By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press Writer – 37 mins ago
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota judge ruled Friday that a 13-year-old cancer patient must be evaluated by a doctor to determine if the boy would benefit from restarting chemotherapy over his parents’ objections.
In a 58-page ruling, Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg found that Daniel Hauser has been “medically neglected” by his parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser, and was in need of child protection services.
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Doctors have said Daniel’s cancer had up to a 90 percent chance of being cured with chemotherapy and radiation. Without those treatments, doctors said his chances of survival are 5 percent. ...
This is very sad and extremely upsetting, as Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a very treatable type of cancer. Almost all children diagnosed (and treated!) with Hodgkin’s lymphoma will survive the first five-year period.
This type of news just breaks my heart…
EDIT: But since the judge says they are not allowed to refuse the treatment I guess this is good news after all.
That poor boy. Hopefully all the weeks wasted in court did not harm him. Early and complete treatment is so important in cases like this.
My thoughts exactly, but any decrease in survival rate due to parental stupidity, will still be MUCH greater than the survival rate and his life expectancy without treatment!
It’s CLEAR that THEY won’t change THEIR ignorant minds, but at least the child will have a chance to live, even if he will NEVER understand/believe that it was medicine and NOT prayer.
It ceases to amaze me just how stupid the religious can be. If a friend of ours had not messed around with alternative meds with her cervical cancer and chose to have it removed instead, she MIGHT be alive today. I just hope this young boy still has time for his cancer to be treated properly and lives to see adulthood, as well as enjoy it.
I found this story disturbing as a physician, parent, and rational thinker. While I respect patient autonomy, a 13 year old does not have the mental or emotional maturity to make a decision of this magnitude. Clearly if there is metastatic disease, odds of cure fall dramatically. While I am not surprised, I am always appalled when I see stories of parents making such decisions.
By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press Writer – 37 mins ago
NEW ULM, Minn. – A Minnesota judge has issued an arrest warrant for the mother of a 13-year-old boy resisting chemotherapy after the pair missed a court hearing on his welfare. Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg also is ordering that Daniel Hauser be placed in protective custody so he can get proper medical treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma. ...
I just saw a TV newsclip in our office kitchen where the news is constantly playing - the boy stated he will “kick and punch” anyone who tries to force the treatment on him. He will have to be chemically sedated, I suppose. He’s really been brainwashed by his parents - he thinks he’s being a hero for god by refusing the treatment.
So very sad. Thank goodness for the sensible judge.
State statutes require parents to provide necessary medical care for a child, (Brown County District Judge John) Rodenberg wrote. The statutes say alternative and complementary health care methods aren’t enough.
He also wrote that Daniel, who has a learning disability and cannot read, did not understand the risks and benefits of chemotherapy and didn’t believe he was ill.
Not only is the boy brainwashed, he is incapable of understanding what he is risking. His parents have no shame. I would be willing to bet they would not score very high on a standard intelligence test. That is a politically correct way of saying they are morons. They are also sick people deluded by religion into thinking an invisible sky daddy is going to cure their son.
Anyone who denies religion is dangerous raise your hand. No? I didn’t think so.
Things are even worse that what is popularly reported. According to this reporter (http://www.startribune.com/local/45190127.html?elr=KArksUUUU), Daniel is a home schooled nightmare, totally illiterate to the point that he couldn’t identify the word ‘the’ in a sentence. He also said that Daniel was a religious ‘Shaman’ because EVERYONE becomes a ‘Shaman’ when they reach the age of 13! He could not tell anyone what a ‘Shaman’ does, or even describe the beliefs of his ‘religion’.
The child may have a learning disability, but he still could have learned to read, even if it is several grade levels lower than his age, and comprehend he is sick. It would seem these parents are neglecting him on more levels than just medically. How easy to brainwash someone who is uneducated. That is one of the best ways to control the thinking of another. Even worse if it is a child, with or without a learning disability.
