Should a 16 year old with cancer have the right to choose his own medical treatment?

I read in the news about a 16 year old boy who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer, who does not want to go through a second round of chemotherapy and the state is trying to force him. The first round of chemo left him very weak and sick, and despite initial success, his cancer came back a few months after. His doctor ordered a second round of chemo, but the teenager decided against it and with his parent's support, chose an alternative, herbal treatment. The doctor disagreed with their medical choice and reported them to social services. Now the state is taking them to court, alleging medical neglect, and is trying to take custody from the parents.

Do you think that the state of Virginia has the right to force the 16 year old to take chemotherapy and remove custody from his parents? Isn't the state going too far? Remember, chemotherapy is a treatment, not a cure, and there is no guarantee that it will work.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/08/11/cancer...

Link to the article:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/08/11/cancer...

If Abraham's parents also researched the herbal treatments he wants to take instead of the chemo and feel it is a better option than the chemo, they should be allowed to refuse the chemo. It isn't like they are just letting him die, they are just trying to find an alternative to the chemo and all of the hardships a patient faces with it. If the state says the parents are endangering him and could kill him, look at what chemo does - it IS a poison and CAN kill you. They need to get some medical professionals on their side and a good lawyer because I think the Commonwealth of Virginia has overstepped its authority in this matter.

i think they should because live or die its them thats going though it so..ya i thnk he should at least be allowed to do this since his fun 4rm life has been probly taken away so its his/her disiesion.

Nope - 18 is considered an adult.

OH YES!, of course with consulting the doctor.

they should listen to him

yes, they should be able to decide what to do and not to do with their bodies.

unfortunately, this is a difficult situation. the state thinks they know what's best for the child. however, it's the child's choice. no one will be to blame if the boy dies. he wants to try his own way out. he should have the right to do such.

I say its HIS choice and the choice of HIS parents...after all they are the ones who raised him, not the state of VA...But...the court system will get involved because the boy is a minor and they will say that the parents are not taking care of him properly with is a bunch of horse s*&t

As long as the parents and child both are well informed about all their alternatives they should be able to make their own decisions so long as they are doing something.

I don't think they have any right to choose what he can or cannot do. IT'S HIS OWN BODY FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!! What ever happened to freedom of choice? I'm a true believer in herbal medicine. Obviously if the chemo didn't work the first time, what makes them think it'll do the job the second time around? All these doctors want is the money that comes with it.

Regardless of what any laws see he can do "as an adult" the reality is that in human development the brain is not fully mature until as late as the mid-twenties (PBS program on teen-age brains). Bones are not finished either. In other words, he is not medically or scientifically an adult. There is a part of the brain (maybe the pre-frontal cortex? not sure) that does affect how teenagers think.

This is a very tough one, but I can't help but have the gut feeling that maybe the state is right in this particular case as its described.

Not in this country, unfortunately!!!!!!
If under 18, a person has no say in anything to do with his/her life unless he runs like hell and wants to be free and die without saying goodbye to family and friends!!!!
A minor or a mentally incapacitated person has no say in medical tx,. and it is not fair, but the laws in this country are the laws and if people do not like rules, get out of this country!!!!!!!

Yes, but he should talk to his parents about it, if his parents are on his side I see no reason why he can't make his own decsions.

a 16 year old isn't considered as an adult. until you are 18 your parents can make all the decisions for you.

Last questioon first: Because it is a life choice!
No he and his parents are wrong or misinformed. Many cancers require more than one, two even three treatments why stop at just one?
A 16 year old is just starting their life. Many years to come!.
I know dozens of kids that went thru the treatment four times and are just fine now at 30 & older.
Granted Chemo is not a nice thing to go thru, but its better than death...
Parents have no right to take this life away for the 16 year old. Everything must be done to save his life I think the Doctor is totally correct.

i agree with you in every aspect some states recognize a 16 year old as a adult .. he should be able to choose his own medical treatment..a person don't no what it is until they go through it the chemo, radiation. and stuff for cancer...i forgot to say after all god will make the final decision.. even over the doctors and courts..

In many states they allow a 14 year old to decide if they want to take drugs for mental health issues. I don't see how it's any different.

However, having said that... I had cancer, did chemo, had it come back in less than 18 months, more treatment followed and five years later, I'm still here.

To me it sounds like this is one of those situations that was probably handled badly, involved a lot of poor communication and a very egotistical doctor!