International trade secretary and former GP put infant in recovery position after answering plea ‘is there a doctor on board?’

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Liam Fox treated a baby having a seizure on board a plane as he flew to meet the controversial president of the Philippines, it has emerged.

The international trade secretary, who was a GP for 10 years before entering politics, rushed to the aid of the infant after cabin crew asked if there was a doctor on board when a couple from Hong Kong called for help.

Fox, MP for North Somerset, diagnosed the baby with febrile convulsion – a type of seizure that happens to one in 50 children before they are five-years-old – and placed the nine-month-old in the recovery position.



The baby then made a full recovery before landing.

Is there a doctor on the plane? Read more

The incident occurred as Fox flew to meet Rodrigo Duterte, an international pariah who is nicknamed “the Punisher” and has publicly encouraged civilians to kill drug addicts.

Fox prompted dismay from some about the government’s approach to human rights after he claimed that Britain and the Philippines had “shared values”.

In an article published in local media, Fox said he wanted Britain to build a stronger relationship with the Philippines based on “a foundation of shared values and shared interests”.



The Philippines’ international relations have become strained under Duterte. He lashed out at the UN for criticising him, labelling the body “stupid”, and called the former US president Barack Obama a “son of a whore”.

The leader has said he personally killed criminals during his 22 years as a mayor of Davao city, including throwing one suspect to his death from a helicopter.

A Department for International Trade spokesman said it did not “shy away from confronting barriers to trade and investment – including issues of human rights and corruption”.

• This article was amended on 17 April 2017. An earlier version used the word “fit” in the headline and first paragraph where our style guide advises that “seizure” should be used.