Judge rules against Parents

Teild

who asserted their right to treat their son with alternative treatments, given a 5% chance of curing son's cancer, as opposed to chemotherapy, which had a 95% chance of curing son's cancer.

The way I see it, adults can take the risk of having alternative as opposed to proven conventional treatments for themselves, but not for their children. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30763438

roseg

I'm pleased to read this ruling.

This is a very treatable cancer. 

Apparently after talking with the boy the judge came to feel that it really wasn't relgious reasons he didn't want to continue treatment. 

konakat

Good, I don't know how a parent could put religion above their child's life. As far as I'm concerned, denying their child this treatment would have been child abuse. Clear and simple.

Dejaboo

I agree with this ruling also.  How can one choose a 95% cure rate vs a 50%.

 They live here in MN.

But the day they were supposed to show up for Chemo- I think it was this Monday..The Son & His mom were no where to be found.

Only the Dad showed up.

I heard last night they thought that they may know the where abouts of them.  I have not seen the news today.

I sure hope they find them & get his Chemo started!

Pam

FloridaLady

Many feel this is a fight is between the parents not with the child...how sad they are willing to fight each other while their child needs help

Hindsfeet

I was reluctant to make this comment. Sorry, but feel strongly against the government telling us what we can and can't do with our children...especially medically.

I read that chemo doesn't cure cancer. Maybe there is something better? I would try anything before chemo...and then I'm not sure I would ever take chemo. The idea of taking poison in mybody to kill healthy cells does not sit right. I don't think the medical establishment has all the answers. There are pro's and cons' to chemo. Someday I believe science will look back and say chemo is barbaric.

What is wrong with letting people first try the alternative approach? If it doesn't work, then try chemo. Personally, I think chemo should be one's last choice. With that being said, I do support my bc sisters who felt it was necessary to do chemo.

 I also read that the boy does not want chemo, and he would fight before being forced to take it. Maybe he was influence, maybe not. If a girl can get an abortion without her parents concent at age 12 then why can't this boy decide what's best for him.

We haven't walked in their shoes, so lets not be so hard on this family. No one should be forced to do anything against their will. We are in a lot of trouble when the government tells us what we can and can't do...especially in regard to medical care. What's next?

gramadeb

I think there are alot more family dynamics going on - child is home schooled but is illiterate, parents obviously are not on the same page, the tumor has increased in size while on alternative treatment. I agree that adults should have the options they choose related to alternative treatments, but I am not convinced this family is well informed but rather acting out of fear for their son.

Hindsfeet

Gramadeb, What is wrong with homeschooling? I know a lot of brilliant kids who have been homeschool. The boy may have a learning problem, dyslexia problem...and sometimes boys learn later.

I do think they should be under a naturalpathic doctors care. Most naturalpathic doctors work along with conventional doctors as mine does. His cancer may have increased in size, but I'm not sure chemo will shrink it...maybe. If alternative treatments aren't working, try chemo. But, lets not blame the boys mental abilities on the parents lack of care, especially if we don't know what and why.

My gut says there's got to be a better way.  

soprano

Actually, they did one chemo treatment that caused the the tumor to shrink somewhat significantly right after the diagnosis.  Then the parents wanted to try natural remedies. Fine. They did.  The boy had a court ordered chest xray a few days ago which showed progression back to the size of the original tumor with the natural remedies that they had chosen to use.  It was after the results of this xray and the demonstrated progression that the mother ran with the son.

Also, a 13 year old, even with dyslexia, should be able to read some.  (maybe not up to the level of his peers- but some) I believe that an adequate private, public or homeschooled education could provide this for him. Personally, I think that his literacy is a separate issue (albeit and important one) than his health but the court seems to think that they are connected.

gramadeb

Barry  - I have absolutely nothing against homeschooling. My nephew has 4 children, all homeschooled and now have great jobs. I am not blaming anything on the boy - but rather questioning the role his parents are taking. I have heard numerous reports that says the child said he will fight and kick if someone tries to give him chemo - does he really understand the whole process - especially if he has learning problems. Parents should be advocates for their children and not run away with them.

baywatcher

Barry-

I agree with you. I read that the boy thinks that chemo will kill him. This is a horrible situation for this family but I think the government should butt out!

anondenet

< 

We don't know any of the facts about this case but the official party line as dispensed to the media..

It's probably unwise for anybody to give an opinion based on that.

Remember what they said about teenager Billy Best 15 years ago?

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_05_21_Hub_survivor_feels_kinship_with_runaway_cancer_boy:_I_d_%E2%80%98do_anything__to_help/srvc=home&position=0

<

pip57

I can speak to this from personal experience.  It is a horrible thing to watch your own child have to go through such physical and psychological 'torture'.  You would give anything for it to be you instead.  It would be so easy to slip into denial and avoid doing what is the responsible thing to do.

At our Children's Hospital, a child had the right to deny tx if they were 14yrs old.  Now, I do not know if this would stand up in court, but our daughter was asked to sign all the permission forms.  We always told Cassie that she could decide what she wanted to do and we would not interfere, UNLESS WE DISAGREED!  In the end, after all tx options were exhausted, SHE decided that it was time to stop.  We respected THAT choice at THAT time, even though we were screaming inside and wanted to do WHATEVER it took to keep her alive.

I guess my point is that as parents we will do whatever it takes to protect our child.  However, when their life or death is on the line, I really think that denial is the easiest and most tolerable road for many of us to take.  I believe that is the case  here.  She 'thinks' that she is doing what is right.  He is only following his mother's lead. Both need to be educated to be able to make the right decisions and unfortunately, there may not be time for that now.  

Look at us.  We are adult women and we have enough difficulty sorting it all out and making our own decisions.   

Leia

As baywathcer said, I think the government should just butt out of this entire thing. This is ... Ridiculous. 

This is NOT the government's call.  

Hello, people. Our country is based on the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I want to live in the USofA because I'm free. When the government starts telling me ANYTHING about how to treat my children, that's TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT.

And I don't want that.  

crazy4carrots

From what I've read about this case, these seem to be the facts:

1.  The boy has Hodgkin's Disease, which has a very high (95%) success rate

2.  The boy had one treatment and is refusing any more because he hated it so much

3.  His parents, while nominally Roman Catholic, are following a local native Indian pathway re their health, which does not adhere to western medicine protocols and has certain religious beliefs.

4. His mother (likely with the encouragement of the father) has taken him someplace where she hopes Child Services will not discover them and bring him back for tx.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are cherished principles for the American individual.  But  should they really override -- in this case -- the return to good health of this boy?  Isn't that a bit like saying that those who steal, kill, defraud etc. should not be sentenced to prison, because -- after all -- they will certainly be denied their liberty and their pursuit of happiness....?

There have been several cases of children being denied (by their parents) life-saving blood transfusions, because of the parents' religion.  Freedom OF religion should, IMO, also be freedom FROM religion.  After all, a child is born without religion, and only becomes "religious" because of the influence of his parents.  This case contains both situations: parents who follow a certain religious path, and a child who, encouraged by his parents, is choosing his pursuit of happiness at the expense of his health.  He is likely unaware that these tx provide an extremely good chance for him to reach adulthood.

And concerning government involvement:  seems to me the government plays a huge part in the lives of all its citizens.  Its laws apply to every citizen, and the right of each person to sustain his own life, when not at the expense of another, is paramount.  Government involvement in this case is providing that right to this child.  Isn't that why you have child protection laws?

And one final thought regarding child protection:  how do you protect a child from parents who do NOT have his best interests at heart?  Think of the cases of parental molestation, physical/mental/emotional abuse... and murder.  It happens.

Just some food for thought....

momgovero

I agree, it is not the government's job to decide what is best for my child.  If I was pregnant, yes, a child growing inside me, I could kill it if I wanted!!  That's government!  That same government says the parents can't decide what medical treatment is best for our chlid?  I have heard that chemo either "kills the patient or kills the cancer".  And yes, even with chemo, people die.  Whose to say what is the best treatment?  There is no cure.  It is all a shot in the dark.