Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Judge Orders Teen to Cancer Treatment
Breitbart.com ^ | 7/21/06 | Sonja Barisic

Posted on 07/21/2006 5:00:44 PM PDT by Huntress

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.

Jay and Rose Cherrix of Chincoteague on Virginia's Eastern Shore must continue to share custody of their son with the Accomack County Department of Social Services, as the judge had previously ordered, Stepanovich said.

The parents were devastated by the new order and planned to appeal, the lawyer said.

Stepanovich said he will ask a higher court on Monday to stay enforcement of the order, which requires the parents to take Abraham to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk and to give the oncologist their written legal consent to treat their son for Hodgkin's disease.

"I want to caution all parents of Virginia: Look out, because Social Services may be pounding on your door next when they disagree with the decision you've made about the health care of your child," Stepanovich said.

Phone calls to the Cherrix home went unanswered.

The lawyer declined to release the ruling, saying juvenile court Judge Jesse E. Demps has sealed much of the case.

Social Services officials have declined to comment, citing privacy laws.

After three months of chemotherapy last year made him nauseated and weak, Abraham rejected doctors' recommendations to go through a second round when he learned early this year that his Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymph nodes, was active again.

A social worker then asked a judge to require the teen to continue conventional treatment. In May, the judge issued a temporary order finding Abraham's parents neglectful and awarding partial custody to the county, with Abraham continuing to live at home with his four siblings.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: cancer; cancerboy; chincoteague; communism; cpswatch; govwatch; health; healthcare; imperialjudiciary; klintonkare; medicine; nannystate; privacy; ruling; socialism; tyrantsinblack; virginia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-124 next last
To: goldstategop
You are exactly correct. We like to concentrate only on the positive side of freedom. But as inherent in the ability to choose what is best for oneself is also the ability to choose what is worst, or even fatal. As long as this boy is not harming or infringing the rights of someone else, then it shouldn't be a matter for the state at all. But we are all aware that paternalism, especially when practiced by the state, is addictive and represents the ultimate in power.

I assume we can now expect Children's services to take custody of all obese children since their parents are obviously being negligent in allowing them to remain obese. And, of course, it won't stop there. They'll find ways to make it mandatory for adults as well.

61 posted on 07/21/2006 8:02:06 PM PDT by MarcusTulliusCicero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: No2much3
Congrats! I had a friend who recently died in her 90s who rejected chemo after her 2 mastectomies which were performed at separate times many yrs ago. Said all her friends who had cancer of the breast underwent the traditional chemo/radiation and all died within a few yrs. She outlived them all and eventually died of unrelated old age factors. She always referred to chemo as "that poison".

Wait . . . don't yell at me you all . . . I also acknowledge a friend who had a "fist sized" cancerous lump removed about 3 yrs ago, underwent chemo and radiation and so far seems to be doing fine. I think every body responds differently to whatever menace attacks, and we have to respond individually. The thought of the state being in charge gives me the willies.

62 posted on 07/21/2006 8:05:27 PM PDT by Arizona (If the President doesn't believe fences work, why does he have one around the White House?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited
Actually Blood letting turns out to have have some basis in science for the treatment of a not wholly uncommon predominantly Northern European Genetic Enhancement referred to as Polycythemia

A small segment of Northern Europeans have a gene which when dominant cause them to produce more blood and it's various components such as RBD WBC Hemoglobin etc. The result is there blood carries more oxygen, coagulates quicker and is replaced faster than the rest of you ordinary
mortals. (It also explains why a number of 50-60 year olds who by all outward appearance are balding men with beer bellys work many a younger man into the ground.



http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000589.htm#Causes,%20incidence,%20and%20risk%20factors

Phlebotomy is one method used to reduce the high blood viscosity. In phlebotomy, 1 unit (pint) of blood is removed weekly until the hematocrit is less than 45, then phlebotomy is continued as necessary.


Maybe not Supermen,,, just "enhanced" with Service Pac 2 LOL

W
63 posted on 07/21/2006 8:11:45 PM PDT by WLR ("fugit impius nemine persequente iustus autem quasi leo confidens absque terrore erit")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Doctor Stochastic

I have not heard about MJ being used as a cancer treatment..just have heard about cancer patients saying that the use of MJ has reduced the amt of nausea they have, when having chemo treatments....


64 posted on 07/21/2006 8:46:04 PM PDT by andysandmikesmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Huntress

Judge, I tried that crap, it doesn't work and makes me feel like hell.
And frankly your honor this is none of your damn business!

I will NOT accept the treatment!

What are you going to do, tie me down and force it on me.

Go to hell!


65 posted on 07/21/2006 8:54:24 PM PDT by G Larry (Only strict constructionists on the Supreme Court!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Huntress

The state needs to butt out.


66 posted on 07/21/2006 9:11:49 PM PDT by Zack Attack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gabz

Thanks for the ping!


67 posted on 07/21/2006 9:23:15 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: andysandmikesmom
To: Polybius........... I think that the same thing holds true for those that are diagnosed with ALL leukemia...it was considered fatal...now, due to chemotherapy, I do believe that the cure rate is between 70-90 per cent...not a full cure, but certainly a whole lot better than zero chance of a cure...

And, in some diseases such as pancreatic cancer, which my father died of when I was 16, NOTHING will work.

Not chemotherapy. Not radiation therapy. Not surgery. NOTHING!

Yes, chemotherapy is worse than a tequila hangover on a ship riding out a hurricane and, in some cases, as in pancreatic cancer, it is totally worthless.

But, if you have Hodgkin's disease, putting up with the tequila hangover on a ship in riding out a hurricane and puking your guts out means the difference between life and death and, in over 90% of of the cases, the final outcome will be life instead of death.

If only my Dad had Hodgkin's disease instead of pancreatic cancer.

68 posted on 07/21/2006 11:01:00 PM PDT by Polybius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: seastay
If cancer is caught early, the treatment is better, and maybe not as harsh, but putting trust in the government or doctors in advanced cases, and no trust in God to take you home is just a mistake, and a travesty .............

My post was in reply to another poster that equated chemotherapy to "medieval bloodletting" and labeled it as "evil".

Childhood Hodgkin’s disease (not adult Hodgkin’s disease as your spouse had) has an over 90% remission rate as opposed to a 100% mortality rate in 1906.

Whether or not the state should have forced chemotherapy on this child is one issue.

Claiming that chemotherapy is "evil" and equivalent to "medieval bloodletting" is a totally separate issue.

....parking blocks away to maneuver around the doctors Mercedes ......

I'm a doctor and I drive a 1994 Honda Accord. I'm frugal.

.....; she claims the woman will only live 15 years longer ave after treatment even when "cured"......

Given a choice of whether or not you puke your guts outs for a few months, would you rather spend the next 15 years living with your wife, children or grandchildren or would you rather have it been 15 years since your wife, children and grandchildren planted you in a six foot deep grave?

69 posted on 07/21/2006 11:24:06 PM PDT by Polybius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: andysandmikesmom

The thing that gets me is that they have already gone through 3 months of chemo. There is only so much of those chemicals that a person is supposed to be able to take. At least that is what my 23 year old sons oncologist told us about his treatment. There are so many factors that go into decisions for treatments. This judge in my opinion is being irresponsible at least and in violation of the rights of parents and son.

And if he, the judge, insists on treatment is he going to pay? Who will pay? Many cancer expenses are not covered by health ibnsurance!!!!


70 posted on 07/21/2006 11:45:32 PM PDT by landerwy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Gabz

Thanks for the ping. Why is it the only word I can think of is unbelievable?


71 posted on 07/22/2006 12:48:37 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Huntress

Yet, Judges have often ruled Jehovah's Witnesses and their children have the right to refuse blood transfusions or demand alternative treatment to blood.


72 posted on 07/22/2006 1:45:00 AM PDT by DakotaRed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited
Well, I've been through Chemo, and it's no picnic. I do think I am cured tho :)

That said..I am disgusted with this Judge. The young man was no ordinary 16 year old and was mature beyond his years.

I pray that he stays away from infection while he is on Chemo. IF he should die from Chemo complications, then that Judge should rot in hell!

sw

73 posted on 07/22/2006 6:13:17 AM PDT by spectre (Spectre's wife)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: goodnesswins
....look first to HORMONES and THYROID

Good point.

My mother had a misdiagnosed thryroid condition for years - it was diagnosed as "asthma and allergies." Of course, this was in addition to the "anxiety" diagnosis. She refused to take tranquilizers, thankfully.

After years of taking unnecessary asthma and allergy medication (her hands used to tremble from it), she finally found a doctor who correctly diagnosed her.

She was treated for the thyroid condition, and was transformed.

74 posted on 07/22/2006 8:02:09 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Gabz
Maybe as things like this become more commonplace, the scales will fall from some eyes.

Nah.

75 posted on 07/22/2006 8:03:49 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Young Scholar
That's the worst of it; they should at least refuse to do that. If the judge is going to say that their consent doesn't matter, he can nullify the need for their consent. If he lacks the power to do that, he should lack the power to force them to give consent.

Perhaps as long as the parents retain primary custody, they have to sign, and he's saying "Sign, or I'll make the kid a ward of the state".

76 posted on 07/22/2006 8:58:03 AM PDT by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited

In 1996, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, rt side. Had surgery, 1 yr chemo & 4 mo. radiation. Tamoxifin to be taken for the rest of her life "as a preventative." She discontinued it after a year because she felt like total s*%t. In 1999, she was diagnosed with cancer in the left breast (wow, a whole year of chemo really helped it not come back...idiot oncologist blamed her discontinuance of Tamox.). She opted for a double mast. which I thought was like hitting a gnat with a sledgehammer - due to another horrible family event (my 30-yr old bro had a heart attack - endocarditis) her surgery was put off for three weeks, and she opted for just the lumpectomy.

I had three weeks to "prep" her with stuff out of Mexico & Canada, plus heavy hitter supplements.

When the day came for surgery, surgeon *was unable to find* the tumor and told me he cut around the area where it was thought to have been on the first mammogram. No cancer in lymph nodes. She did do radiation but not chemo.

In 2003, a mass grew in her brain. Immediately, they called it brain met. We were devastated. She went for all the other scans & tests, because if it was in her brain, it would be all through her. Took 2 days for tests to come back because several radiologists had to look at them - WHY? Because where they assumed they would find cancer, THERE WAS NONE.

Turns out it was a brain abscess.


77 posted on 07/22/2006 9:25:51 AM PDT by Dasaji (...If you can't laugh at it, you'll go crazy!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Huntress
This is a tough case. I don't have a lot of faith in alternative cancer treatments, but I also think the choice as to treatment should be up to this kid and his parents, as opposed to the state.

I tend to agree.

78 posted on 07/22/2006 9:28:35 AM PDT by ContraryMary (New Jersey -- Superfund cleanup capital of the U.S.A.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingu

I bet at this point they wouldn't be allowed to leave.


79 posted on 07/22/2006 9:35:35 AM PDT by SaintDismas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: TheRedSoxWinThePennant

I'd like to offer up a personal anecdote vis-a-vis supplements and other natural, non-prescription remedies. I've been coping with bi-lateral osteoarthritis since about the age of 25 (I'm 42, now). Very athletic my entire life but the onset of OA brought most high-impact physical activity to a screeching halt. Even walking for extended periods of time would cause terrible inflammation and loss of mobility for several days. Long story short, put myself on Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine about 10 years ago and stayed on it for 6 months (haven't used it since because I haven't had to). I can now engage in very strenuous physical activity and have been studying Krav Maga (Israeli martial arts)for the past 5 years without any swelling or stiffness. I believe the supplements stopped and reversed my arthritis.


80 posted on 07/22/2006 9:47:01 AM PDT by wally-balls
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-124 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson