Cancer Patient Thomas Navarro Dies at Age Six [medical freedom case]

Natural Health Line ^ | Jan. 1, 2002 | By Peter Chowka

[Gelato]

Cancer Patient Thomas Navarro Dies at Age Six

© By Peter Chowka

Photo courtesy of the Navarro family

(Jan. 1, 2002) Thomas Navarro's two year long struggle to survive brain cancer came to an end on November 19, 2001 when the six-year old child died in Houston, Texas.

During the first eighteen months after Thomas' diagnosis, in September 1999, his family's efforts to get him access to nontoxic treatments resulted in major national publicity, becoming the most compelling and heart-wrenching individual example of the search for medical freedom in more than two decades. Thomas and his parents James and Donna won considerable political support, too - which led to freedom of choice legislation, the "Thomas Navarro FDA Patient Rights Act," being introduced in the House of Representatives on February 16, 2000.

Thomas was initially diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a virulent form of brain cancer. Standard chemotherapy treatments either have limited effect or leave the patient with severe complications, like permanent brain damage and retardation. After considerable research, James and Donna Navarro attempted to have their son treated by innovative Houston, Texas clinician and researcher Stanislaw Burzynski, MD, PhD, but they were prevented from doing so by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The power of the FDA to control the medical freedom of individual Americans was chillingly illustrated by this case. The agency was able to subvert not only the parents' best intentions but ignore repeated calls by leading national political leaders, including every major candidate for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, to allow Thomas to be treated without delay by Burzynski.

For over eighteen months, Thomas' only legally available treatment options were conventional chemotherapy and surgery. Finally, on April 26, 2001, according to an account at the Navarros' Web site - http://cancerbusters.com which has now been taken offline - Thomas was allowed to be treated by Burzynski. This FDA dispensation, however, according to cancerbusters.com, came "not until after a recent MRI [in which] doctors discovered that Thomas had developed such a vast number of new tumors in his head, neck and spine, that Thomas was considered terminally ill in the eyes of the conventional medical community. Ironically, these new tumors - now called leptomeningial-sarcoma, a mutation of the original cancer - were caused by the very chemotherapy that the Navarros tried so desperately to prevent (a fact accepted by conventional doctors!) and that the FDA rules forced Thomas to endure before they would grant access to Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski's promising Antineoplaston therapy. The new cancer. . . was now considered unstoppable. . .

Thomas Navarro and his father James are introduced during the nationally televised Republican presidential debate,
Jan. 15, 2000, Des Moines, IA
Digital still video capture by Peter Chowka from C-SPAN

"Only when Thomas was declared terminally ill and given fourteen days to live did the FDA, because of something called 'Compassionate Use Approval,' finally say yes to Dr. Burzynski's Antineoplaston treatment. Compassionate Use was authorized after intense pressure was applied by the Chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, Congressman Dan Burton. . .It is all a family can do to persevere when a child is diagnosed as being terminally ill with cancer. But Thomas' family was forced into a fight with the American government for the right to life, and a good quality of life, on top of their already grueling fight at home."

According to an e-mail update on December 3 by friends of the Navarros, Thomas' parents received a phone call on November 27, the day of the boy's funeral in Houston, from the office of Rep. Burton (R-IN). A strong supporter of freedom of medical choice and chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, which heard testimony from James Navarro in a hearing on June 7, 2000, Burton is set to re-introduce the latest version of "Thomas' bill" to the House of Representatives in the 108th Congress.

For more information,

Medical Freedom Fight Moves to Political Center Stage
Natural HealthLine Jan. 15, 2000

Medical freedom case attracts support as national media report on developments
Natural HealthLine Feb. 1, 2000 

Thomas Navarro Medical Freedom Update: Family is Optimistic
Natural HealthLine March 1, 2000 

James Navarro challenges FDA Commissioner Henney on C-SPAN
Natural HealthLine April 15, 2000 

Congressional hearings on alternative medicine and childhood cancers
Natural HealthLine July 4, 2000
 

© By Peter Chowka 

[Gelato]

Maybe this is common knowledge already that little Thomas Navarro had died, but I didn't learn about the unfortunate outcome until today, as I was researching on the internet.

Here's some background on the story, for those who don't know:

---

NaturalHealthLine EXCLUSIVE:
Medical freedom case attracts
support as national media
report on developments
© by Peter Chowka

Thomas Navarro and his father James at the GOP debate, Jan. 15, 2000
Digital still video capture by Peter Chowka from C-SPAN

N JANUARY 14, I was among the first journalists, along with Jon E. Dougherty of WorldNetDaily on January 12, to report nationally on the case of four year-old Thomas Navarro. Navarro's family wants their son, who has brain cancer, to be treated by Houston clinician Stanislaw Burzynski, MD, PhD. Burzynski uses a nontoxic alternative treatment called antineoplastons and has battled for 20 years for approval of his methods. Since last fall, the Navarros, who allowed Thomas to have surgery but have eschewed follow-up conventional chemotherapy and radiation, have been prevented from using the Burzynski therapy by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

On January 10, Alan Keyes, PhD, one of six leading candidates for the Republican Presidential nomination, raised the issue of the Navarros' plight in his closing statement at a nationally televised candidates' debate.

The story has now been reported in the mainstream national media and the Navarros' cause has gained support from the other five Republican candidates, as well. All six candidates for the Republican presidential nomination (Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch dropped out of the race on January 27) have signed a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, drafted by Keyes, which says, in part, "It should be the right of every responsible American citizen to seek the medical care of their choice without government bureaucracies standing in their way. Time is running out for Thomas Navarro and for countless Americans like him. It is imperative that you expedite a decision on allowing the medical treatment chosen by his parents for this young boy."

In addition to Keyes and Hatch, the other candidates who signed the letter are social activist Gary Bauer, Gov. George W. Bush (TX), publisher Steve Forbes, and Sen. John McCain (AZ).

Alan Keyes gestures to the Navarros, GOP debate, Des Moines, Iowa Jan. 15, 2000 Digital still video capture from C-SPAN by Peter Chowka

"I just wanted you to have a chance to meet them. . ."

In the January 15th debate televised nationally from Des Moines, Iowa, Keyes, true to the promise he had made to the Navarros beforehand, devoted his entire opening statement to Thomas' situation. From his position on stage, Keyes gestured to Thomas and his father James, who were sitting in the VIP section of the audience, and father and son were shown on national television for the first time. Keyes had invited James and Thomas to appear with him at a number of campaign stops in Iowa starting on January 15, prior to the caucuses held in the state on January 23. James and his son flew to Des Moines from Houston, where they have set up camp at a hotel near the Burzynski clinic with Thomas' mother Donna for over two months. There, they continue to wait for what they hope will be official government permission for Thomas to access the Burzynski therapy.

In a statement released by his campaign from Johnston, Iowa on January 15 following the first "face-to-face meeting" between Keyes and James and Thomas Navarro the day before, Keyes said "I will do everything in my power to help Thomas Navarro receive the medical treatment that his family wants for him. There is no excuse for the federal government, in the name of protecting the people, to stand idly by and let this young boy die.

"This nation was conceived in liberty," Keyes went on, "so that all who lived here might be free of tyranny. When a government stands in the way of the right of responsible American citizens to seek the medical care of their choice, we have moved one step closer to the kind of tyrannies our founding fathers sought to escape. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala needs to act now to remove the barriers that stand between Thomas Navarro and the only chance to save his life."

Keyes' unequivocal support of the Navarros and the larger issue of medical freedom of choice, in two debates, in news releases, at his official campaign Web site, and on the campaign trail, represents the highest profile national political support for freedom to choose alternative medicine in modern history.

Enter the mainstream media

On January 18, James Navarro made his first nationally televised talk show appearance on Hannity and Colmes, a nightly, live, hot hour long political discussion show from New York City on the Fox News Channel, again at the behest of Keyes. Keyes was a guest on the show from Washington and he was joined on the air for a few moments by James Navarro to discuss the case. The show's hosts, conservative Sean Hannity and liberal Alan Colmes, rarely agree on anything, but both commented on the air that Thomas' family should have the right to choose his therapy.

The next major media highpoint came on Friday, January 28 when NBC Nightly News broadcast a two and a half minute segment on the case, reported by NBC political correspondent David Bloom. Featured in the report were James and Thomas Navarro and the boy's mother Donna; Burzynski; an orthodox MD who dismissed the Burzynski therapy; and candidates Keyes and front runner for the nomination George W. Bush. Bloom introduced Bush's soundbite: "Enter the politicians - first, Republican Alan Keyes. Now, Texas Governor George W. Bush, urging the FDA to reconsider, arguing it's the family's choice, not the Federal Government's." Bush was then shown on camera speaking with reporters at a campaign stop in New Hampshire: "The parents are absolutely worried to death about radiation and what it means to the boy. I hope the FDA would reconsider."

Stay tuned for further developments. 

For more information:

Thomas Navarro's Web site

Keyes, Navarro Family Meet In Iowa

Keyes Campaign Releases Names of Presidential Candidates Who Have Joined in the Fight on Behalf of Thomas Navarro

Keyes Calls for Candidates to Act to Save Small Boy
(Jan. 10)

 

[Fish out of Water]

Freedom Bump

[Rowdee]

Oh, how terribly sad.....I remember so well how Dr. Keyes spoke to generate support for the FDA to drop their damn rules and let this little fella have a chance.

May God bless his family and shower his great love on his new little angel.

[FormerLib]

I recently met a pediatric cancer survivor. He had been subjected to the full range of chemo and radiation therapy. The damage done to his nervous and endocrine systems was incredible. He is virtually blind and nearly deaf but he can communicate with people pretty effectively on a one-to-one basis. At age 17, he was just a little shorter than my 5 year old and was operating on about the same mental level. He will never develop beyond his current abilities.

Considering that this was considered a good outcome, I can't blame the Navarros for seeking out alternative treatments.

[Gelato]

Yesterday, I came across the picture of Thomas Navarro and his father James at the GOP debate (with Tom H. on the front row), and today I followed the links to find out what happened to the little boy. How sad to see that he died.

[Rowdee]

You know, this really pisses me off.....Compassionate Use Approval! BULLSHIT!

When I raised livestock, if we had an animal that didn't respond to the generally accepted medications, our Vet could prescribe unauthorized drugs for use!

And guess what! They could do it without going through the 'generally accepted' routine, too.

But in this Country where we approve of slaughtering 1 and a half million unborn babies each year, you have to be ruled TERMINALLY DYING before you can be treated by something other than what the hell is killing you!

I plan to bookmark this one---the next idiot that suggests government cares more than parents will have it shoved down their throats!

[Gelato]

I recently met a pediatric cancer survivor. He had been subjected to the full range of chemo and radiation therapy. The damage done to his nervous and endocrine systems was incredible. He is virtually blind and nearly deaf but he can communicate with people pretty effectively on a one-to-one basis. At age 17, he was just a little shorter than my 5 year old and was operating on about the same mental level. He will never develop beyond his current abilities.

That's sad. Certainly there's a better treatment out there, one that would've better helped the 17-year-old and Thomas Navarro.

[Gelato]

But in this Country where we approve of slaughtering 1 and a half million unborn babies each year, you have to be ruled TERMINALLY DYING before you can be treated by something other than what the hell is killing you!

"Compassionate," indeed.

[HiTech RedNeck]

What about the situation where the parents insist on no treatment at all in a blatantly obvious case of an illness that can be successfully cured with little or no side effects? How is the line drawn?

[rebel freeper]

By blocking potentially life saving treatments, the FDA is likely responsible for more American deaths in a given year than anything Osama bin Laden could ever hope to achieve.

Where's the outrage?

[Zon]

John Stossel made a very powerful point on one of his specials. I don't think I can describe it with near the impact that Stossel did, but here goes anyways...

The FDA held a highly effective life-saving drug off the market despite it being successful used in several European countries. Some kind of bureaucratic red-tape/snafu kept the drug from being available in United States.

Stossel continues, last year seven thousand peopled died from xxxxx. Doesn't that mean that the FDA killed seven thousand Americans last year?

[Spyder]

Burzynski is a fraud and should not be given the time of day. Too many people have lost their chance through traditional medicine by wasting time on quack treatments. Sad story.

[Gelato]

I'm not sure if there can be an absolute standard in the case you mentioned. It seems the only thing that can be done is to allow judges and juries to assess each individual case. The purpose of law is to balance the natural rights of individuals (including parents) and those of "society." Neither side has absolute license to do whatever they want.

As a rule, I believe there needs to be more flexibility for parents to choose whatever treatments they view as best for their children. Some, for religious reasons, might choose faith in God in place of medical treatment. This is not the same as simply not caring about their children's needs, or choosing to deny them any care. In such a case of negligence, the parents should be held liable.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Quite possibly when the only expected survival scenario with "orthodox" medicine is a brief, horribly crippled life with misery largely created by the treatment itself, a harmless quack treatment is not as horrible as it is cracked up to be. The problem is where to draw the line.

[Roscoe]

Dr. Burzynski has grossed tens of million of dollars from "patients."

See also: Is There A Duty To Recommend Quack Cures?

[Gelato]

Burzynski is a fraud and should not be given the time of day. Too many people have lost their chance through traditional medicine by wasting time on quack treatments. Sad story.

That may be, but parents do have the right to seek out medical alternatives for their children.

In the case of Thomas Navarro, the standard treatment might itself be said to be a sort of "fraud," since the results would have potentially left the child as little more than a vegetable.

[Roscoe]

Dr. Burzynski has grossed tens of million of dollars from "patients."

See also: Is There A Duty To Recommend Quack Cures?

[Gelato]

Burzynski is a fraud and should not be given the time of day. Too many people have lost their chance through traditional medicine by wasting time on quack treatments. Sad story.

That may be, but parents do have the right to seek out medical alternatives for their children.

In the case of Thomas Navarro, the standard treatment might itself be said to be a sort of "fraud," since the results would have potentially left the child as little more than a vegetable.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I think the situation of "controversial" drugs like this (or for that matter most so called "recreational" drugs and treatments that are now banned) would be better handled to put them in a special category where they are not banned any more, BUT any prescriber has to have special insurance to cover enhanced liability, and clearly understandable warnings about known and suspected dangers and alternatives have to first be given and clearly agreed by the patient or his legal guardian. There is, however, a point to which even this should not go (such as suicide poisons or so called "sex change" mutilations).

[Rowdee]

Of course it is YOUR opinion about Byrzynski.

BTW, the 'traditional' medical group gave the little fella 14 days to live....apparently using Byrzynski's technique, he lived about another 7 months.....imagine the change for the little guy had the friggin government got out of the way of the parents....but OH NO.....poppa government thinks its better to use the traditional method so they could assure his little system would be bombarded with MORE cancerous tumors.

Mr. and Mrs. Navarro had searched all all forms of treatments and rejected the traditional because of how it would affect him!