Texas Takes Girl with Cancer From Parents Because They Refused Radiation Treatment
Texas child welfare officers removed a 12-year-old girl with cancer from her parents because they wouldn't let her get radiation treatment that doctors say she needs because her life could be in danger without it. The Associated Press reports that Katie Wernecke is now in the custody of State Child Protective Services and is in the hospital, where she is undergoing tests. She hasn't had the radiation treatment yet.
Katie had received chemotherapy, but Michele and Edward Wernecke say their daughter's cancer is in remission and they don't want her getting radiation. On NBC's Today show Thursday (June 9th), Michele Wernecke explained, "I think they should treat her for what her body calls for and not standard protocol. Not every cancer is the same. ... Her body is not standard, and her cancer is not standard." The parents made a video of their daughter in which she said she's feeling better and doesn't want radiation. Katie says on the tape, "I don't need radiation treatment. And nobody asked me what I wanted. It's my body."
The parents are members of the Church of God and were against blood transfusions unless they were from Katie's mother. But their attorney, Daniel Horne, told AP the fight isn't about religion. He says the parents believe doctors haven't been upfront about Katie's care and haven't answered all their questions about the side effects of the radiation. Horne said, "This issue is about parental rights, not about religious rights. They just want to be informed of her treatment. They want to be involved in this."
Do you think the state was right to remove Katie from her parents?
posted by Pat Campbell @ 9:19 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
What a great idea. Why stop here? The state should go after parents who take their children to insert the name of any fast food resturant here. The problem of obesity among children is well publicised. Some parents even allow their children to have bikes, scooters, and skate boards. What are they thinking? Obviously the state has a compelling case there. Why isn't the state swooping in to scope up kids with parents who allow them to watch more than a half hour or so of PBS each day? Worst of all, as you may be aware, some parents still take their children to those indoctrination centers known as churches. What an outrage!
Sadly, some will agree with these tongue in cheek suggestions. It DOES NOT take a village to raise a child, it takes parents. Parents should have the ultimate say in what medical treatment their children receive. Absent actuall abuse or neglect the State should keep their hands off. This case does not qualify as either.
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