Parents aren't to be Gods over their children, but Gods Servants in Guiding them, nurturing and raising them for His Purpose.
Too many parents today either believe parenting is a fun, play as you go relationship, or they don't realize it's really an accountable responsibility, there are many who are God fearing, compassionate & strong parents..
then you have parents faced with a situation like this... children are innocent, trusting and easily spoiled-easy to believe they are soo sweet they have rights. The only right they have is to listen, respect and learn... when they are adults and able to be held accountable for individual decisions,, then they can have control of their lives.
These two parents need to step out from behind/beside their child, and stand in front of Him, Just as Christ does His children.
Some people won't like me bringing God into this, but Christ relationship in respect to God-His Father, and many other biblical men, are good displays of fatherhood vs childhood, their positions and respects.
All we can do for this child is pray for an angel of intervening on Gods behalf, and behalf of what's left of that Parent-child relationship.
After these parents let this happen, they will grieve the rest of their lives, as he is thrown against certain trials in his life, they will always ask: "Did we do the right thing?"
What a curse that would be for all!
Too many parents today have lost sight of the lack of "real" concerns toward the health of their offspring with the wonderful advances made to make our children the epitome of health these days.
We no longer focus on life threatening concerns for they for the most part don't exist.
Pragmatic thinkers take this lack of life threatening concern as a good thing while the emotionally driven take it as a void in their life.
You won't get any argument from me. I happen to believe as you do. God gives us a great blessing when he allows us to have children, but as parents we need to remember that our children are HIS first and foremost. What an awesome and beautiful gift and privilege.