For a moment, just imagine you are at the centre of this terrible predicament...
Your 11 year-old son has leukemia. He has already undergone an aggressive round of chemotherapy and radiation treatment which nearly cost him his life. When your little boy is up for his second round of chemo, he vehemently refuses to go through with it and instead, pleads with you to allow him to die peacefully at home. According to his doctors, your son would have a fair chance of beating the cancer if he underwent the chemo.
What would you do?
Sadly, a father in Hamilton was faced with this very dilemma and chose to follow his son's wishes and discontinue his cancer therapy. As a result, The CBC reports that child welfare took custody of the boy to ensure he would undergo the treatment. According to Dominic Verticchio, the executive director of Hamilton's Children's Aid Society, an Ontario court ruled in conjunction with provincial legislation stating that it is mandatory for children to receive necessary care and treatment for their health and well being.
The boy's family is outraged. Granted limited visitation rights during his son's treatment, the Hamilton father claims that doctors initially only gave the boy a 20 percent chance of surviving the chemotherapy. If this round of treatment was successful, the father goes on to say that his son would have to undergo further radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant in which he would only be given a 50 percent survival rate following the entire ordeal.
What do you think?
5 comments:
I am frightened by this. I can't even begin to imagine what that child and family are going through. I think it's a sad sad world we live in when an outsider has this kind of hold over us. I have started a facebook group as I am a citizen of Hamilton and want everyone to speak out against this horrible injustice. Please join us.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13773628067
Hi kitten, thanks for taking the time to comment. I know that this story has stirred up the debate on medical ethics and the role of the government regarding such issues. Since a child was involved in this a particular instance especially sparks the controversy...
Ouch.
I don't know enough to make an informed decision on this case specifically, but in a way this reminds me of religious groups whose members who are parents won't allow their children to be treated because of violation of their beliefs.. Tough topic all around.
Hey Karloff, I'm also sitting on the fence on this issue considering there's significant discrepancies between the father's story and that of the doctors/ child services. In most instances, I feel that patient rights should trump the interests of the state. However, considering a child is involved and he may be unable to make an informed decision, really throws a wrench into this reasoning.
It is a tough choice. I'm a mom and just the thought of being in such position is already unnerving. I can't imagine how the parents are feeling right now. Although I'd have to agree with what you said re discrepancies on patients' rights vs interests of the state on the issue.......
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