Now we get to see what the Shiavo controversy has brought to this nation.
The case of
Starchild Abraham Cherrix, to be specific.
Now here is a 16 year old with Hodgkins. A cancer that often kills its victims.
Both his parents
and he decided, after one
failed round of treatment which left him physically debilitated, to pursue alternative therapies. Therapies that might or might not do anything at all for his disease.
Then again, conventional therapy doesn’t seem to have done all that much for him, has it? It certainly hasn’t cured his cancer!
And now we have
The State stepping in and
demanding – literally at gunpoint – that he report to a hospital and have “traditional” treatment.
Even though he’s tried that before, and found the side effects unacceptable and the efficacy wanting. Even though his parents
agree with his decision. This is not a case where parents disagree, as in a divorce situation, or a kid wants to opt out of a treatment but his parents want him to take that therapy. No, this is a case where everyone involved – EXCEPT THE STATE – agrees that the “traditional” therapy is unacceptable.So what has Virginia done? They’ve taken partial custody of this 16 year old and mandated that he receive treatment
they approve of!
Now folks, how far is this from the
same mandate being applied to you – or me? Not very far! And yet you can bet the State isn’t going to pay for this therapy, nor do they suffer the side effects.
Folks, one of the founding principles of respect for human rights is the right to refuse medical treatment that is propounded as “the best” by some doctor – no matter who it is. Even if it means you die as a consequence. This is what a “Living Will” is all about – determining what you want to have happen when death is near – or imminent.
Now nobody is saying that this kid is about to die. Yet. But it certainly appears that he, and his parents, have both decided that it is better to live for however long he shall while pursuing these alternative therapies for his disease than consenting to have what quality of life he has today ruined by traditional therapy – and perhaps die anyway!
We’re just one baby step away from the STATE stepping in and mandating that THEY have the right to choose what medical treatment you MUST accept – as an ADULT – and, of course, what you must PAY FOR.
This case should outrage all of us – your right to refuse medical treatment has just been destroyed – at least in Virginia.
