Posted on 06/09/2005 1:06:46 PM PDT by clearsight
Texas Officials, Parents Spar Over Girl's Cancer Treatment Parents Think Doctors Have Not Been Upfront About Treatment Options
UPDATED: 11:41 am CDT June 9, 2005 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- A judge has postponed until Friday a ruling that could prevent doctors from treating a 12-year-old girl who was taken from her parents after Texas officials accused them of not doing enough to treat her cancer.
It's the latest maneuver in a dispute over the medical care of Katie Wernecke, reported KPRC-TV in Houston. Her parents, Michele and Edward Wernecke, said their daughter's Hodgkin's disease is in remission and she doesn't need radiation treatment after undergoing a round of chemotherapy.
Texas Child Protective Services said her life could be in jeopardy if chemotherapy and radiation treatments don't resume. Speaking Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Michele Wernecke said her daughter's illness is unique and should be treated as such. "I think they should treat her for what her body calls for and not standard protocol. Nobody will look at that," she said. "Not every cancer is the same. Nobody understands that. Her body is not standard, and her cancer is not standard."
The couple, members of the Church of God, have said they oppose blood transfusions unless they were from Katie's mother. Doctors have said the two aren't a match. The couple's attorney, Daniel Horne, said religion wasn't at issue. Rather, they believe doctors haven't been upfront about Katie's care and have not answered all their questions about the side effects of the radiation treatment.
"This issue is about parental rights, not about religious rights," Horne said. "They just want to be informed of her treatment. They want to be involved in this." Last week, authorities issued an Amber Alert to gain custody of Katie after receiving an anonymous tip about possible neglect.
She was found with her mother at a family ranch, about 80 miles west of Corpus Christi near Freer, on Saturday. She remains at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to undergo tests, officials said. The Werneckes' three sons were placed in a foster home.
Michele Wernecke was arrested on charges of interfering with child custody and was released Monday after posting $50,000 bond. During a court hearing Wednesday, the couple asked juvenile court Judge Carl Lewis to bar doctors from providing radiation therapy until a custody hearing Wednesday.
The judge said he would make a decision Friday, the day before Katie's 13th birthday, because doctors in Houston will have more information then. Katie was diagnosed with cancer in January. In a videotaped statement recorded by her parents, Katie said she's feeling better.
"I don't need radiation treatment. And nobody asked me what I wanted. It's my body," she said. CPS also took custody of Katie's three siblings because their mother refused to cooperate with their investigation into the issue. A court hearing to determine who will be given custody of the children was set for June 15.
Katie's family has maintained a blog on the situation at prayforkatie.blogspot.com. The online journal offers updates on Katie's progress and allows supporters to leave messages for her.
The 3 boys will be returned to the parents today.
good.
I've put a couple of links to some of the news coverage, and the families website has a lot of info. I agree, definitely another side(s?) to this story.
Sorry.....my error.........thanks
Thank you for doing the research on this. I've been dealing with kids at home. It is strange they just wouldn't do the final thing to get rid of the cancer. If that was the choice then I would certainly do it. Our radio talk shows were on this today. Not too many people happy that CPS took away ALL the kids in the family. Think they are being punitive with the parents because they have different views. Apparently there is no past history of any abuse or anything. Just government gone wild.
I read about this in today's paper. Said they took ALL the kids away from these parents. I can't understand how they can force radiation treatments on this kid when her own parents don't think it will help. This is crazy!
Yet Michael Schiavo was able to kill Terri by starvation/dehydration and get away with it. Go figure. Sheeeeeesh.
When my kids are sick I seek the best medical opinion and treatment I can find. I sure don't declare them "cured" on my own and run and hide from social services. What kind of parent would do a thing like that?
oh you have no idea how true that is. Hell, even the oncologists aren't aware that SUGAR feeds cancer, and they are forever giving cancer patients sugar-laden sodas and fruit juices during chemo, even!!! It's very scary out there, if you're not taking it upon yourself to become informed.
And what these cancer experts don't tell people is that many of those who die from cancer are actually dying due to complications resulting from the harsh chemo and radation.
No problem, and yea, taking away all the kids seems, from my perspective, to be heavy-handed. I think it might be SOP once child endangerment is claimed by CPS (at least here in NC, that sometimes happens).
"...the veterinarian will also tell you not to abort your animals first litter, foal, kid etc... artificially because it increases it's chances of developing breast cancer..."
Good point. Thank you. We know the increased cancer risk is there from abortion, and we also know, as you say, the pro-death squads out there will not say that. I guess once they have committed murder, they become calloused to any other human condition/concerns.
They seem fairly articulate on their website, and what ability they do have to articulate is part of what has gotten them into this situation. On the other hand, their actions by hiding the girl and refusing the platelets, both putting the girl at risk, speak louder than any words. Nice post, thanks.
I had a child with cancer and at times we bucked the doctor's advice - should my children have been removed?
As parents if we practice a particular faith why shouldn't we impose our beliefs on them?
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