Judge rules family can't refuse chemo for boy

AP ^ | 15 May 2009 | AMY FORLITI

[BGHater]

A Minnesota judge has ruled a 13-year-old boy with a highly treatable form of cancer must seek medical treatment over his parents' objections.

Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg ruled Friday that Daniel Hauser of Sleepy Eye has been "medically neglected" and is in need of child protection services. Rodenberg said Daniel will stay in the custody of his parents, but Colleen and Anthony Hauser have until May 19 to get an updated chest X-ray for their son and select an oncologist.

Doctors have said Daniel's Hodgkin's lymphoma had up to a 90 percent chance of being cured with chemotherapy and radiation.

This photo taken on May 8, 2009 shows Daniel Hauser, 13, in New Ulm, Minn. His family, who wants to treat his cancer with natural medicine is waiting to see if a judge will let him refuse chemotherapy for religious reasons. Daniel Hauser has a 90 percent chance of surviving his Hodgkin's lymphoma with chemotherapy, , according to his cancer doctor.

[N3WBI3]

Hard to say how I feel on this one, should be a parents right..

[Abathar]

Good! 90% chance of success with treatment vs. 5% without.

If it was 50/50, or even 60/40 then I would leave it up to the parents, but in this case it’s the right call.

[ClearCase_guy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2251527/posts

Earlier thread today prior to the judge’s decision.

[N3WBI3]

Sooner or later they are going to mandate Gardisal and other preventative treatments under the same guise..

[Drango]

Tough, tough call. It’s child abuse to withhold modern medicine that can cure you. And yet medicine fails all the time. God can often heal when medicine fails. Prayers for all concerned.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

I have no problem whatsoever with the the evil, nasty Government riding roughshod over the wishes of hippy, godbothering parents who try to kill their sick children by believing that wheatgrass juice and prayer is a superior alternative to the use of modern medicine..... Heck, I’d throw in the peaked-cap wearing goons turning up to drag them all away in for free...

[farlander]

I’m not sure parents have the right to effectively let a kid die. How about if he impaled himself on a sharp stick and if taken to the ER would have a 90% chance of living, but otherwise they’d use ‘natural’ means to patch him up ?

[ex91B10]

I just wish the judicial system was so inclined in the pre natal stages of life.

It seems you have no 'rights' unless you fight your way out a womb.

[JenB987]

I’m on the fence.

Don’t like government telling parents how to treat and raise children.

However, this child’s survival rate is so high with treatment.

I guess I just don’t fully understand religions that ban any kind of medical treatment. If a life can be saved, save it! I’ve grown up respecting my body and while I’ve fallen off course with a few things, I feel as though not treating an illness is not respecting it.

[Abathar]

I don’t think so, this is far more cut and dry than that.

No 13 year old is knowledgeable enough of what it takes to cure his cancer to make an informed decision, and it’s his parents responsibility to do what is best for him until he is 18.

90% success with medication vs. 5% without and not doing it is clearly neglect IMHO. If it was withheld and he died then at the very least it should be manslaughter.

[CholeraJoe]

Hard to say how I feel on this one, should be a parents right..

And yet you oppose abortion? Please explain the difference. Thanks.

[P-Marlowe]

Sooner or later they are going to mandate Gardisal and other preventative treatments under the same guise..

Pretty soon they are going to make it a crime to cook your kid pancakes or to take him to McDonalds for a happy meal or to put Cheetos in his lunch bag..

[PLD]

What does the boy say,does he want this or not..I think if there is a 90% chance he can be cured then do it..God gave us doctors and also the ability to cure some..Yes I believe in the power if prayer but I also believe in doctors..

[P-Marlowe]

90% success with medication vs. 5% without and not doing it is clearly neglect IMHO. If it was withheld and he died then at the very least it should be manslaughter.

What if embryonic stem cell treatments had a 90% success rate? Would you force a Catholic family to undergo that treatment?

[N3WBI3]

And yet you oppose abortion? Please explain the difference. Thanks.

You don't see the difference between killing an unborn baby in the womb and refusing medical treatment for religious reasons?!? Just wow.. Unless the parents intentionally gave this kid cancer there is 0! comparison..

[dbreidenbach]

While I feel for the family, this is a decision that should be left to them, not the courts.

It won’t be long before the government will mandate which treatments we will or won’t be allowed to have. This ruling is a dangerous step in that direction.

[svcw]

I read another article that said the boy has said he does not want the chemo and the the judge said he does not believe the boys commitment to his spiritual beliefs.

[svcw]

I agree. God has generously given the knowledge of medical cures and treatments, why refuse them.
But on the other hand I can understand when you are Divinely healed that the medical professional gets really wigged out, if you state such (having experienced it personally).

[CholeraJoe]

Same result. A dead kid. Murder is murder.