A disturbing case of parental neglect (or perhaps parental rights) has arisen in Minnesota; the report is in the Digital Journal
Daniel Hauser is 13 years old, he is now in 5th grade (three years behind) but he cannot recognize the simplest written word — Daniel is illiterate. Daniel also as cancer! Daniel was diagnosed with stage IIB nodular sclerosing Hodgkin’s disease, a treatable cancer. He received one chemotherapy treatment after he was diagnosed and his cancer seemed to respond but, according to the article, “Daniel refuses to receive additional chemotherapy.”
There were some bad effects from that first chemotherapy session, as there are in almost every case. The family consulted 5 doctors and each recommended that Daniel receive additional chemotherapy but, Daniel continues to refuse further treatment.
It is, of course, Daniel’s family that is doing the refusing and the influencing of Daniel’s decisions. They are American Indians (oops! Native Americans) and believe in their traditional healing practices called Nemenhah.
Where it stands right now: A Minnesota judge has found that “Daniel Hauser is a child in need of protection or service (as) has been proved by clear and convincing evidence.” Daniel has been assigned a Guardian ad Litem and has been ordered to undergo a complete X-ray exam and the case will be back in court on May 19th.
The question stands before the court of public opinion (on which you are a jury member) should parents have the right to deny treatment for their child based on their religious beliefs?
I confess I am torn — at least up to a point! I violently object to the government inserting itself into health issues but this is a case the issue is a child’s health — a child who’s parents have apparently withheld a good education from him, have had him (as you will read in the linked article) sign affidavits that he can’t even read and have given the court the name of a doctor who has never even met Daniel as Daniel’s “primary physician. Clearly these are parents who are either too ignorant to understand that their son may die very soon without treatment (it may already be too late) or they are so devoted to their religion that the are positive that their version of alternative medicine will cure him.
For the welfare of a child, in a case where the child needs medical treatment and is not receiving it, I would have to fall on the side of forcing the treatment on him. I, if I were the judge in this case, would also be strongly inclined to remove the child from the home unless the parents allowed a qualified doctor to recommend treatment and they then complied.
News Links:
Digital Journal: Judge rules and orders treatment in religious child neglect case
Star-Tribune: Jon Tevlin: Boy with cancer should not be a casualty of ignorance, too
Blog Links:
Calvin Palmer’s Weblog: Judge overrules family’s alternative medicine to treat boy, 13, for cancer
Zionistgoldreport: Zionist Judge rules family can’t refuse chemo for boy
My other homes for my posts are: The Blogger News Network — it’s real news from real people and My View From the Center
6 users commented in " Parental Rights or Government Rights? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackWait they don’t let him attend school? Is that part of there Native beliefs? How come the boy can’t read? I know the health care is an issue and it is he needs treatment. Why can’t he read. That bothers me beliefs or not he needs to be able to be healthy and be able to comprehend what he see’s in life. Thats sad…my kids are part Navajo and if they was sick theyd be at the hospital getting treatment. That saddens my heart for that boy. Im going to pray for him! That he gets his medical attention and learns to read.
There are two issues here. One is Daniel’s health. The other is his education or lack of it which is not explained in this or other articles I can find. He was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of this year but the education issues have gone on much longer than that I think.
Have the parents not allowed him to attend school before this?
Does Daniel have developmental delays? If so, how have they been handled up to now?
Okay. I found more informative articles and learned that Daniel does have developmental delays of some sort and has been home-schooled with about as much success it seems as the “alternative” medicines his parents insist on.
Ignorance and stubborness are very difficult to overcome especially when disguised as religion. The boy has been influenced by his parents since birth so of course he’s not going to believe strangers.
But the parents should be capable of looking at statistical results of treatments and realize it can work. Unfortunately they are led by power-hungry frauds who “swear” they’ve been cured of similar illnesses by “alternative” medicines. No proof of course to back that up – in fact the guy in question went to jail for fraud.
If a group of people followed a religion that required human sacrifice of a child (or anyone) would we/should we allow that? If a group sent a child into bear or lion-infested woods while they danced around a fire and mixed up special herbs to protect him and believed it was okay because IF God wills he’ll come out alive and IF He doesn’t well that’s okay too? Nope.
So, IMO, it is NOT okay for these parents to let their child die – by doing everything they can to prevent him from living. Disgusting and I don’t care if it’s a “religion.” Which normally I would have some respect for – but not in this case.
I think that its sad I understand that ppl’s beliefs are deep rooted in them but there is a point of knowing that your child needs medical attention. He is delayed developmental and that is understandable….Early Intervention is a great tool but the child cant be older then 5
As a pediatrician and advocate for parental rights to direct the care and upbringing of one’s children, I believe ardently in the parental rights that are protected and only overturned with a compelling interests by due process. The state seems to have a solid case that the boy’s medical condition will worsen without therapy and by going through the judicial process, they have followed due process. Therefore, while concerned, it seems that all is being done appropriatly. However, I am unclear on the educational issue as the public school system often does not help the children like him either.
The greatest danger for our society here is to assume a need to “legislate” across all parents. If we suddenly begin to give the state final say in all such situations, soon the state will make more and more decisions regarding parenting situation. We probably will not like all of their decisions.
Sincerely,
Doc
There are many alternative therapies that have been shown to be helpful for preventing and fighting cancer. The problem is that the only people being asked are medical doctors. Do the research…. nutritional therapy, sauanas or steam baths, and holistic therapies are have their place. Watch the TV Channel Veria and you will learn a lot of this!
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