The story is true in its essential facts. The context in which it appears in the gemara will clarify some things, but not the actions of the Amora (yes the father appears to have been an Amora). It certainly requires going the maharsha, and other meforshim on the gemara to see if they offer an explanation for the actions of the father. The story is mentioned as part of an incident with Rav Ashi. Rav Ashi once related a din in hilchos shabbos, one of the talmidim commented on the halacha and Rav Ashi replied That is the opinion of so and so (rav yosi bar I forget who). The talmid replied “that’s me”. Rav ashi asked I thought you were a talmid of so and so (also a r’ yosi bar someone) why are you here. He replied “he didn’t have rachmanus on his own son and daughter, he won’t have any on me. The gemara then relates the two stories, the one with the daughter is the one mentioned here. It was his daughter being looked at.
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