NationStates Jolt Archive

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=108097&ran=203691&tref=po

ACCOMAC – A 16-year-old Chincoteague boy with Hodgkin's disease was given a reprieve this afternoon from the cancer treatments he doesn’t want...

Accomack County Circuit Court Judge Glen Tyler suspended lower court orders that the parents of Abraham Cherrix report to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk today and give their consent to whatever treatment the hospital deemed necessary....

Abraham wants to continue an alternative treatment called the Hoxsey method, which consists of herbal supplements and an organic diet. He has been using the method since visiting a clinic that administers the treatment in Tijuana, Mexico, in March.


The type of cancer Abraham has is highly treatable in early stages. Abraham had court-ordered X-rays at CHKD in June. He also had a follow-up exam with his doctors at the Biomedical Center in Mexico, where he’s receiving the Hoxsey treatment. Both exams showed that his tumors – one in his neck and one near his windpipe – had grown since February.

The case has drawn sharply divided opinions nationwide, with some maintaining that government has no right to interfere in a family’s health choices, and others believing that Abraham needs to resume chemotherapy to save his life.

Virginia Attorney General Robert McDonnell filed a brief in juvenile court on Monday requesting the order be blocked, pending an appeal...

Good choice or bad -at least it was his.

If he wants to die using some bullshit "Natural Treatment", who is the government to stand in his way?

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=493514

Eh, I suppose we can make it without him.

It'll set an interesting precedent; effectively, the court has ruled that the government has no place in the medical decisions of an invidivual.

Obviously, this is a move toward greater personal liberty; whether that move is desirable or undesirable is, of course, dependent on one's political and religious beliefs. I have no doubt that this decision will strengthen and advance the legal case for a number of other medical issues; abortion, euthanasia/assisted suicide, and medicinal marijuana use are all affected by this decision and will all likely be legalized or given a strong precedent if the decision holds up in a higher court.

It'll set an interesting precedent; effectively, the court has ruled that the government has no place in the medical decisions of an invidivual.

Obviously, this is a move toward greater personal liberty; whether that move is desirable or undesirable is, of course, dependent on one's political and religious beliefs. I have no doubt that this decision will strengthen and advance the legal case for a number of other medical issues; abortion, euthanasia/assisted suicide, and medicinal marijuana use are all affected by this decision and will all likely be legalized or given a strong precedent if the decision holds up in a higher court.

That decision has already been made, see Cruzan. Don't think this decision is more important than it is, this is neither new nor novel. The only thing of relative interest was that he was a minor, and should parents be held responsible for upholding the medical decisions of their children, or the advice of experts.

Were he 18 this case would have been moot, and already long settled, the fundamental rationale of this decision is not new.

Good for the kid, he can die whatever way he wants.

Good for the kid, he can die whatever way he wants.
I agree with you in this case ... it is his right to make the decision smart or stupid