Forcing people to get treatment when they don't want it..

[Origam]

This news story caught my eye..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060816/ap_on_re_us/sick_teen

Basically this kid is 16 years old, his parents seem to support his choice not to get the second round of chemo. I don't see why the social worker needed to get involved or why a judge should get to decide what is best for this poor kid. I could see if maybe the kid was really young and unable to make a choice for himself and his parents were withholding treatment, but he's 16 not 6!

[Analog6]

Re: Forcing people to get treatment when they don't want it..

Quality of life is important, too, and 16 is old enough to decide. We have so much 'official' interference in our lives now that no one wants to take responsibility for themselves anymore, and when someone tries too, it seesm those officials cannot bear to lose their bit of power. I saw a story here of a boy of about this age who went through a similar struggle and after 2 years said to his mother that he wanted no more treatment, he'd had enough. After family discussions they decided to honour his wishes (I think he was 15) and he did die, but the family had happy memories and his last days were not spent in pain and suffering. One's humanity needs to be considered as carefully as the bare fact of being alive.

[not2late]

Re: Forcing people to get treatment when they don't want it..

I'm a firm believer that as long as you are informed and know the risks/benefits, then you should be able to decide your medical/health treatment. For example, you don't want to go on blood pressure meds? Fine. As long as you understand the risks of that and the benefits/risks of the medication---it's your body, your life and you can do with it what you want.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Forcing people to get treatment when they don't want it..

Funny, if he never went to the doctor's in the first place no one would even know. I know people who refuse to even go to see a doctor. How come no one goes knocking on doors dragging each and everyone of us in for annual checkups?

I agree with you Meg's. It's your body and you should be in charge of what it done to it! Just like Dr Kevorkian...I think there should be more Dr's like that!