Court rules teen must have cancer treatment

Now the courts tell us how to take care of our bodies. I only wonder how good the boy's medical insurance is that the Dr.'s and hospital took this to court. Medical treatment for cancer is very costly and this is the boy's second time around. When is it ok for the courts to step in and decide what is right medicaly for a family and an individual.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13977403/

NORFOLK, Va. - A judge ruled Friday that a 16-year-old boy fighting to use alternative treatment for his cancer must report to a hospital by Tuesday and accept treatment that doctors deem necessary, the family’s attorney said.

The judge also found Starchild Abraham Cherrix’s parents were neglectful for allowing him to pursue alternative treatment of a sugar-free, organic diet and herbal supplements supervised by a clinic in Mexico, lawyer John Stepanovich said.

parents have proved in various cases - and this article was lacking in many details - not to act in a child's best medical interests.

this is a child -- and chemo is difficult for every one -- but i'm not convinced that the court is acting in the child's worst interests here.

the courts and medical dr's begin butting into our privacy, I believe we are walking a fine line. Terry Schiavo ring a bell anyone.

who is helpless needs to be protected by the courts. Family often do NOT have the best interests at all with regard to a child or an incapacitated family member..... Such as in the cases where Jehovah Witness parents do not want their child to get blood even if it means saving their life. In this particular case its proven medical treatment as opposed to unproven alternative treatment. And in those cases I give the benefit of the doubt to the doctors over family.

there is no comparison between ths case and that poor{dead} person.

these cases have to be decided on an individual basis -- and in this case the courts have - from what i could tell in this article -- decided correctly.

Also, as in cases where a court intervenes when a minor JW needs blood the court needs to protect the minor's best interests over the parents beliefs, ESPECIALLY in a case like this where the treatment has a high success rate. Now....if we were talking about one of the parents refusing treatment then I would agree with the decision to refuse it and have no problem with the decision.

sounds quite capable of deciding what he wants... the parents were only supporting their son's wishes. It would be no brainer to me, I would say take the treatment to my child. But I think it is heroic that they would support their son's wishes, knowing full well he may die from his wishes. I think its a fine line calling a 16yr old a child. 16yr olds drive, work, participate in various activities, have sex and make babies. He's not 5 and throwing a fit. And chemo-therapy is a poison. Most cancer treatments are so invasive. We need to look at a way to change the cancer cells or rather inhibit the reproductiveness that is attatched to cancer. I look at cancer like a algae bloom in the summer just below a phosphate plant. Its out of control cell growth. We are attacking cancer and every cell in the body... We need to target the specific parts or the cells that say reproduce. I know that is where research is trending too, but many of these drugs are sitting in "test" stage and haven't received FDA aproval.

I have known cancer patients and the treatment side effects are not nice at all. But right now its the best treatment there is until something better comes along. Remember, this type of cancer has a high cure rate with the treatment. Its not like they are forcing him to get treatment for something that has a low rate of success where he will probably die anyway.

I agree he sounds very bright and articulate. However, I was once 16 too, very smart in school and thought I knew a lot of things that I realize now I didn't. And I personally don't think this is his decision alone. I think the parents don't believe in conventional treatment and have influenced him.

And you think it's simply that "it's not nice at all"?

He reacts badly to the chemo. My mother did too. Luckily for her (ironically) she died from a massive stroke without the need for another round. She was seriously considering not taking it because of the reactions she had to the chemicals.

While I agree that he is young and my be influenced somewhat by his parents. I also agree with the the poster who suggested a 16 year old is but for lack of a few years experience AN ADULT.

The courts have overstepped their bounds. He should legally emancipate himself and refuse treatment.




My favorite Future Famous Dead Artist: KarenParker

strong enough terms for you. I have relatives and friends who have been through chemo. I am well aware of how bad the side effects are. :eyes:

And as for the chemo "almost killing him" that was according to him and his parents. Which is understandable they would say that since they are against conventional treatment. The doctors treating him did not agree.

for examples. The government has the "right" to tell us what we can and cannot do with our bodies; regardless of age.

Look at stem cell research for examples of the "right" government has to tell us what we can do with what is produced from our bodies.

Look at CDC guidelines which "advise" government policy to treat women as perpetually, potentially pregnant.

There are more examples of which I'm sure you're aware. Whether they are ethically and/or morally "right," the lack of control over our own bodies is being legally codified.

I also believe in the death with dignity laws that are being contested by this Administration. I believe a sixteen year old is old enough to know the consequences of their actions and if they wish to not go to a doctor they should have that right. The only reason the doctors want to make him keep coming back is to strip him and his family of all their worth. This is all about money and using the courts to aid in robbing people. This is wrong wrong wrong.Do you know what one little bag of those Chemo drugs cost. They are over eight thousand dollars a bag. That is one half hour long infusion that does almost as much damage to your body as the cancer.