Forced Cancer Treatment?

ScreamingChicken · 07-24-2006, 06:19 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13977403/

Sixteen year old Abraham Cherrix of Virgiinia is being forced via court order to take a second round of chemo treatments for his cancer. He decided after consulting with his parents and researching other potential treatments to take an organic approach to his illness.

I heard an interview today (on Sean Hannity's radio show) with Abraham and his father today in which Abraham stated that there was a strong possibilty that he would not go through with the forced chemotherapy. His father was told by court officials that if necessary they will show up on the Cherrix doorstep with law enforcement, take Abraham into custody, put him in juvenille detention, and strap him down to to a table in order to adminster the chemo.

Since when the hell does the governement FORCE someone to take medical treatment? Please tell me I'm not the only person who finds this behavior by the state of Virgina disturbing , if not outrageous?

Mini · 07-24-2006, 06:26 PM

I think the issue is that he's legally not old enough to make these kinds of decisions for himself. Were he 30, he could pursue whatever treatment he wished, but as a teenager the parents have a duty to ensure his health and safety.

I think. Could be completely wrong on this one.

ScreamingChicken · 07-24-2006, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mini

I think the issue is that he's legally not old enough to make these kinds of decisions for himself. Were he 30, he could pursue whatever treatment he wished, but as a teenager the parents have a duty to ensure his health and safety.

I think. Could be completely wrong on this one.

The parents do have a duty to ensure his health and safety. They have done chemo once and it didn't work. Abraham's parents have agreed to pursue an alternative treatment for their son at his request. Who says that his parents aren't looking out for his best interests? They are just going against his doctors' recommended course of treatment; he is still getting treatment. Why do the doctors get to force their treatment on someone? It's as if it is a case of sour grapes on the part of the doctors who won't let it go and allow this young man to seek the treatment that he feels best suits him.

Mini · 07-24-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreamingChicken

The parents do have a duty to ensure his health and safety. They have done chemo once and it didn't work. Abraham's parents have agreed to pursue an alternative treatment for their son at his request. Who says that his parents aren't looking out for his best interests? They are just going against his doctors' recommended course of treatment; he is still getting treatment. Why do the doctors get to force their treatment on someone? It's as if it is a case of sour grapes on the part of the doctors who won't let it go and allow this young man to seek the treatment that he feels best suits him.

I'm no expert, so please, call me on this if I'm just talking out of my ass, but:

1) Chemotherapy can work. Not all the time, and not always on the first go-round, but it's most likely a better option than some pseudo-scientific malarky practiced by Dr. Quackenstuffs.

2) The parents acting in their son's best interests doesn't necessarily jibe with his well-being. I think that's what the court order is working towards.

ScreamingChicken · 07-24-2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mini

I'm no expert, so please, call me on this if I'm just talking out of my ass, but:

1) Chemotherapy can work. Not all the time, and not always on the first go-round, but it's most likely a better option than some pseudo-scientific malarky practiced by Dr. Quackenstuffs.

2) The parents acting in their son's best interests doesn't necessarily jibe with his well-being. I think that's what the court order is working towards.

Chemotherapy may work and it may not work but in the case of many patients it can damn near kill you ( My mom is going through it right now and it is every bit as bad as you can imagine). Abraham states in the article where there were a few times where he almost died. Abraham and his parents , like any other cancer patient, have weighed the risks against the benefits for the treatments available (chemo, organic based). It so happens, Abrahams parents' have said no to a second round of chemo( honoring their son 's wishes) and decided on another course of treatment. The doctors had a chance with chemo ,it didn't work. Respect the decision of the patient is all I am asking.

Mini · 07-24-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreamingChicken

Chemotherapy may work and it may not work but in the case of many patients it can damn near kill you ( My mom is going through it right now and it is every bit as bad as you can imagine). Abraham states in the article where there were a few times where he almost died. Abraham and his parents , like any other cancer patient, have weighed the risks against the benefits for the treatments available (chemo, organic based). It so happens, Abrahams parents' have said no to a second round of chemo( honoring their son 's wishes) and decided on another course of treatment. The doctors had a chance with chemo ,it didn't work. Respect the decision of the patient is all I am asking.

Don't get me wrong, I don't disagree with the idea that the courts should honor the kid's wishes. You seemingly asked for the legal perspective, which is all I offered.

Well, that and a shot at homeopathic therapy, but that's just because I consider it quackery. Yes. All of it.

Rosie · 07-29-2006, 09:29 AM

So much for a "free" society. This is unreal and inexcusable. Why have such a thing as parental consent if the govt. can force it anyway?

JudgeDredd425 · 07-29-2006, 03:45 PM

I was going to start a thread on this myself, but I obviously got beat to the punch. Unfortunately this is not the first time we have seen something like this go down, and it is just as wrong this time, as the first, when any government attempts to impose its will on citizens regarding their medical treatment. This young man's choice of treatment, or lack thereof, rests with both him and his parents and no one else. Any attempt to force something different upon them is morally wrong.

Somethings to keep in mind about the specifics involved here:

The young man is old enough to make informed decisions regarding his health and medical treatment. He is 16 not 6.

Chemotherapy is a poor choice to make to begin with. Not only does it kill cancer cells, it kills everything else as well. A person taking such treatment has their body's immune system compromised to the point it does not work anymore. Should they survive the treatments, and even successfully eliminate the cancer, they could very well die from catching a common cold since their immune system is non-functional.

Anyone who supports this government heavy handedness sets themselves up to be a future victim of such government actions when their judgement happens to conflict with the government's notions of the right course to take. If I were this young man's father, I would give the legal system every chance to get things right, but would make it perfectly clear that if the right decision is not made and one or more people showed up to take my son, I would kill every last one of them without hesitation or remorse because no one, agent of the government or not, is going to harm my family in anyway while I can still draw a breath and fire a weapon. It is only when these totalitarian thugs know that they will pay for their bad choices with their own blood that they will rediscover respect for both the freedom of citizens and the proper role of government.

Miss Vickie · 07-30-2006, 08:08 PM

This kind of stuff galls me to no end, and I'm a part of the western medicine team. I opted out of routinely immunizing my kids, after doing a LOT of research and looking at the risk versus benefit ratios of the various immunizations. I also chose what I felt was a safe option for my child -- an option which is supported, in fact, by the research -- a home birth with trained midwives. But there are some communities where I could be forced to immunize my kids, and where midwives can be locked up for giving women safe birthing options.

It just irritates me that the courts can step in and tell me that I, as a parent, don't have the right to make what I feel is the best choice for my child. Parents have been forced to place kids into cancer treatments that are still experimental -- by the courts. The kids have DIED as a result of the therapies, but does anyone care? Nope. Meanwhile, even though I have to sign a consent for my daughter to have her ears pierced, she can have an abortion or permanent birth control without my even knowing about it. How messed up is that??

It's a tough call, but chemo is by no means 100% (and in fact, yes, it can kill you). If this kid wants to try alternative health modalities (which do show some benefit) then why not? If his parents support it, it's his life, and as long as he's educated and knows the risks he's taking I don't see a problem with it. Western medicine ain't perfect and doesn't have all the answers, and I think that we should try to be open to that and understand that for some people the cures they need lie elsewhere.

07-24-2006, 06:19 PM	#1
ScreamingChicken The Atomic Punk Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,304	Forced Cancer Treatment? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13977403/ Sixteen year old Abraham Cherrix of Virgiinia is being forced via court order to take a second round of chemo treatments for his cancer. He decided after consulting with his parents and researching other potential treatments to take an organic approach to his illness. I heard an interview today (on Sean Hannity's radio show) with Abraham and his father today in which Abraham stated that there was a strong possibilty that he would not go through with the forced chemotherapy. His father was told by court officials that if necessary they will show up on the Cherrix doorstep with law enforcement, take Abraham into custody, put him in juvenille detention, and strap him down to to a table in order to adminster the chemo. Since when the hell does the governement FORCE someone to take medical treatment? Please tell me I'm not the only person who finds this behavior by the state of Virgina disturbing , if not outrageous? __________________ "I may be a nerd and a weirdo who likes to knit but I can still kick your butt"- My son

07-24-2006, 06:26 PM	#2
Mini Right, not nice Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 5,004	I think the issue is that he's legally not old enough to make these kinds of decisions for himself. Were he 30, he could pursue whatever treatment he wished, but as a teenager the parents have a duty to ensure his health and safety. I think. Could be completely wrong on this one. __________________ I'd follow you to the end of the earth, if only to push you off.

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07-29-2006, 09:29 AM	#7
Rosie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: small town Eastern Ontario, Canada Posts: 447	So much for a "free" society. This is unreal and inexcusable. Why have such a thing as parental consent if the govt. can force it anyway?

07-29-2006, 03:45 PM	#8
JudgeDredd425 Banned Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 839	I was going to start a thread on this myself, but I obviously got beat to the punch. Unfortunately this is not the first time we have seen something like this go down, and it is just as wrong this time, as the first, when any government attempts to impose its will on citizens regarding their medical treatment. This young man's choice of treatment, or lack thereof, rests with both him and his parents and no one else. Any attempt to force something different upon them is morally wrong. Somethings to keep in mind about the specifics involved here: The young man is old enough to make informed decisions regarding his health and medical treatment. He is 16 not 6. Chemotherapy is a poor choice to make to begin with. Not only does it kill cancer cells, it kills everything else as well. A person taking such treatment has their body's immune system compromised to the point it does not work anymore. Should they survive the treatments, and even successfully eliminate the cancer, they could very well die from catching a common cold since their immune system is non-functional. Anyone who supports this government heavy handedness sets themselves up to be a future victim of such government actions when their judgement happens to conflict with the government's notions of the right course to take. If I were this young man's father, I would give the legal system every chance to get things right, but would make it perfectly clear that if the right decision is not made and one or more people showed up to take my son, I would kill every last one of them without hesitation or remorse because no one, agent of the government or not, is going to harm my family in anyway while I can still draw a breath and fire a weapon. It is only when these totalitarian thugs know that they will pay for their bad choices with their own blood that they will rediscover respect for both the freedom of citizens and the proper role of government.

07-30-2006, 08:08 PM	#9
Miss Vickie Executive Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,951	This kind of stuff galls me to no end, and I'm a part of the western medicine team. I opted out of routinely immunizing my kids, after doing a LOT of research and looking at the risk versus benefit ratios of the various immunizations. I also chose what I felt was a safe option for my child -- an option which is supported, in fact, by the research -- a home birth with trained midwives. But there are some communities where I could be forced to immunize my kids, and where midwives can be locked up for giving women safe birthing options. It just irritates me that the courts can step in and tell me that I, as a parent, don't have the right to make what I feel is the best choice for my child. Parents have been forced to place kids into cancer treatments that are still experimental -- by the courts. The kids have DIED as a result of the therapies, but does anyone care? Nope. Meanwhile, even though I have to sign a consent for my daughter to have her ears pierced, she can have an abortion or permanent birth control without my even knowing about it. How messed up is that?? It's a tough call, but chemo is by no means 100% (and in fact, yes, it can kill you). If this kid wants to try alternative health modalities (which do show some benefit) then why not? If his parents support it, it's his life, and as long as he's educated and knows the risks he's taking I don't see a problem with it. Western medicine ain't perfect and doesn't have all the answers, and I think that we should try to be open to that and understand that for some people the cures they need lie elsewhere.