Whereas I agree with the sentiment regarding the hypocrisy/inconsistency you point out, refusing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for Hodgkin's is essentially suicide. Hodgkin's has >90% cure rates with chemo and radiation. I have a hard time with the idea of just allowing 17 year olds to commit suicide without some kind of intervention to prevent this.
"Fortin said her daughter was perfectly healthy until May, when Cassandra noticed her neck was swollen. She spent the summer months having blood-work done to determine the problem. Despite test after test, Fortin said doctors could figure out what was wrong.
Fortin said it wasn’t until September that doctors at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) ran a biopsy and said Cassandra likely had Hodgkin lymphoma.
Fortin said Cassandra wanted to seek a second opinion, so she pulled her daughter’s records to bring to another hospital.
But Fortin said CCMC doctors understood that as “neglect” and reported her to the state’s Department of Children and Families. Fortin said that DCF filed a motion and was granted temporary custody of Cassandra."
Forced Chemo on treatment of a "likely" case of cancer without allowing a second opinion just isn't right in no way shape or form.
My 12 year old niece was just diagnosed with a rare form of Lymphoma on Monday. She has a rare and aggressive form that attacks her T cells. I couldn’t imagine sitting back and letting her die without trying to fight it. My niece knows how hard this will be but she wants to fight for her life. She is a brave little girl.