Judge Rules Family Can't Refuse Chemo for Child With Cancer

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From this link:
http://www.startribune.com/local/45...aPc:E7_ec7PaP3iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUHDYaGEP7eyckcUX

I think this statement by the doctor is very telling; it goes to show that he would have been willing to work with them if they had questions or wanted to try alternative therapies in addition to the chemo. He wasn't being some egomaniac who said it had to be his way or no way.

I'm also glad to hear that they think his chances of being cured are still very high.

Bostrom diagnosed Daniel's Hodgkin's lymphoma in January, treated it once in February, and called Brown County child protection workers in April when the Hausers refused to resume chemotherapy treatments.

"It was the first time in 25 years I've ever had to do that," Bostrom said Friday. "I've had parents who disagreed, but until now, we've always been able to work it out, find a way to get appropriate treatment.


"I think he probably still has a good prognosis, maybe still a 90 percent chance of recovery or better with treatment,'' Bostrom said. But he added that Daniel has "very little'' chance of recovering without conventional treatment."
 
BuzzieCat said:
Wow. I wonder why they came back of their own volition? I wonder if the boy started to have symptoms. This article dated a couple of days ago said it could be any time that the tumor would start pressing on his airway and suffocate him. :(

http://www.startribune.com/local/45...aPc:E7_ec7PaP3iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUHDYaGEP7eyckcUX
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Here's the story about how they came home.

http://www.startribune.com/local/46...qyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU

Custody hearing today (26 May).
 
BuzzieCat said:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/26/minnesota.forced.chemo/

Family spokesman says they became overwhelmed being on the road out of their home environment and decided to go back to Minnesota. They were going to go to Mexico but "hit a wall."
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Thanks BuzzieCat. I thought about them every day and being on the road and on the lam - that is NOT easy to do, expecially when sick and also overcome with emotion, I am sure!
 
There is a case that is "similar" to this one, similar scope, that is being heard in a Canadian Court. But this one is not about life and death.

www.thestar.com

A young girl at the centre of a child custody battle was taught by her parents that minorities should be killed and was also exposed to violent, racist videos, a court was told Monday.

The elementary-school-aged child was familiar with Nazi phrases such as "Heil Hitler," used racial epithets and would talk calmly about how black people could be killed, a social worker testified.

The social worker was called to the girl's school after she showed up with white supremacist slogans written on her skin – writings which she appeared to understand fully.

"She told me that what people don't understand is that black people should die," the social worker said. "She stated that everyone who is not white should die.

The child repeatedly used racial slurs about blacks, Asians, Arabs and other minorities during a 45-minute conversation, the social worker testified, and believed any visible minority was a threat to white children.

When child welfare workers visited the family home later, they found white supremacist paraphernalia. Court heard the children also had access to a skinhead website and were shown videos depicting racial violence.

The other child in the home is a pre-school age little boy.

Thank Goodness "these" children were "not shut" away at home to be home school, but were "caught" before it was too late by the public school system.

The public school system is the first "buffer" for kids that are abused.

Teachers know of course what to look for, say a teenage boy who enters school in grade 6-7 who cannot read at a first grade level.

That would get the attention of "the officials" who would question why if this child "was home" schooled, then how did he not learn to read. Was he actually "schooled" at home and if so, what did he "read" to learn.

Unfortunately, a lot of abused kids are taught at home, well sort of taught at home, and what is taught is "open" to debate.

What is scary to the court and social workers is the "matter" of fact attitude and tone of this little girl when she spoke of killing people who are not white.

So this young child "was molded" by the beliefs of the parents who "taught" the child based on THEIR beliefs.

The parents "feel" that they should be able to raise their children in any manner and belief that they see fit, as after all they are the parents.

Funny how those beliefs, just like the Mom who is the subject of this thread, firmly believe that their "beliefs" are right and everyone else is wrong.

It is also "interesting" how the children "mirror" those beliefs of the parents, who again feel there is nothing wrong with what they teach their children.

. Unfortunately these parents are not fit and they harm and abuse their kids. But for some reason "the courts" have to step in and be parents to these kids, as the parents still feel that they can over ride the courts decision as again' they feel what they teach their kids is "their right".


Please, the courts and DSS and CAS are in place to protect children from "unfit" parents. The courts protect these abused children from "further" harm inflicted upon them by their "parents".
 
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/Story?id=7672932&page=3

I think this is an interesting article about them also. It seems to me that the mother and the boy let their emotions run away with them. When that happens, there's no way you can make a well thought out decision. I can understand being freaked out in that scenario, absolutely I can, and not wanting to undergo the side effects and worrying about potential complications now or later from the treatment. Of course if you're told you or your child has cancer there are no words to describe the emotions that come. But IMO the mother let her fear get in the way of thinking it through.

Also, IMO the authorities have been very lenient with her, perhaps because they know she does love her child and want him to live and not suffer. The way I see it, it's not a case of TPTB just slapping down the little guy - they really are trying to work with her and be reasonable and not just throw her in jail and throw away the key. Even after she ran off with him.
 
LMFAO about this case being compared to a case where a child was raised to hate people based on the color of their skin. Thanks for the chuckle!

It is true that unless and until they branch out on their own, children are a product of the beliefs that they have been taught in their environment.
 
Well the mother took off when the court did not side with her "distorted" beliefs and her significant cognative distortions.

Hopefully their promise will actually "come" true or else they do know what they are in for.

How can someone(a simple person) think that teaching hate to a child and endangering a child's life is their "right" as parents.

So Chemo is brutal, but these are "simple" people who decided that they "know" more then Doctors and that their "simple" treatment will cure a very complex problem. They cannot make decisions beyond their own limited intelligence and experience in their own little "simple" world.

Chemo is temporary, death is not. I don't even know if these "simple" people even "realize" that.

I know for a fact that I would not want a child who is taught to hate and to kill living beside me. Especially when that child is taught to hate anyone who is not white and to kill same.

Poor kids, hopefully it will not be too late to "deprogram" the kids from "their" parents "beliefs". Hopefully they can heal and lead a normal life away from their parents "beliefs".

Parents teach their kids "weird" things, like not to seek medical attention when they are sick, to hate other people based on their skin colour.

Again, I do not condone abuse in any way shape or form (apparently some posters approve of medical neglect of a minor child) of any child on this planet. That includes MEDICAL NEGLECT of a minor child.

These simple people seem to live in their own "little" world that is inhabited by simple people of the same "weird" beliefs. Just like some people "believe" that they can "home" school their children and teach them to read before they are teenagers. Apparently some parents are not the "best" teachers' of their kids.

I remember reading that simple people have simple ideas and a simple existance, they do not want to live otherwise. They only want simple answers as this is all they can understand.

People who make good decison based on facts can be say a, Judge Doctors and even lawyers. They all have real world education and experience, beyond a farm.

But simple people usually make and can only apply simple solutions, because that is all they have experienced.

Like a simple solution for cancer is vitamins and herbs. That is what is "right" in their "simple" minds of limited intelligence..

Life beyond the farm and medical treatments are just too complicated for them. Why else would they risk the life of their child, they just do not understand what happens in the real world. I guess now they have a bit of an idea as to what the courts role is in protecting children from abuse.
 
CyberLaw said:
Well the mother took off when the court did not side with her "distorted" beliefs and her significant cognative distortions.

Hopefully their promise will actually "come" true or else they do know what they are in for.

How can someone(a simple person) think that teaching hate to a child and endangering a child's life is their "right" as parents.

So Chemo is brutal, but these are "simple" people who decided that they "know" more then Doctors and that their "simple" treatment will cure a very complex problem. They cannot make decisions beyond their own limited intelligence and experience in their own little "simple" world.

Chemo is temporary, death is not. I don't even know if these "simple" people even "realize" that.

I know for a fact that I would not want a child who is taught to hate and to kill living beside me. Especially when that child is taught to hate anyone who is not white and to kill same.

Poor kids, hopefully it will not be too late to "deprogram" the kids from "their" parents "beliefs". Hopefully they can heal and lead a normal life away from their parents "beliefs".

Parents teach their kids "weird" things, like not to seek medical attention when they are sick, to hate other people based on their skin colour.

Again, I do not condone abuse in any way shape or form (apparently some posters approve of medical neglect of a minor child) of any child on this planet. That includes MEDICAL NEGLECT of a minor child.

These simple people seem to live in their own "little" world that is inhabited by simple people of the same "weird" beliefs. Just like some people "believe" that they can "home" school their children and teach them to read before they are teenagers. Apparently some parents are not the "best" teachers' of their kids.

I remember reading that simple people have simple ideas and a simple existance, they do not want to live otherwise. They only want simple answers as this is all they can understand.

People who make good decison based on facts can be say a, Judge Doctors and even lawyers. They all have real world education and experience, beyond a farm.

But simple people usually make and can only apply simple solutions, because that is all they have experienced.

Like a simple solution for cancer is vitamins and herbs. That is what is "right" in their "simple" minds of limited intelligence..

Life beyond the farm and medical treatments are just too complicated for them. Why else would they risk the life of their child, they just do not understand what happens in the real world. I guess now they have a bit of an idea as to what the courts role is in protecting children from abuse.
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I totally agree with you CyberLaw, the problem is you can't legislate stupid.:doh: There are people who get killed in car crashes because they refuse to wear seat belts, god forbid the government take away their right to stupidity!:banghead::banghead::banghead::bang:
I'm aware that Chemo is brutal, my sister-in-law had one month of it, only to die a month later (at age 47) and she was sick as a dog from it, but the anti-nausea medicines are much better than they were 10 years ago and she was very advanced stages of liver cancer when she went through it. I don't see a problem with alternative treatments if they are used in conjunction with conventional treatments, but not in place of, and certainly not for a minor with treatable cancer!!!
I also believe the mom should still be charged with fleeing and delaying his treatment- she still committed a criminal act- and she should lose custody of him, or a medical guardian Ad Litem should be appointed. She has NOT been acting in her son's best interests. I don't buy her story that he was going to run away so she went with him. First of all, he was too weak to run away, second of all, what good parent does that???
 
angelmom said:
I keep coming back to the seat belt analogy. I actually know people who STILL do not wear seat belts and are phobic about being trapped in a car. Their kids do not wear seat belts, and I have expressed my opinion very clearly. One distant cousin informed me that she only uses a carseat when she goes on the highway, and I BLASTED her. Her own grandmother threatened to call DFCS. They do not use bike helmets either because, "they're hot." :rolleyes:

In general, these people may not be stupid, but they are all on the less educated side and have a lot of superstitious and "I saw it in an email" beliefs. They don't believe any method of being proven wrong, even when you can show them scientific research about carseat safety, cigarette smoke linked to SIDS, or a snopes page disclaiming that the Gap is going to send them a gift card.

They cannot ride with me. I will not start my car without everyone being buckled up. I'm fine with personal beliefs, but in MY car, everyone buckles. If you don't like it, then get OUT. Most choose to buckle (large, dramatic sigh) but the dumb cousin just never gets in my car. Luckily we hardly see each other any more because that is only one of MANY dumb things she does and I don't really want her or her idiot husband or foul mouthed children around my kids.

And no one in my family would ever ride with her; I would never let her watch my kids. Hell, I wouldn't let her watch my DOG! She is the epitome of bad judgment.

And that's how I think of the government's case. They are pretty much okay with freedom of religion and everyone raising their own kids in their own way. I think that's clear since this kid has gotten to 13 without reading, and no one has come after them. But when his life is on the line, and it's something that is virtually certain to be curable, we can't just stand by and let him die. Just like the seatbelts - yes, there is probably a small chance (maybe 5% ?) that you could be trapped in the car. Yes, there is a small chance Daniel will survive without chemo. But in the face of a 90% cure rate, in the face of seatbelt safety stats, how can we stand by and watch him die???

The ironic thing is that even the people defending her would probably tell her to make sure he wears his seatbelt. Not wearing a seatbelt isn't going to kill you for sure. It might, or it might not. But there is a 95% chance that Daniel is going to die without chemo. And while chemo sucks, dying of cancer isn't pleasant either.

As for the government letting 13yos be charged as adults, we don't give them the death penalty! Some 13yos - on a case by case basis - are charged after a review shows that they acted like adults by planning and committing a heinous crime. This judge has reviewed the case and determined that Daniel is NOT thinking like an adult. He (and his mother too!) is engaging in magical thinking that he is not even sick despite all evidence to the contrary.

Besides, being old enough for one right doesn't guarantee all of them. You can vote and go off to war at 18 but not drink until you are 21. You can't smoke or drive until you are 16, but in 16 states girls can get an abortion without parental consent or notification at any age. The government has no qualms about consistency.
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In California, wearing a seat belt is Law and you can be ticketed for not wearing one. I will not drive passengers in my car unless they are buckled up. I only start the car once they are, and everyone who rides in my car knows this... There is an accident that just happened here where the mother and I think uncle were killed in a car crash and 3-year-old twins are in critical condition. The 3-year-olds were NOT wearing seat belts.:banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
It's so great that the Mom returned with her son for treatment. It hasn't been that long since the chemo, and not long since they ran away, so it's good for the whole family that any charges were dropped. Now the boy can get treatment, have good chances live, and hopefully learn to read enough to get by easier in life.
 
We haven't heard a peep from the Nemenhah Band, except to say the family should not have run away. They are being very low-key.
 
I read another article today (if I find it, I'll link it), that stated that there is a Guardian Ad Litem for this case, and that he doesn't believe that Colleen and her husband should have been given back custody of Daniel given their track record and that she fled with him. I guess the parents now realize how serious the delay in treatment may have cost him!:bang:
 
If this child dies from delay and lack of treatment or if it is too late for his "to receive" effective treatment to save his life, due to the "delay" in treatment, I do hope that the DA takes a good, long hard look at the "parents" specifically the mother and also ensure this "family" is supervised by DSS.

One of the things that DSS may want to look into is if each child has "received" any type of education and if they can all read.

When there is one type of neglect and abuse in a family, there is usually more.

There is an excellent article on the CNN website that "the children" who were victims of medical neglect by their parents speak out about the abject pain and suffering they have had because their "parents" beliefs and decisions regarding the lack of medical care for medical problems.

One line really got to me. A grown man talking about how he suffered though out his life due to lack of medical care. He said "I wish parents would know that if they want to experiment they can do it on themselves, but not the kids. The courts back that up and they will always back up a child's life and physical well being over the "magical" thinking and "distorted" beliefs of the parents. ]

Because why should the children suffer..........they are the ones who always do.
 
Marthatex said:
Sad. Have they given it a stage, like II, III or IV? It sounds like they have lost alot of time.
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I haven't seen anything that says what his stage is now. I believe it was IIB when all this was first being reported. Maybe it won't make too much difference. I just can't believe she ran off with him if he was feeling symptoms. IMO the parents should no longer have custody of him. The judge is probably really, really trying to keep Daniel with his family so that he will be as happy and comfortable as possible through the ordeal he's about to go through with chemo, but I don't trust the parents.
 
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