- Parents ordered to take US teenager to cancer doctor
- The Times Online - UK
- 16/05/2009 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 258 articles in 2009 )
A US couple who refused chemotherapy for their 13-year-old son on religious grounds have been ordered to have the boy re-evaluated to see if he would still benefit from the cancer treatment.
A judge in Minnesota found that Daniel Hauser had been "medically neglected" by his parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser, who belong to a religious group that believes in using only natural healing methods practised by some American Indians.
Judge John Rodenberg allowed Daniel to stay with his parents, noting that they love him and had acted in good faith. But he gave them until Tuesday to get an updated chest X-ray and select an oncologist.
If the tumour has not grown and if Daniel's prognosis remains as optimistic as doctors testified in a hearing last week, then chemotherapy and possible radiation appear to be in Daniel's best interest, the judge said.
"The State has successfully shown by clear and convincing evidence that continued chemotherapy is medically necessary," he said in a written judgment, adding he would not order chemotherapy if doctors find the cancer has advanced to a point where it is "too late".
If chemotherapy is ordered and the family refuses, the judge said, Daniel will be placed in temporary custody. It was unclear how the medicine would be administered if the boy fights it, which he said he would do, according to his court testimony unsealed on Friday.
He believes the chemo will kill him, and said: "I'd fight it. I'd punch them and I'd kick them."
Calvin Johnson, an attorney for Daniel's parents, said the family is considering an appeal. For now, he said, Daniel is following the order and will have X-rays on Monday.
A judge in Minnesota found that Daniel Hauser had been "medically neglected" by his parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser, who belong to a religious group that believes in using only natural healing methods practised by some American Indians.
Judge John Rodenberg allowed Daniel to stay with his parents, noting that they love him and had acted in good faith. But he gave them until Tuesday to get an updated chest X-ray and select an oncologist.
If the tumour has not grown and if Daniel's prognosis remains as optimistic as doctors testified in a hearing last week, then chemotherapy and possible radiation appear to be in Daniel's best interest, the judge said.
"The State has successfully shown by clear and convincing evidence that continued chemotherapy is medically necessary," he said in a written judgment, adding he would not order chemotherapy if doctors find the cancer has advanced to a point where it is "too late".
If chemotherapy is ordered and the family refuses, the judge said, Daniel will be placed in temporary custody. It was unclear how the medicine would be administered if the boy fights it, which he said he would do, according to his court testimony unsealed on Friday.
He believes the chemo will kill him, and said: "I'd fight it. I'd punch them and I'd kick them."
Calvin Johnson, an attorney for Daniel's parents, said the family is considering an appeal. For now, he said, Daniel is following the order and will have X-rays on Monday.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5332671/Parents-ordered-to-take-US-teenager-to-cancer-doctor.html
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