The family of a 17-year-old girl with cancer is going to
court this week to determine whether or not the teen can be forced to undergo
treatment after she refused chemotherapy.
The teen, identified only as Cassandra, was diagnosed with
Hodgkin's lymphoma in September, but, with her mother's support, decided she
did not want to undergo the prescribed treatment. The Connecticut Department of
Children and Families, however, stepped in and ordered her to comply with the
doctor's recommendation.
Cassandra's attorney says the state is overstepping its
bounds.
"This is not a negligent refusal to provide care; this
is a choice," Assistant State Public Defender Joshua Michtom said.
"Cassandra and her mother asking that that choice be respected."
Cassandra underwent two rounds of chemotherapy in November
and then ran away from home, refusing to continue treatments. She was
eventually placed in custody of the state and has been undergoing forced
treatment for the past three weeks.
Michael Taylor, the attorney representing Cassandra's
mother, says they will argue that the teen be allowed to make treatment
decisions for herself based on the "mature minor doctrine," which
holds that some children, deemed mature enough, should be allowed to make key
life decisions for themselves.
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