Big Win for the Little Guy!
I chalk this one up to a victory of empowering people with the choice to manage their own health care. When assisted suicide is banned or legal depending on the state you live in- and you've endured so much as a patient, generally a person knows what they can and cannot face. They are already looking death in the eye. It's there, they've conversed, and I believe this young man has made his own inner peace with himself, his God and Death.
ACCOMAC, Va. - A 16-year-old cancer patient's legal fight ended in victory Wednesday when his family's attorneys and social services officials reached an agreement that would allow him to forgo chemotherapy.
At the start of what was scheduled to be a two-day hearing, Accomack County Circuit Judge Glen A. Tyler announced that both sides had reached a consent decree, which Tyler approved.
Under the decree, Starchild Abraham Cherrix, who is battling Hodgkin's disease, will be treated by an oncologist of his choice who is board-certified in radiation therapy and interested in alternative treatments. The family must provide the court updates on Abraham's treatment and condition every three months until he is cured or turns 18.
"It's all over. It's everything we fought for, everything we wanted to ever have, we've won. We got our freedom back," Abraham said outside the courthouse after the hearing.
Tyler emphasized that the decree states that the parents weren't medically neglectful.
Abraham said that he saw the doctor last week, and the doctor assured him that his cancer is curable. The teen said he will continue following an alternative herbal treatment called the Hoxsey method, as well as his doctor's treatment plan. The regimen won't include chemotherapy, but radiation is a possibility, he said.
After the short hearing, the judge looked at Abraham and said, "God bless you, Mr. Cherrix."
Last summer, the teen was found to have Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system considered very treatable in its early stages. He was so debilitated by three months of chemotherapy that he declined a second, more intensive round that doctors recommended early this year.
He since has been using the Hoxsey method, the sale of which was banned in the United States in 1960. After Abraham chose to go on the sugar-free, organic diet and take liquid herbal supplements under the supervision of a Mexican clinic, a social worker asked a juvenile court judge to intervene to protect the teen's health. Last month, the judge found Abraham's parents neglectful and ordered Abraham to report to a hospital for treatment as doctors deem necessary.
Lawyers for the family appealed, and an Accomack County Circuit Court judge suspended that order and scheduled a new trial to settle the dispute. The judge scheduled the trial for two days but has indicated he would like to finish in one, said John Stepanovich, a lawyer for the parents.
Carl H. Bundick, attorney for the Accomack County Department of Social Services, told the judge the department considers the agreement to be in Abraham's best interest.
Abraham is still on the Hoxsey method, but Stepanovich stressed that the family hasn't ruled out other possible treatments, such as immunotherapy or radiation treatment in small doses.
According to the American Cancer Society, there is no scientific evidence that Hoxsey is effective in treating cancer in people. The herbal treatment is illegal in the United States but can be obtained through clinics in Mexico, and some U.S. naturopathic practitioners use adapted versions of the formula.
___
Kudos to him and his parents for going the way they believe is best for them. No one can judge or deem what is best when sane and loving people have done what "they" said to do, have exhausted their internal and external resources to beat a microscopic demon.
I could never say what I would do in that situation until I lived it. It can't be answered until you hear the words, "you have cancer". It's yours. It lives inside of you. I find young Mr. Cherrix to be very brave. Whether he dies is his cross to bear. People are told all the time their cancer is treatable and they'll be fine- only to die six months later. Others are told they have six months to live and go on for 10 more years.
The truth is- a positive outlook and living the life you have is important. If you had an undetermined amount of time left, and you were 16 years old- would you want to be ravaged by chemotherapy? Possible to die in the hands of the treatment that is supposed to save you? Especially if you had done that once before and knew what you were in for- Or would you want to explore alternatives and truly live the life you were given? It's a rhetorical question saved only for those who actually face it.
It's a brave choice and I firmly believe in this circumstance especially, no court has the right to tell this family what to do.
HOORAY FOR THE CHERRIX FAMILY!
I can only pray this fellow beats his cancer and goes on to become the amazing advocate he may be destined to be!!
ACCOMAC, Va. - A 16-year-old cancer patient's legal fight ended in victory Wednesday when his family's attorneys and social services officials reached an agreement that would allow him to forgo chemotherapy.
At the start of what was scheduled to be a two-day hearing, Accomack County Circuit Judge Glen A. Tyler announced that both sides had reached a consent decree, which Tyler approved.
Under the decree, Starchild Abraham Cherrix, who is battling Hodgkin's disease, will be treated by an oncologist of his choice who is board-certified in radiation therapy and interested in alternative treatments. The family must provide the court updates on Abraham's treatment and condition every three months until he is cured or turns 18.
"It's all over. It's everything we fought for, everything we wanted to ever have, we've won. We got our freedom back," Abraham said outside the courthouse after the hearing.
Tyler emphasized that the decree states that the parents weren't medically neglectful.
Abraham said that he saw the doctor last week, and the doctor assured him that his cancer is curable. The teen said he will continue following an alternative herbal treatment called the Hoxsey method, as well as his doctor's treatment plan. The regimen won't include chemotherapy, but radiation is a possibility, he said.
After the short hearing, the judge looked at Abraham and said, "God bless you, Mr. Cherrix."
Last summer, the teen was found to have Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system considered very treatable in its early stages. He was so debilitated by three months of chemotherapy that he declined a second, more intensive round that doctors recommended early this year.
He since has been using the Hoxsey method, the sale of which was banned in the United States in 1960. After Abraham chose to go on the sugar-free, organic diet and take liquid herbal supplements under the supervision of a Mexican clinic, a social worker asked a juvenile court judge to intervene to protect the teen's health. Last month, the judge found Abraham's parents neglectful and ordered Abraham to report to a hospital for treatment as doctors deem necessary.
Lawyers for the family appealed, and an Accomack County Circuit Court judge suspended that order and scheduled a new trial to settle the dispute. The judge scheduled the trial for two days but has indicated he would like to finish in one, said John Stepanovich, a lawyer for the parents.
Carl H. Bundick, attorney for the Accomack County Department of Social Services, told the judge the department considers the agreement to be in Abraham's best interest.
Abraham is still on the Hoxsey method, but Stepanovich stressed that the family hasn't ruled out other possible treatments, such as immunotherapy or radiation treatment in small doses.
According to the American Cancer Society, there is no scientific evidence that Hoxsey is effective in treating cancer in people. The herbal treatment is illegal in the United States but can be obtained through clinics in Mexico, and some U.S. naturopathic practitioners use adapted versions of the formula.
___
Kudos to him and his parents for going the way they believe is best for them. No one can judge or deem what is best when sane and loving people have done what "they" said to do, have exhausted their internal and external resources to beat a microscopic demon.
I could never say what I would do in that situation until I lived it. It can't be answered until you hear the words, "you have cancer". It's yours. It lives inside of you. I find young Mr. Cherrix to be very brave. Whether he dies is his cross to bear. People are told all the time their cancer is treatable and they'll be fine- only to die six months later. Others are told they have six months to live and go on for 10 more years.
The truth is- a positive outlook and living the life you have is important. If you had an undetermined amount of time left, and you were 16 years old- would you want to be ravaged by chemotherapy? Possible to die in the hands of the treatment that is supposed to save you? Especially if you had done that once before and knew what you were in for- Or would you want to explore alternatives and truly live the life you were given? It's a rhetorical question saved only for those who actually face it.
It's a brave choice and I firmly believe in this circumstance especially, no court has the right to tell this family what to do.
HOORAY FOR THE CHERRIX FAMILY!
I can only pray this fellow beats his cancer and goes on to become the amazing advocate he may be destined to be!!
posted by Virtuous Vituperator at
11:18 AM
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