing.
Doctors ethics would also preclude them from taking a ' donation ' against the donor's will.