Gov't Forces Family to Get Chemo for Son

[JTWood]

We had this story a while back about the family that prayed while their daughter died. Now we get this:

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota judge has ruled that a 13-year-old cancer patient whose parents want to treat him with “alternative medicine” must seek conventional medical treatment for their son.

In a 58-page ruling Friday, Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg found that Daniel Hauser has been “medically neglected” and is in need of child protection services.
...
Daniel’s court-appointed attorney, Philip Elbert, called the decision unfortunate.

“I feel it’s a blow to families,” he said. “It marginalizes the decisions that parents face every day in regard to their children’s medical care. It really affirms the role that big government is better at making our decisions for us.”

[Amazinz]

It's interesting that the founder of the religion treated his own condition, similar to what the child has, with the same natural remedies the parents want to use.

If the child really has a 90% chance of survival using traditional medicine, you can understand the judge's decision on an emotional level. But from an objective perspective this is definitely a bad decision.

[acsguitar]

Not treating him with scientifically proven methods is the equivalent of child abuse. Are there are precedent setting cases where say a child fell down hit his head and the parents did nothing allowing him to die? Sounds like neglect. I'd have to see other cases though. Mookie break out the law books.


Here's an interesting definition:

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1973 was enacted to protect children. It defines child abuse (and neglect) as "the physical treatment and mental injuring, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child's health and welfare is harmed or threatened thereby."

A non-accidental injury to a child is physical abuse. Failure to provide a child with basic emotional and physical needs is neglect. Neglect includes not providing a child with basic medical care. Sexual abuse is defined as any sexual activity between an adult and a child.

Is this phrase "neglect includes not providing a child with basic medical care." applicable?

[Dan Lambskin]

Slippery Slope is Slippery

[JTWood]

Slippery Slope is Slippery

Yeah... On one hand, the idea of the gov't lurking over me is not enticing.
On the other hand, why do these families have to be such r tards???

[acsguitar]

Seriously though we don't let our children legally by violent video games but we'll let them die because of looney parents? seems weird

[ThatDude]

Slippery Slope is Slippery

Yeah... On one hand, the idea of the gov't lurking over me is not enticing.
On the other hand, why do these families have to be such r tards???

My hands tell a different story....

On one hand...let these fruitbats treat their kids however they want (medically speaking) and when the kid dies they'll have no one to blame but themselves.

On the other hand...when people go to the doctor for their first pregnancy-related visit there should be a series of questions they would be required to answer, and if they answered poorly, the doctor would be legally required to perform an abortion.

[CadensDad]

On the other hand...when people go to the doctor for their first pregnancy-related visit there should be a series of questions they would be required to answer, and if they answered poorly, the doctor would be legally required to perform an abortion.

Are you serious? That has to be one of the dumbest post I have ever seen. Just because someone is a idiot doesn't mean the child they have/are having should suffer? WOW

[ThatDude]

On the other hand...when people go to the doctor for their first pregnancy-related visit there should be a series of questions they would be required to answer, and if they answered poorly, the doctor would be legally required to perform an abortion.

Are you serious? That has to be one of the dumbest post I have ever seen. Just because someone is a idiot doesn't mean the child they have/are having should suffer? WOW

No, it means they shouldn't have a child.

[bigh0rt]

Yay, an abortion explosion after just five posts in the thread! Oh the places this'll go!!