Posted on 03/09/2015 8:13:47 AM PDT by GIdget2004
A Connecticut teenager who was ordered by a state court to undergo chemotherapy against her wishes is in remission after several months of treatment, the state's Department of Children and Families said on Sunday.
The department gained temporary custody of the 17-year-old, identified as “Cassandra C” in court documents, after she and her mother, Jackie Fortin, fought for her right to discontinue treatment despite her risk of dying.
The state department indicated in a statement on Sunday that the treatment has worked even faster than anticipated.
"We are very pleased with Cassandra's progress toward a complete recovery," said Joette Katz, Commissioner of the state's Department of Children and Families (DCF).
"We have had full confidence throughout that the medical professionals involved in her treatment would be successful in saving her life."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
What I watch out for is when the courts try to legislate treatment plans not agreed to by the guardians. Our increasingly Socialized society is reaching out for those powers and will seek to dismantle parents or even guardian's right to be involved in the child's life.
Her disease is mostly curable and treatment can be considered life saving.
A minor cannot refuse life saving treatment and in this case I don’t see a good argument for letting a guardian do so in her place.
The article claims that Cassandra underwent 2 cycles of chemotherapy after surgery failed to rid her of the cancer.
News flash, Reuters——Hodgkins is NEVER cured by surgery.
Yes so true and even though I’m opposed to forcing treatment on people the two diseases that chemo really does cure are Hodgkins and Luekemia. Everything else not so much.
A minor's standing in the State courts is often dependent upon age so many do have a say so (barring treatment already agreed to with a doctor). Guardians (this includes parents) do have standings in all courts in this land regarding those they have guardianship over.
As for no good argument - There are religious groups who refuse transfusions and other medical treatments as a matter of their religious freedoms. This includes those who will not use contraceptives or abortions according to their doctrine (Catholics) and those who refuse blood transfusions (Jehovah's Witnesses).
Though I do not agree with not using contraceptives (barring abortion inducing) and not using blood transfusions, I maintain they have their rights to do so under the freedoms afforded under the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.
You may not agree with that. But if so you may be seeking a form of socialism or communism that imposes the will of the state over the individual.
Is that the case?
No, just rationality and consistency. Nice straw man you built there though, good one.
It depends on the Leukemia. Certain mutations of AML can’t maintain remission more than several months without a BMT. AML is about 25% with treatment. Chronic is very, very treatable tho.
Just a little star. BC has a 90% success rate with chemo. AML about 25%.
Tell that to my dead sister.
I’m sorry about your sister. Cancer is a terrible disease. Those stats are before BC metastasizes, I Developed AML a year ago, so that’s how I know how aggressive AML can be within weeks.
I’m well aware of the stats as our family has the gene. There are ways to cure cancer. Chemo is the worst. I did not take chemo and twenty five years later I’m still around.
That’s amazing!! Unfortunately, I inly had 2 months from diagnosis without 24/7 of chemo for a week straight followed by a BMT a few months later. I never knew how aggressive AML was until my experience. Without a BMT I’d keep relapsing. So when I hear people lump leukemia in as easily treatable, not this one. It’s a beast and it’s quick. My mom had NHL and did really well. Didn’t even lose her hair in chemo. My BIL has stage 0 CML and may never need treatment more than a pill.
Well I’m glad you’re OK.
Thank you. It’s only been a year. My life has been torn upside down. Still recuperating. But, it looks good right now. This kind of thing changes a person’s life.
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