A Minnesota judge ruled 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.
Daniel Hauser has Hodgkin's lymphoma and underwent one treatment before quitting the treatment in February because Daniel and his parents opted instead for "alternative medicines" based on their religious beliefs.
The parents say this is their son's decision to treat the disease with nutritional supplements and other alternative treatments favored by the Nemenhah Band. The Missouri-based religious group believes in natural healing methods advocated by some American Indians, according to an Associated Press story.
The judge in the case will allow the teen to stay with his parents and gave them until Tuesday to get an updated chest X-ray for their son and select an oncologist.
Here's the kicker:
If the evaluation shows the cancer had advanced to a point where chemotherapy and radiation would no longer help, the judge said he would not order the boy to undergo treatment.
However, he said, if chemotherapy is ordered and the family still refuses, Daniel will be placed in temporary custody.
Court documents say Daniel doesn't fully understand how sick he really is. Doctors say he has a 90 percent chance of recovery with chemo and a 5 percent chance without treatments.
This brings some interesting points to review.
* Should the courts be responsible for making decisions regarding cancer or other medical treatments?
* Is the court overstepping the separation of church and state?
* Or should issues such as Daniel's be seen on a case by case base?
So go ahead, let us know what you think.
Mary Meaux
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