The Children Act

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, religious discrimination, and death.

Fiona drives to the hospital with Adam’s social worker, Marina Greene. On the way, she wonders if she’s making the right decision by going to see Adam. She composes a text to Jack insisting that he can’t have an affair but doesn’t send it and shuts off her phone. She keeps replaying the situation in her mind without finding a solution.

As they approach the hospital, Fiona remembers the one time she was admitted for a stomach virus as a child. She enjoyed the experience because she was taken care of, and nothing was seriously wrong with her. She later visited hospitals several times to see loved ones. She now gets a sense of hope and possibility as she sees Edith Cavell Hospital coming into view.

Marina breaks the silence to tell Fiona about her cat. Fiona remarks about Marina’s self-possessed pet, insisting that she tell Adam the story.

Inside, the women take the escalator to pediatric oncology, where they find Adam’s room. The nurses urge Fiona to change Adam’s mind about his condition and treatment. Fiona is immediately taken by Adam when she sees him. He’s on his bed surrounded by books, headphones, a computer, food wrappers, tissues, a notebook, and pens. He looks thin and pale but is attractive and has a strong voice. He immediately launches into his story when he sees Fiona.

Adam explains that he is of sound mind and abides by the Jehovah’s Witness tradition. He believes the biblical teachings against blood transfusion, taking them as God’s commandments. Fiona argues against these points while trying not to insult him. She provides oppositional examples, suggesting that his congregation and elders might believe something that is, in fact, foolish. She then explains the specifics of what will happen to Adam if he doesn’t get the transfusion, information she isn’t sure he’s been given. His confidence momentarily falters when he hears that he could go blind or suffer brain damage without the transfusion and treatment. However, he holds that if it’s God’s will, he must have faith.

A nurse interrupts them to offer Adam his dinner. Adam decides to wait to eat until he and Fiona are done. Then Fiona asks about Adam’s poetry; she learned in court that he enjoys writing. Adam reads a short poem about sacrificing himself to strengthen other people’s faith. Fiona compliments the writing but suggests that Adam doesn’t have to die. However, she silently realizes that it doesn’t matter if he lives or dies; life will go on. She dismisses the thought and asks to hear Adam’s opinions on blood transfusion. His response sounds “faithfully and passionately reproduced” (117). Fiona asks how he’ll respond if she rules in the hospital’s favor, and his response makes them both laugh.

Fiona says she has to return to court, but Adam begs her to stay. She agrees to hear him play a song on his violin (which he’s recently started learning) before leaving. After he plays the piece, “Down by the Salley Gardens” (based on a Yeats poem), she offers some musical pointers and suggests singing along. Adam is moved by the lyrics, and they play it one more time before Fiona leaves. She doesn’t turn back when Adam asks if she’ll return for another visit.

Fiona and Marina don’t talk on the ride home. Fiona had the sense at the hospital that Marina didn’t agree with her methods and wanted to intervene; however, she didn’t interrupt during the exchange.

Back at the courthouse, Fiona prepares and gives her ruling. She explains her assessment of Adam’s condition. She believes he’s of sound mind and is intelligent enough to make his own decisions. She understands his faith and that his beliefs align with his parents’. At the same time, she holds that it’s her responsibility to rule according to Adam’s welfare, particularly as he’s still a child. She doesn’t think that it’s in Adam’s best interest to rule in his favor because his faith is ultimately endangering him. She rules in the hospital’s favor, meaning he’ll receive an immediate blood transfusion and subsequent treatment. Her ruling is in accordance with the Children Act of 1989, which means the “welfare of the child […] dominates [her] decision” (125).

Fiona heads home in a good mood. It’s late, but she stops to buy dinner for herself. She hums “Down by the Salley Gardens” and replays her conversation with Adam. When she gets home, it’s after 11 pm, and Jack is sitting on the step on his briefcase. She remembers that he doesn’t have a key for the new locks. She lets him in, but her mood has soured.

Jack pours a drink and explains that he made a mistake. He realized he’d done the wrong thing as soon as he arrived at Melanie’s the day before, but felt he’d gone too far to turn back. She says she’s too tired to have this conversation and retreats to the kitchen alone. Her earlier feelings of ease are gone. She realizes that what she’s feeling is disappointment.