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Child cancer victim dies after court battles

Posted on May 23rd 2007 10:11AM by Brian White

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss

I've seen stories like this before and it boggles the civilized mind: parents have to defend their kids against the madness of court-appointed medical treatment they don't believe in.

In many cases, ill-educated and bribed officials demand that cancer patients (especially children) undergo conventional cancer treatments even with the disagreement of parents. Who has the final say? In many cases, this disturbing lack of choice by biological parents makes one question if we are indeed in a free country sometimes.

The patient's parents, in this case, found a doctor specializing in holistic medicine. That doctor suggested a healthier diet and supplements instead of chemotherapy. Whatever was best for Noah (the cancer victim) should have been at stake, but who decides that? Health officials or parents?

For more information on preventing or managing cancer, please visit The Cancer Blog. In fact, blogger Heather Craven over at The Cancer Blog has her own take on the story here.

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3 Comment

Tags: cancer, cancer treatments, CancerTreatments, chemotherapy

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

nick 5-23-2007 @ 12:03PM

The naturopath should be charged with criminal negligence in the death of this child. If someone wants to add complimentary medicine to conventional treatments, fine. It is when the naturopath tells the parents to abandon all conventional treatment that he becomes culpable for the death of the child. If an adult wanted to abandon conventional medicine and try a holistic approach, it should be their right. It is the job of the Department of Family Services to protect the child, and in this case they failed.

EM 5-23-2007 @ 4:14PM

Parents have a responsibility to provide adequate care for their children. Basic medical care for a sick child is just as important as food, shelter, or clothing. Any parent who has the capacity to provide these basic needs and willfully refuses to is guilty of negligence.

Kira 5-23-2007 @ 1:20PM

Do you have any evidence of the judge in this case taking a bribe? Or an any of the other "many cases" you allude to? Fairly bold accusation.
Also, you seem to have missed the fact that Noah's parents DID get to choose his treatment.