Big brother is bigger than parents
If yo remember, a little while back, I wrote about a court case in Virginia. A 16 year old boy and his parents decided to pursue alternative treatment for his Hodgkin’s Disease after conventional chemo gave only temporary improvement.
A social worker decided that the boy and his parents had no right to decide what was best for their family, and promptly filed suit to have the boy removed from his parents and forced to undergo treatment.
Well, the decision is in.
Juvenile court Judge Jesse E. Demps has ruled that the boy must undergo chemo as prescribed by his doctors, and that his parents were being neglectful by supporting his decision, so they must continue to share custody with the county Social Services bureau.
So, the state decides your child’s medical treatment and not you (but, Uncle, that’s what marriage is all about). I’m not sure the particulars of this case but if the state can decide this issue it’s one Hell of a precedent. As Rich says:
I’ve argued this before, and most folks tend to disagree. Of course, it’s usually religious parents and the alternative therapy is prayer, so the objectors throw out a few buzz words like “fanatic” or “ignorant hicks” and go merrily about their business. I then warn that if the state has the right to interfere, soon, it won’t just be in the case of religious folks.
And here we are.
A 16 year old can be tried as an adult, and sentenced to prison for life, or given the death penalty. If they’re responsible enough for that, then aren’t they responsible enough to make decisions about their health care?
July 23rd, 2006 at 4:26 pm
Since all state edicts are ultimately backed up by force, the decision appears to be: “Get medical care or we’ll kill you.”
July 23rd, 2006 at 8:12 pm
I may be just grumpy today, but geeze this post makes me angry and sick to my stomach.
July 23rd, 2006 at 9:32 pm
The “slippery slope” in progress. Because it is sometimes a good thing to intervene, laws/regulations/rules are instituted which, alas, allow no moderation.
And it keeps gaining on us. New York City now has a registry of diabetics, what medicines have been prescribed for them, what prescriptions have or have not been filled… In the name of making sure they are taking care of themselves.
July 26th, 2006 at 8:46 am
[…] In an update to this, the AP: A judge ruled Tuesday that a 16-year-old cancer patient who has refused conventional medical treatment does not have to report to a hospital as previously ordered and scheduled a trial to settle the dispute. […]