Curious what others think - 16-year-old refuses chemo

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/08/16/cancer.teen.ap/index.html

A 16-year-old boy was diagnosed with Hodgkins's Lymphoma, and he
underwent a 3-month round of chemo, and it left him terribly
debilitated. (He was over 6 foot tall, and so skinny and weak that his
father had to carry him from the car to his bed). So when his cancer
returned, he wanted to pursue alternative therapies, and skip the
chemo.

His parents supported him in his decision, and when they left the
hospital, a social worker turned them in. A court ruled his parents
negligent and ordered him to report for chemo. A higher judge stayed
that order, and set a new trial, which he has just won. The new trial
declared that his parents had never been negligent (he had been seeing
doctors, and seeking treatment in mexico, eating a sugar-free, organic
diet, and taking herbal remedies). Under the new ruling, he may pick
any board-certified oncologist experienced in radiation treatments and
friendly to alternative therapies, and as long as he stays under that
doctor's care (and that might include radiation) and submits 3-months
updates as to his care and how he is doing, until he is considered
cured, or he turns 18, whichever comes first.

I personally think a 16-year-old is old enough to make a decision like
that. I also wondered how the courts would enforce his chemo - handcuff
him to his hospital bed, and drug him until they got the needle into
him?

I know that *in general* I personally don't hold a lot of faith in most
alternative treatments, or at least not by themselves (I suspect that
guided imagery and hypnosis were key to my father's survival from
Esophageal Cancer, but I doubt they would have done it alone).
However, I am unsure when I would back off and allow a child to make a
decision to refuse treatment. I wouldn't give a young child that option
- they just don't have the understanding to make that kind of decision.
But I think your average 16-year-old does. 16-year-old murderers are
tried as adults, and 17-year-olds can enlist in the Army. 16-year-olds
can have babies, and rarely does anyone try to take custody of the baby
away merely due to the parent's age.

Anyway, I'm hoping for a good and rousing (and friendly) debate on the
issue.

So what are your thoughts?

Cathy Weeks

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Teen battles state over cancer treatment
    ... THe article in People indicated this young man had undergone chemo for Hodgkins disease that was brutal, with him loosing 34 pounds, down to 122 pounds on a 5' 11" frame. ... It's been agreed that these parents are "model parents" and this is not a religious issue and his father was quoted as saying he was "just a parent trying to wrestle with this enemy." ... If a person were to choose alternative therapies, they can always elect to enter treatment with chemo or radiation at a later date. ...
    (sci.med.transcription)
  • Re: Curious what others think - 16-year-old refuses chemo
    ... underwent a 3-month round of chemo, ... returned, he wanted to pursue alternative therapies, and skip the ... His parents supported him in his decision, ... decision to refuse treatment. ...
    (misc.kids)
  • Re: Curious what others think - 16-year-old refuses chemo
    ... I dont know. ... underwent a 3-month round of chemo, ... His parents supported him in his decision, ... decision to refuse treatment. ...
    (misc.kids)
  • Re: Curious what others think - 16-year-old refuses chemo
    ... the kid to have chemo. ... returned, he wanted to pursue alternative therapies, and skip the ... His parents supported him in his decision, ... doctors, and seeking treatment in mexico, eating a sugar-free, organic ...
    (misc.kids)
  • Re: Teen battles state over cancer treatment
    ... second round. ... The parents even asked the oncologist to monitor the boy's ... 16-year-old boy to undergo chemo? ... I don't necessarily agree with their treatment ...
    (sci.med.transcription)
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