Teen with cancer can forgo chemotherapy

Associated Press ^ | 08/16/06

[RushCrush]

Starchild...interesting

[Blogger]

Good. He shouldn't have been forced to go through chemo a second time. I hope they find something that will cure him.

[thoughtomator]

How generous of the state to allow him a conditional go at his favored medical treatment.

[Moose4]

It's the parents' choice what treatment to use since Abraham is under 18. Period. The county needs to butt out.

Interestingly enough, I didn't know the kid had the weird first name, but I heard him interviewed on Hannity and he's a very well-spoken young man. He and his parents researched the alternatives and mutually agreed on this particular type of treatment, and so far, it seems to be working--or at least he's not getting any worse.

Gabz, this is in your neck of the woods, isn't it?

}:-)4

[nmh]

I don't believe that people or kids for that matter if they are of sound mind should be FORCED to undergo chemo or radiation.

I have M.S.. I don't inject myself everyday with the "ABC" drugs or Reibif (sp). I went alternative and watch my diet. It's working. The MRI's PROVE it has not progressed and in REMISSION. Had I gone the chemical route I'd have to constantly have liver panels done and my hormonal system would be all screwed up. You do have to be careful when dealing with alternative - natural therapy. There are incompetent people just as there are with what has now morphed into the "traditional" route - the synthetic army.

[evad]

VINO..
I respect this child's feelings but quite honestly, he and his parents are throwing away the only chance he has for recovery from his illness.

He'll be dead in a year.

[Halls]

I agree the choice is his and his parents, no one else's. I'm sure if the treatment he is on now is showing no improvement they will make the wise decision to do radiation or chemo again should need be to save his life. For now leave the boy alone and let them seek help however they so choose.

[1 spark]

Great news! I pray for Starchild's complete recovery.

[Froufrou]

I heard him on Hannity, too, and I think he's exceptionally adult in his perspectives. If he's terminal - and we all are - he should live as he chooses so long as he causes no harm to others and breaks no laws. The exception would have been had he illegally refused chemo.

[RushCrush]

How does one illegally refuse chemo as opposed to what this kid is doing?

[Always Right]

I have M.S.. I don't inject myself everyday with the "ABC" drugs or Reibif (sp). I went alternative and watch my diet.

What you put into your body is one of the most important factors in health, but for the most part Western Medicine does not believe in diet. I guess they don't believe patients can actually stick to a strict diet and instead rely on presribing pills and treatments for everything.

[GovernmentShrinker]

That's a bit extreme. He has already under one round of chemotherapy, and is to be treated by an oncologist who is board-certified in radiation therapy, and has indicated he may undergo radiation therapy and/or immunotherapy. Yes, he might be dead within a year, but it's far from certain, and more chemotherapy wouldn't be a guarantee either, especially since he had an especially bad reaction to it the first time. Quality of life matters, and it's not clear that he won't get more of that by going his chosen route, even though he'd very likely get more quantity of life with the chemotherapy.

[JamesP81]

Last month, the judge found Abraham's parents neglectful and ordered Abraham to report to a hospital for treatment as doctors deem necessary.

The Criminal Justice System. Doing your thinking so you don't have to!

[Gabz]

Yes, Moose, this is my neck of the woods.

Accomack County Social Services is devil incarnate as far as I'm concerned. They are also hypocrites. I'm aware of a case a few years ago where AC social workers offered to help a 15 year old get an abortion, without her parents knowing about it.

As to the young man's first name, it is possible it is a family name. On one of the other threads about this case it was brought up that Starchild is a common last name in some parts of Virginia, and giving a child a family name is not an uncommon practice.

I'm glad to see some common sense in the outcome of this for him and his family.

[JamesP81]

I don't believe that people or kids for that matter if they are of sound mind should be FORCED to undergo chemo or radiation.

Nobody of sound mind should be forced to undergo anything, period. Those decisions are his to make, and the intendant consequences are his to deal with. Court involvement is a travesty of American freedom.

[Mr. Brightside]

If a 16 year old wanted an abortion, the left would citing the right to privacy and that 'nobody can tell you what to do with your own body.'

It seems abortion gets favored treatment when it comes to privacy.

[shhrubbery!]

Starchild...interesting

Might be a family name.

I posted on a thread a few weeks ago that there are three families with surname 'Starchild' listed as living in VA in an online phone directory.

The suffix '-child' or '-schild' on surnames is usually derived from Germanic words for 'shield.'

So it's not necessarily some hippy dippy name.

And even if it were, that's no reason to deny him --an obviously intelligent young man who's almost 18 years old-- his right to choose his own medical treatment.

[JamesP81]

He'll be dead in a year.

Which is his choice to make. Since it does not negatively impact anyone else, society has no business making the choice for him. As I said before, the choice belongs to him, as do the intendant consequences.

[Gabz]

Please see my comments in post #15 - they address your concern.