OPINION: Refusing Chemo isn't Child Abuse, it's Colleen Hauser's Right

By Suzanne Venker , Author - May 26, 2009

Comments(7) | (2)
Chemo
Cancer is complicated. While I don’t have any personal experience with it, I do know this much: Some cancers are more surmountable than others, and chemotherapy isn’t pretty. The type of cancer Daniel Hauser has -- Hodgkin’s lymphoma -- is a cancer that’s surmountable. So surmountable, in fact, that the survival rate is generally 90% or higher when it’s detected in the early stages, making it one of the most curable forms of cancer. Those are some damn good odds, if you ask me; so ... Read the Full Article
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Can I refuse your opinion?
  • AutismNewsBeat
    No, you can't

    I'm sorry you feel that way, Mateo, but society has a legitimate interest in protecting children from abuse and neglect. Does a father have a right to smoke crack cocaine with his teenage son? Can a mother pimp our her 10 year old daughter? What about female circumcision , on the kitchen table, with a steak knife?

    Get real. I can't believe this is even up for debate.

    - AutismNewsBeatUS May 27, 2009 1:51PM

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    • bagpiper2005
      Oh you did not just mention the "c" word

      If you can circumcise a boy why not a girl? Why the double-standard?

      Of course, it's a medically useless, barbaric procedure for both sexes, so that one should be outlawed.

      - bagpiper2005US May 27, 2009 2:00PM

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      • AutismNewsBeat
        C word

        Thank you for answering your own question ;-)

        - AutismNewsBeatUS May 27, 2009 4:44PM

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    • Mateo76
      Think beyond your society-centric views for a second!

      " society has a legitimate interest in protecting children from abuse and neglect."

      Yes, it does have an interest. Just that the interest can be hijacked when the government sanctions violence to carry out that interest. Society also has a legitimate interest that I work as much as possible. It doesn't mean you have the right to force me to work.

      Ideally, government should only have the right to stop me from physically harming another human being. If a parent forces drug use , or forces sex acts, there is no question there is harm being done. Those things have nothing to do with raising a child. Withholding or providing medical treatment does, just as withholding or providing education , but it's not the same as physical abuse, and shouldn't be grouped with those. The responsibility of creating and caring for another human being affords some privileges that others have no right to take away.

      Look, this is a grey area, but we shouldn't try to involve the corrupt authorities any more than we have to. My ideal way to combat stupid parents is to take away their mandated lifeblood of government and faith-based assistance, and the ignorant, irrational, anti- science genes will naturally be removed from the gene pool. We will truly evolve without big brother making evolve his way. Private charity will assist those truly in need. If it doesn't, then think how that will be different than when you're 80 and you need a new kidney, and no one, not even the government, can or wants to give it to you.

      Imagine a world with no government (aka, no violence). In this denial of treatment situation, private groups could track down the parents and peacefully attempt to influence the family to accept treatment. That would be all they could do. Kinda like a drug intervention. Do you want the state in charge of those?

      - Mateo76US May 27, 2009 3:30PM

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      • AutismNewsBeat
        No question of harm?

        "If a parent forces drug use , or forces sex acts, there is no question there is harm being done."

        But there is a question of harm being done when life saving medical treatment is withheld by the parent? That sounds like a distinction without a difference. If one had to choose between having your child raped, or withholding cancer treatment, most people would choose life.

        - AutismNewsBeatUS May 27, 2009 4:51PM

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        • Cancer Mom
          No question of harm?

          Ok AutismNewsBeat. I am assuming you have not been exposed to cancer or its treatments. So for the record just because the doctors (GODS) tell you it is THE life saving treatment, does not make it SO. My son has the same cancer and the GODS told us the same thing. So we did the GODS chemo and radiation. Guess what? Didn't work, Cancer did not go away. Not CURED! Then the GODS say oops sorry we can call hospice. You do not know what you are talking about. Do research, ask questions, do not remain blind, and do not believe everything the GODS tell you!!!!

          - Cancer MomUS May 28, 2009 12:25PM

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    • zman
      O YES YOU CAN

      You sound like your from Afghanistan get with it.
      The government should do there job and let the people do theres.
      Here in the USA WE HAVE A CHOICE. And we can pick the treatments of our choice.For our self and childern.
      In this case I think the parent are making the wrong choice.But it is there choice.
      We cant let the state take our freedoms from the familes.YOU GO AHEAD AND LET THE STATE TAKE YOURS.LEAVE MY FREEDOMS ALONE.

      - zmanUS May 28, 2009 9:38PM

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