Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Cancer and the Courts vs. Parental Rights

I am the mother of seven children. I know what it takes to raise a large family, and I'm no fan of neglect; if you have children, take care of them.

So what is neglect? I think we've all seen dirty, unkempt children at the supermarket or other public place. Think of the orphans in Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist" as one example. That is neglect!

My thoughts have been of 13 year old Daniel Hauser recently, and the implications of his illness.
For those who don't know, Daniel has Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The parents, Catholics, had sited religious objections to harsh cancer treatments, and had opted for natural healing practices instead, and therein lies the trouble.
Daniel was treated in February with current cancer treatments, and, when he "failed to show up" for the second round of hellishness in April, the doctor called "authorities." By mid May they were in court and his mother confirmed they would not be resuming chemotherapy. A judge then ORDERS that Daniel MUST resume chemo and ever so "benevolently" leaves Daniel in the custody of his parents (WHEN did this become a custody battle???).

Daniel and his mother flee--as I would have done I think, and have recently returned to Minnesota to submit to Big Brother.

I am shocked, appalled, outraged, and otherwise ticked off that this could happen in America. I know it's not the first time either.

Was Daniel's mother neglectful? Absolutely NOT! In this country we have been free to have our own belief system, our own way of looking at life. This freedom is not granted by our government!!! It is a gift from God. As individuals you get to choose what path you will take, what outlook you will have and who or what you will allow to influence your decisions and choices.
Was Daniel's mother a bad mother for not choosing current medical treatments? NO!!!
Oh my goodness!!! If that were the case, my parents, in today's lunatic environment would also be considered neglectful because...oh heaven forbid, we didn't get vaccinated!! I had the measles, the mumps and the chicken pox. However could they have let me suffer?
My grandfather was a Naturopath, and we had a different belief system than the mainstream medical community. Does that make it wrong? NO! It was an individual choice, made by informed adults who loved me.

Why are the people of Minnesota not speaking up? Why are they not coming to the defense of this family? It could be any one of us next, do we want the government coming in and telling us that we aren't raising our children right, are neglecting them in any one of thousands of various aspects of parenthood?

Nearly 400 years ago, they burned people at the stake for having "alternative medicines" and practices. It seems we've only advanced slightly from that era.
The government should have NO RIGHT to tell you what is best!!! I want to scream it from the rooftops. Daniels parents chose a valid alternative, something they wanted to try, and they are being told by Big Brother that they have no right to make those decisions for their family.

It won't be long before they tell the rest of us the same thing, and it won't be just about medicine.

8 comments:

Audra M said...

Josh and I have been equally upset about this. We don't vaccinate and I wonder how long before that makes me a target. I agree that this is dangerous and appaling. Wow. You wrote very well about this.

Unknown said...

Oh but they are speaking up. Against the woman and NOT Big Brother. When I heard she had taken off I prayed she wouldn't be found. What a shame we have to literally run for our lives in this country. I mean really, is the alternative to tie the boy to the examination table and shove meds down his throat? I suppose that's where we are now.

Jeannetta said...

I guess that's true Tricia, I should have voiced that better. I've got numerous friends who don't vaccinate, and would likely opt at least in the beginning to see about alternatives for cancer treatments. I don't understand why personal rights and responsibilities are so undervalued in our society.
I prayed too that they wouldn't be found.

Bitmap said...

Well said.

R.T. Vance said...

I'll tell you what I'd be doing. I'd be fighting and not in court, and you can be damned sure I'm not going to take my Kid to a Doctor... another thing that Roger will argue till he is blue.

Ranee @ Arabian Knits said...

I do not agree with the religious ideas that doctors or bad or that blood transfusions are sin. However, I will defend to the death the right of any family or individual to hold those thoughts. They are not forcing others to avoid medical attention, they are choosing to avoid it themselves or use other methods.

On top of that, if it weren't for groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses (with whom I have STRONG theological problems), we wouldn't have the plasma technology and knowledge that we have today. Because enough people were refusing a particular treatment, the medical community had to do more research which eventually benefited others as well.

Jeannetta said...

Ranee, I agree. I can't say I would make the same choice, I'm of the opinion that while herbs and such are fabulous for every day, the Lord has inspired modern technology, and I will, with gratitude use the gifts available.
This is a sad thing for America, I strikes fear in my heart that at some point, if someone doesn't like what I'm doing, they'll turn me in, and Big Brother will tell me I have to do things their way.
Frightening.

Rachel Keppner said...

Amen! Parental Rights are being threatened everywhere in the U.S..

www.ParentalRights.org

It's a sad day indeed when we have to amend the Constitution just to secure our God-given rights to parent and to hold marriage between a man and a woman sacred.

I LOVE this post!!! :-)