I found it troubling as well - but do you personally live in the absolutely best place in the entire world to live? The least pollution, the least crime, the highest life expectancy?
As someone who live in Melbourne (Australia) and is considering moving my family to a rural location for cleaner air for 10 years or so after the first child is born, I am unable to comprehend someone taking their child to live in one of the most polluted cities. Even if he (and his wife) did not think it through beforehand, the hospitalisation should have been a huge wakeup call.