Posted on 06/10/2005 8:53:04 AM PDT by Rennes Templar
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (June 10) - Child welfare officials seized a 12-year-old cancer patient from her parents, saying they were blocking radiation treatment that doctors say she needs.
During a court hearing Wednesday, Michele and Edward Wernecke asked that doctors be barred from giving radiation therapy to their daughter Katie until a hearing next week to determine whether she will stay in state custody.
They say their daughter's cancer is in remission and they object to her getting the radiation treatment after undergoing a round of chemotherapy. Katie has Hodgkin's disease, a type of cancer involving the lymph nodes.
Juvenile court Judge Carl Lewis said he would rule on the request Friday.
Last week, authorities issued an Amber Alert to gain temporary custody of Katie after receiving an anonymous tip about possible neglect. She was found with her mother at a family ranch, about 80 miles west of Corpus Christi near Freer, on Saturday.
She remains at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is undergoing tests, officials said. State Child Protective Services says her life could be in danger without further cancer treatment.
Michele Wernecke was arrested on charges of interfering with child custody and was released Monday after posting $50,000 bond.
The Werneckes' three sons were placed in a foster home.
Speaking Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Michele Wernecke said her daughter's illness is unique and should be treated as such.
"I think they should treat her for what her body calls for and not standard protocol. Nobody will look at that," she said. "Not every cancer is the same. Nobody understands that. Her body is not standard, and her cancer is not standard."
The couple, members of the Church of God, have said they oppose blood transfusions unless they were from Katie's mother. But the couple's attorney, Daniel Horne, said religion wasn't at issue in the fight over cancer treatment.
Rather, they believe doctors haven't been upfront about Katie's care and have not answered all their questions about the side effects of the radiation.
"This issue is about parental rights, not about religious rights," Horne said. "They just want to be informed of her treatment. They want to be involved in this."
Katie was diagnosed with cancer in January. In a videotaped statement recorded by her parents, Katie said she's feeling better.
"I don't need radiation treatment. And nobody asked me what I wanted. It's my body," she said.
Officials on Wednesday reached an agreement to let Edward Wernecke and the couple's sons visit Katie on Friday, the day before her 13th birthday.
The Associated Press.
What else will the SCPS say will endanger our children? Fact is, radiation does not cure cancer or prevent death.. The medical extablishment is concerned about the growing use of altenative cancer therapies, as the war on cancer is about as effective as the war on drugs, and they need the state to protect their investemnts.
CPS thugs on a publicity hunt.
At some point will the state decide that the cost is'nt worth it and starve her to death to be humane?.......
Wow, where were the protective services when Terri Schiavo needed them?
Wow, now that is enlightening. So an anonymous tip can now get your children taken away from you? Someone needs to slap these authorities until their heads spin. Let the parents get a second opinion from another hospital!
There's more to this story. Speaking as a former CPS worker, they can't just take kids without reason. I'm wondering what caused the three brothers to be removed from the home as well. Yep, there's much more to this story.
How ironic, in Maine she could get an abortion without her parents' consent on her own authority, but as to her own cancer treatment, she's a ward of the Almighty State.
Please explain your statement: "Fact is, radiation does not cure cancer or prevent death."
Thanks.
Thanks for being the voice of reason here...on this topic.
Hmmm....The parents are diagnosing their daughter.
Moving out to a rural area from CPS agents is looking real good these days. Very interesting that a parent has no say so in their childrens' health care.
"And nobody asked me what I wanted. It's my body."
Right. But if the State wants to perform medical
treatments on it without your consent, that's its
right. Your parents are irrelevant--UNLESS
the parents want a handicaped infant to NOT be
given treatment, so that it can die and not have
a "less than fully meaningful life".
THEN, the state will acceed to the parents' wishes,
without regard to the effect on the child's health.
From an anonymous tip? For not wanting chemo for her daughter? A parent should have say so in their child's healthcare.
I am guessing that the tip about neglect led to the removal of the boys. If you ask me, the definition of neglect is dubious given that, at least in Maryland, it includes mental health.
You may be right that there is more to this story. If so, I would like to hear it. As a homeschooler, though, I have heard many stories through HSLDA where anonymous tips have been the basis for interventions. Outrageous, if you ask me.
Specifically with regards to this case, the parents are claiming that their refusal to allow radiation therapy was because their questions had not been answered. Even if that was not the case, I would not consider the denial of radiation therapy to automatically be medical neglect. Radiation therapy is absolutely brutal.
In the end, though, we always come back to the fundamental question. Who does the child belong to? The parent or the State?
What do you want to bet that if they decide to treat her (in all their wisdom) and she fights the treatment, that she'll end up sedated and treated anyway?
Bastards.
"The medical extablishment is concerned about the growing use of altenative cancer therapies, as the war on cancer is about as effective as the war on drugs..."
Appears you've overdosed on tin-foil. What are these "alternative therapies"? Please provide science based references. Show us some valid stats. Can you also provide a picture of the garlic necklaced practitioner administering the alternative modalities?
The daughter had chemotherapy so it's not as if they are denying her ALL care. Government getting pretty hostile to parents and children imho.
or the parents are repeating what a doctor told them...
Anonymous tip from the hospital?
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