Posted on 05/13/2002 9:10:25 AM PDT by hsmomx3
They're both 9 years old, and both were diagnosed with brain tumors at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
But the similarities between Samuel Schaffer of Prescott and Bryce Garst of Mesa end there.
When Bryce's parents refused doctors' orders of chemotherapy or radiation six years ago, they took their son to Texas for alternative treatment.
But when Samuel's parents ignored doctors' orders to pursue the same course of treatment, doctors labeled the case "medical neglect" and called Child Protective Services.
Jane Walton, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said she couldn't explain why one case was referred to child welfare officials and the other wasn't, citing patient privacy rules.
She also said that last year alone, the hospital referred 437 cases to CPS for a variety of reasons.
Issue arose before
Samuel's case isn't the first in Arizona to pit parental rights against physicians' advice.
In 1999, the parents of a 15-year-old refused to allow their son to receive a blood transfusion because they were Jehovah's Witnesses and believed the procedure violated church teachings. Doctors intervened by getting a judge to issue a court order for the lifesaving transfusion.
Ten years earlier, a 12-year-old Paradise Valley girl wasn't so lucky. Her parents, followers of the Christian Science faith, refused medical care for a 42-inch tumor that grew from her leg. The girl died.
Samuel's case is less clear. His parents are refusing conventional treatment because they want a second opinion at a Texas cl inic that has used holistic medicine to treat some children successfully.
Sherry Lund, executive director for a group called Character Education U.S.A. and an advocate for the Schaffer family, said she believes the difference between Samuel's case and that of Bryce's lie in personality conflicts and perhaps religious beliefs.
But the bottom line, she maintains, is "the parents have the legal right to have a second opinion."
The Schaffers have said the state has no jurisdiction over their son "due to his unique status as a non-citizen or ambassador from a foreign land, the Kingdom of Yahveh," according to a letter from the hospital to CPS.
Samuel's father, Stephen, has said the family doesn't attend church, although it considers itself Christian. He maintains the family's religious beliefs are irrelevant to the case.
He also has declined to discuss what he does for a living, whether any of his seven children have ever been seen by a doctor or whether the children attend school.
"CPS has unlawfully taken guardianship, and that's the issue," Lund said.
On Monday, Samuel had an MRI and a spinal tap to determine whether his brain tumor had spread to other parts of his body. Results of the tests were not disclosed.
"The family did approve the MRI but not the spinal tap," Lund said. She described how security officers, nurses and CPS workers went into the boy's hospital room and "jerked the child out of the bed" and into a wheelchair for the tests.
"It was the most traumatic thing I've ever witnessed," she said.
Doctors want to begin administering radiation and chemotherapy in hopes that the tumor they removed from Samuel's brain last month will not return.
Alternative care sought
The family wants to take the boy to Texas for treatment by Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski to build the boy's immune system using his own cells.
The treatment worked for Bryce, who was just 3 when his brain tumor was removed. A year later, when the tumor grew back, doctors debated whether Bryce should undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
His parents, Charlene and Chris Garst, decided to try Burzynski, instead. After two weeks of an immunotherapy drip, they took their son back to Phoenix Children's Hospital for evaluation.
"We had (brain) scans once a month, and the (Phoenix Children's Hospital) doctor would try to talk us out of the Texas treatment," Charlene said.
Although the therapy appeared to be shrinking the tumor, eventually by two-thirds, doctors were clearly opposed to the immunotherapy drip, she said. The family finally switched to another doctor, Kim Manwaring, who stopped pushing the issue.
Another doctor, Robert Spetzler of Barrow Neurological Institute, eventually removed the rest of the tumor, and Bryce is now healthy.
Manwaring is the same neurosurgeon who is treating Samuel.
Charlene said she was surprised to learn that Manwaring is the doctor who reported the family to CPS.
"I'm very surprised because Dr. Manwaring doesn't seem like an aggressive guy."
Reach the reporter at kerry.fehr-snyder@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8975.
FMCDH
Personally, I'm not in favor of letting children die through lack of medical care. An adult, I think, is free to make his own decisions regarding medical treatment, but sick children should be provided more care than just prayer. If prayer does the job, fine. If not, then medical treatment is called for.
Parents need to protect thier chidren from the overarching needs of never-say-die medical personnel. Sometimes even young children die of miserable and nasty illnesses. When the prognoses is grim, death can be a blessing, particularly for those who believe that there is an afterlife.
You're right, of course. Not all conditions are treatable. Even some that are, the treatments are more like torture than medicine, as you say.
In 1996 I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Through the grace of God the surgery, chemo and radiation were effective. Someone else where I worked was diagnosed a month later, and died in six months.
Treatment can indeed seem as bad as the disease. I was fortunate, I "only" had severe diahrrea. That alone, combined with low red blood cell counts, was enough to make me think I was about to die. One humorous note, I was so sure I wouldn't make it, I maxed out my credit cards! (I have decent life insurance, so I knew the bill would be paid).
The issue in the article above, though, is medical treatment of some sort versus no medical treatment at all.
There are definely diagnosis worth fighting and it sounds like your diagnosis was one of them. I am glad to hear of your recovery.
When Bryce's parents refused doctors' orders of chemotherapy or radiation six years ago, they took their son to Texas for alternative treatment.
But when Samuel's parents ignored doctors' orders to pursue the same course of treatment, doctors labeled the case "medical neglect" and called Child Protective Services.
I suspect the Garst family didn't profess a belief in G-d like the Schaffer family. Christians are already categorized by most social workers as mentally ill.
When Bryce's parents refused doctors' orders of chemotherapy or radiation six years ago, they took their son to Texas for alternative treatment.
But when Samuel's parents ignored doctors' orders to pursue the same course of treatment, doctors labeled the case "medical neglect" and called Child Protective Services.
I suspect the Garst family didn't profess a belief in G-d like the Schaffer family. Christians are already categorized by most social workers as mentally ill.
You are either incredibly stupid or you need some mental health counseling. Probably both.
You amaze me, you fearful religious nuts. If you believe what you say you believe, it's no wonder you have caused humanity as much trouble as you've caused.
Seek help. Grow up. Try to live a good life without your pathetic fear of retribution. At very least, shut up.
876 posted on 7/10/02 3:44 PM Pacific by DrCarl
PROOF!
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.