.:Kalli Rae:.

I agree budnkota.

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Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.
Kalli Rae--
Mommy to:
Aaron Joseph- 8yrs Lily Ann Marie- 7yrs Kyla Raye- 4yrs

hwnorth

bdnkota - Is there any guarantees in life or for life at all? I think for an 11 year old to sit there and say that god will heal him ... good for him, as I believe attitude has alot to do with human healing.. so combine that with chemo ..

From what I read this is more along the lines of a disillusioned child thinking theres a magical power that will save him when modern medicine is saying he will die.

Now, if you allow that argument, then where does it stop when the 8 year who needs a blood transfusion refuses because of religion?

The other thing and my major point .... is this not a form of suicide ? By refusing treatment in a terminal condition ... I thought many of you were against that ... and I thought it was illegal ??

Lissa

hwnorth, do you always have to play devil's advocate?

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budnkota

I am coming from the perspective of somebody who wrote on here that IF I develop the genetic illness in my family, that I DO want to slip out of this world before I become an immense burden on my son. So I can't give an opinion based on the other perspective. I am a firm beleiver in the right to die.

I don't know this kid obviously, but I wonder if the "God" thing is just something he's saying because it offers a small explanation. I wonder if he really beleives that or not. You have a young kid being asked these questions, feeling like he's on the spot. Kids will say anything when they feel trapped. Or who's to say that he means he'll be protected from a literal death? If he's religious, maybe he means that he'll have eternal life after he leaves this world.

Regardless, the dad and stepmom know him better than the courts. And they beleive that his request should be respected. And I respect that - much more than I do the parents who just can't let go and keep forcing their child to go through something again and again and again when teh child is just ready to move on.

This is very different than the recent prayer death situation (parents in that case were just charged about a week or so ago) because these people sought medical attention, rather than waiting around. After the medical opinions were sought, choices were made. Very, very different.

edit to add: if it's based of serious, heartfelt beliefs, I guess I do lean towards allowing the blood transfusion to make that choice (if the parents agree). I find it terribly sad though. I have an ex boyfriend who had a transfusion, and aunt in teh hospital now whose had a transplant or two... so I don't follow that beleif system, but if somebody beleives that getting blood from others gave him a one-way ticket to hell, what kind of life is that child going to lead?

Lissa

I agree with budnkota as well.

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Ari2

Refusing treatment generally is not considered suicide and is allowed under most situations as an expression of a patient's autonomy. To be ethical, the patient usually has to have proper decision-making capacity (which is different than competency). This allows for advanced directives such as living wills. A patient who has full decision-making capacity is even allowed by law to refuse life-saving treatment.

There are exceptions to this when societal interest in completing the treatment outweighs the patient's right to refuse.

And societal interest takes on greater weight when it comes to children. A parent generally can't refuse immediate life-saving treatment for a child due to religious or other personal beliefs (i.e., the kid can't be made a martyr to the parents' faith). Courts have upheld parents' decisions to skip ALL treatment in a few cases with a positive prognosis, but in most cases this has been rejected.

Kids also are allowed to some degree to participate in their medical decisions. But the age of medical decision-making capacity is younger than the legal age of majority and is not set in stone. Usually, a kid is allowed to participate in medical decisions starting somewhere around 7-9 years and is given more autonomy in mid-adolescence.

The big factor is the chance of treatment success. If the chance is tiny, the usual analysis shifts more in favor of the young patient's wishes. In this case, it is unclear what the odds of success are as the parents dispute the figure cited by the child welfare folks. Other factors that usually figure into the decision include possible risks or complications of treatment, the basis for the parents' beliefs, and the existence and likelihood of alternative treatment, if available.