Connecticut Teen Taken Away from Mother and Physically Forced to have Chemotherapy

January 3, 2015

Connecticut Teen Taken Away from Mother and Physically Forced to have Chemotherapy

17 year old Cassandra with mother Jackie Forton. Image courtesy NBC Connecticut.

UPDATE:

1/8/2015 – Connecticut State Supreme court sided with the Department of Children and Families and determined Cassandra must remain in state custody to continue forced chemotherapy. More.

Health Impact News Editor Comments

Several local news media in Connecticut are reporting that a 17 year old girl who is refusing chemo therapy and seeking a second opinion has been taken into custody by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and been physically forced to have chemo therapy against her desire. Cassandra’s mother, Jackie Forton, supported her daughter’s decision, and as a result of disagreeing with the doctors, lost custody of her daughter.

“It’s her constitutional right – she doesn’t want poison and toxins put in her body. It’s her choice and I support her decision,” Fortin said. (Source.)

According to the Hartford Courant, Cassandra is being home-schooled and is considered a senior, and has been diagnosed with “stage 3/4” Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

After Cassandra had a portion of her lymph node surgically removed at the hospital, mom and daughter left the hospital against medical advice. Fortin said they were going to seek a second opinion in another state – but the CCMC doctors, who are mandated reporters, called DCF and raised an issue of parental medical neglect. DCF went to Superior Court and won custody and permission to proceed with treatment. (Source.)

NBC Connecticut interviewed the mother:

“When you think about what freedom means,” said Taylor (family attorney), “a big part of it means being able to say to the government, ‘You can’t tell me what to do with my own body.’” (Source.)

The case will reportedly go before the Connecticut Supreme Court this coming week. The Supreme Court said that it would rule whether “DCF (is) properly authorized to make medical decisions on (the) child’s behalf, and whether (a) 17-year-old must receive medical treatment against her wishes.”

According to the Hartford Courant, Cassandra was forced physically to comply with doctor’s orders:

Cassandra and her mother initially complied with the court order and the teenager received her first two chemotherapy treatments in November. But Cassandra “subsequently ran away from home to avoid further treatment” the summary states.

When she returned, she continued to refuse the treatment, the summary says.

Fortin said that Cassandra “put up a fight” and had to be strapped down on the hospital bed to have preparatory surgery before the chemotherapy began, and that she has not been permitted to leave the hospital room in about four weeks.

Connecticut Governor Malloy’s telephone number is (860) 566-4840 and his website says your opinion matters to him and that you can email him here.

References

The Hartford Courant

NBC Connecticut

See Also:

The Cancer Industry is Too Prosperous to Allow a Cure

Published on January 3, 2015

Tags: Connecticut, forced chemo, medical kidnap|

48 Comments

Jamie P January 8, 2015 at 9:05 pm - Reply

I guess this is new for cancer patients but for years psychiatric patients have called forced injections medical rape. The only way to put a needle and unwanted “medication” into a person against there will is with coercion and threats or assault and restraints. The same methods used in sexual rape.

Whats interesting too is both medical rapists and sexual rapists will usually blame the victim to justify there barbarism.

There is nothing worse than being assaulted by those you seek help from in times of crisis.

Deborah Lawson January 12, 2015 at 1:34 am - Reply

It’s not lost on me that the states committing these atrocities are liberal states in which the DEMAGOGUE’s that rule won’t be satisfied until no one has any rights what so ever!

Admin January 12, 2015 at 9:06 am - Reply

You could not be more wrong. We have covered more stories of abuse and medical kidnappings in Arizona (highest rate of taking children away from parents and putting into Foster Care) and Texas (largest amount of children being seized by the State of any other U.S. State.) These are both Republican states, and hardly considered liberal. 

IT IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE!!!!

Achsel January 8, 2015 at 4:51 pm - Reply

It may also be true that cancer was never verified in this case but it was a last ditch speculation based on their inability to figure out what was wrong with her.  I saw a long interview with the mother stating they had been testing her daughter for over 6 months, unable to verify what was actually wrong with her and so they decided it must by Hodgkins Lymphoma due to swelling in her neck.  If this was never verified in a labratory and hence their desire for a 2nd opinion, then it makes the imprisonment and torture even more evil and ominous!  Would love to know if this is true?

Reesha Leone January 8, 2015 at 3:46 pm - Reply

Ignorance and arrogance go hand-in-hand.  Government in bed with Big Pharma, ignorant judges don’t know the facts.  Pitiful.  Medical fascism and it has been alive and well for at least 4 decades in America.  This is hardly the first time this has happened.

Victoria January 8, 2015 at 2:30 pm - Reply

Just want to make 2 comments regarding this issue. 3 years ago my dad had colon cancer (one of the most deadly and fast spreading cancers) and opted out of treatment to try some diet related strategies. Within 2 years had a clean bill of health leaving his doctors speechless. 

Wondering if the girl can get married? In most states if you are married you are considered legally emancipated and can make your own medical decisions and decline treatment.

Mike January 6, 2015 at 2:00 pm - Reply

As a cancer survivor, I’m outraged and disgusted with Gov. Malloy and the rest of his incompetent administration for allowing this to happen. No one should be forced to undergo chemotherapy if they choose not to.

Jaque January 6, 2015 at 8:58 am - Reply

Wow, they’re forcing treatment on someone who doesn’t want it, and then how many people die or suffer greatly from lack of basic medical care?  I’d love to know what’s wrong with me, but can’t find anyone who can figure it out, much less force any course of treatment on me. Oh, that’s right, it’s cos I don’t have insurance since I lost my job due to being sick, but am the “wrong demographic” to get any help. But, yeah, let’s force this kid to get treatment she doesn’t want. Heaven forbid anyone (publicly) dies on the government’s watch … my prayers go out to this girl and her family and I hope for her full recovery, however it happens to come about.

Francine LoStocco January 5, 2015 at 11:11 pm - Reply

But the damage is done. She has lost her hair given toxic chemo. The physiological damage to this poor girl is beyond reproach the CT DCF is a joke and one of the most diabolical government agencies going after protective mother who by the way have rights. These case are easy. Yet they don’t go to dangerous places where crack mothers neglect And abuse is warranted. Refusing to put toxic substances into your child is not a crime. Go after people who put toxic drugs into themselves and endanger their children, that is the way it should be. Shame on this person who did this. It is a criminal act the guilty should pay, sue the hell out of the hospital for going ahead with this and not delaying until court is set, sue the doctor who is profiting from this criminal act. They should be made an example of what boundaries and respect of patients rights are. Sue the hell out of DCF for interfering where they do not belong. Parents have the right to choose. I hope this lawyer is up for this and he get justice for this victim of criminal medicine.

Tena January 5, 2015 at 10:40 pm - Reply

I normally do not respond to these stories,  but our government and local governments have no idea what they are doing. They are taking children from parents who would never harm them, and want what’s best for them, but our government now seems to think they know best for every family and child. Unfortunately when children are truly being abused by a parent,  they do absolutely nothing,  and these children then live with the emotional and psychological affects for the rest of their lives.  So the people need to begin to stand up to the government and take back our freedom.  We need to realize that clearly we are losing our freedoms of making our own decisions for ourselves and our children.  If our government would focus on those truly being abused and leave those alone like this poor 17 year old,  maybe there would be less abuse in our world!  I wish this mother and her daughter the best of luck and will wrap them in my prayers!

alysia January 5, 2015 at 10:07 pm - Reply

Legally by 16 the child is of age to make their OWN decisions and they have the right to refuse DCF and medical treatment

Kai January 7, 2015 at 9:45 pm - Reply

alysia, when big pharma is involved and is paying the hospital’s legal bills and contributing big bucks to the hospital’s operations then no one has any rights.  Money talks and any doctor, nurse or lawyer can be bought and made to do anything.  The proof of that is when the med staff strapped Cassandra down because she was resisting them.  Then they cut into her and poisoned her against her will.  All this is in direct violation of the oath to do not harm.  Big pharma doesn’t make any money if they don’t keep people sick and that is what chemo does, it makes you sick.  You constantly see these kidnap cases involving children and the disabled because they are vulnerable and easily snatched.  However, you don’t see wealthy kids being snatched by DCF and I doubt you will ever meet a financially poor doctor.  Cassandra’s case is important and big pharma will foot the doctor’s/hospital lawyer bill to do what it can to make sure the medical industry can kidnap and experiment on as many kids, of any age, as it can to keep up that profit margin.

j'booster January 5, 2015 at 9:22 pm - Reply
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They need to get to Mexico FAST.
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jason January 5, 2015 at 3:39 pm - Reply

If I’m old enough to join the military at 17 can be trialed as an adult at 12, I do believe this young lady has the right to choose her treatment. It’s only her body… I may not be the smartest person out there. But this seems pretty straight forward and one of the worse things for cancer is stress. And I don’t just thinking that the situation the system is putting her is pretty stressful

Pat garris January 5, 2015 at 2:56 pm - Reply

CDs needs to focus on healthy alternatives and not strapping a kid down and forcing her to a treatment that is toxic. She seems to have made a sound decision and is being punished for it. 

Shouldn’t dcs focus on the kids really being abused and not on a case such as this.

Achsel January 5, 2015 at 2:40 pm - Reply

Actually in many cases, even though the state takes custody of the child/ren if the parents have insurance, they will utilize that first.  In fact I believe there is a case ongoing in Arizona that accused a mother of Munchausen by Proxy, stated there was nothing wrong with her child but they wracked up $100,000.00 in medical bills after removal treating this “perfectly healthy child.”  Isn’t that the ultimate insult, stealing your child from you, treating them against your will and then hand you the bill for their abuse.

Lona Smith January 5, 2015 at 11:26 am - Reply

The only reason this keeps happening, in relationship to cancer treatments, is because big pharmaceutical companies do NOT want you to know that you can live with cancer for a long time,  that you can treat it holistically and possibly even CURE IT.  They make no money this way.   Doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies–they are not there to create cures.  They are there to create CUSTOMERS.  They NEED your repeat business to survive.  Any time someone refuses chemo, they are considered suicidal and not in control of their faculties.  The best option is always to seek several second opinions from several doctors while still in the hospital or still “planning and discussing treatment options”  with the oncology team.  This shows you to be actively pursuing treatment, even if you eventually choose other treatment options.  It’s ridiculous that the government will police this but will not do anything to stop  serious abuse of children.

Jay January 5, 2015 at 10:20 pm - Reply

It’s because the government is a business too.  It’s out to make $$$.  Since pharmaceutical companies trump all other industries, government works with them to make money off of them. Restricting them and treatments (good or bad) that they offer would be a huge chunk of income lost by the government. It’s all about power & money, not the people, morals or ethics.

eidi January 5, 2015 at 7:53 am - Reply

Dc thinks they are god.i feel if my 17 year old felt the same way I let her make her own decision.i would try to see other opinions to and make sure I asked my daughter and the doctors the best way to go forward from here.i feel this 17 tear old girl should be able to make her own decisions and how dc went forward doing what they did is unexceptable.dcf are liars and they make up whatever they can to make the parents bad people.most dc workers don’t even have kids so they don’t know nothing and they need to think of all the workers from dc have done to the kids in the world and how they get away with the stuff and abuse they do.dcf makes me sick

Terry Ganon January 5, 2015 at 6:53 am - Reply

I was diagnosed with stage 3/4 Non-Hodgkins lymphoma 8 years ago. When I was diagnosed they told me I would have 5 years to live without treatment 8 years if I took treatment. I decided those were not good odds, that my best bet was to just do everything I could to live a healthy life without chemo–prayer, diet and exercise. Today I still have “cancer” but I am healthy and not dead unlike many other people I know who were diagnosed around the same time I was. Most took treatment and are dead from the affects of the chemo. Doctors can’t tell you to go home and be healthy. They don’t make any money that way and if it doesn’t work patients will sue. Cancer patients of all ages must have a right to choose how they want to spend the time they have left.

Helen January 5, 2015 at 6:19 am - Reply

It is legal for a 10 year old to get birth control including an abortion without the consent or knowledge of her parents in most states. But a 17 year old isn’t allowed to reject poison (chemotherapy) but instead is being held as a prisoner, strapped to her hospital bed and injected with poison and this treatment is legal????  If the military did that to Guantanamo captives, what would the folks think of that?  
This is so wrong!!!

alishatrahms January 4, 2015 at 10:42 pm - Reply

This is infuriating to me. I am 19 and married, and this last summer I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and made the same choice of refusing treatment because of the negative effects it would have on my immune system and my quality of life. Thankfully in Portland people are quite supportive of natural treatment options…but it is scary to think that if my younger sister or brother (17 and 18) were in the same scenario, that this could happen to them. I am living in China with my husband right now, and it is sad to think that I must disagree with Chinese people when they talk about how wonderfully free America is…we have more freedom living here than we did while living in the U.S..

A January 4, 2015 at 5:31 pm - Reply

Recently a transgendered teen who was not accepted committed suicide in hopes to awaken society. Now when a parent makes the decision to support her child’s wishes she is seen as unfit. This seventeen year old young woman has every right to rule out her own personal decision when it comes to her body. Cancer kills, chemo may buy time in exchange for manipulation to ones daily functioning. Perhaps she is interested in alternative treatment or at stage 3/4 maybe she merely wants to enjoy memories with loved ones. Whatever her thoughts are, the decisions on her body are her own right. Chemotherapy is against her will and vicious treatment. Who is concerned about her emotional and mental state in separating child from parent in a crisis. If the chemo does more damage than good, who is responsible? This young woman is taking a risk but the outcome is for her own psyche, her healing and her journey.

Gaian January 5, 2015 at 8:02 pm - Reply

There is no comparison between Cassandra and the homosexual boy, Joshua Alcorn, who wanted to mutilate his body so he would look pretty in a dress.  His parents refused to fund such nonsense and the boy exercises his selfishness to the end when he stepped in front of a big truck, leaving the truck driver in anguish for the rest of his life because he could not avoid hitting the boy. Cassandra’s case is very different.  She has been abducted and is being tortured.  I wish this site would start posting the names of all the officials and medical charlatans that are involved in this atrocity so that other won’t fall prey to them.

Admin January 5, 2015 at 8:51 pm - Reply

We don’t have that information. This is not a story we reported, but local mainstream media reported.

chris seekins January 5, 2015 at 10:55 pm - Reply

Another major issue I have is that it will be up to supreme court justices, none of who I am to impressed with, to decide wether some thing is medically appropriate.  I should not have to remind them, though will just in case, all states in the United States have agreed to respect the Uniform Commercial Code as their authority in which to base statutes on.  1-103.6 of the UCC states statutory jurisdiction must be construed in harmony with common law jurisdiction reserving rights and remedy their of.  Common law is basically, no harm, no foul.  In this case their is obvious harm to Miss Cassandra.  With out showing she is hurting some one there is no authority to order she can be hurt.  Its like a bunch of children running around with degrees from schools who accept more money from the pharmaceutical companies then from the students.  This is unfortunately whom capitalism tells us who to cater to right or wrong as the justices can tell you.  People wanted to be heroes saying the law is their god and ignoring the pain they are causing.  Thats great for tv entertainment though how do they expect to ever feel love?  There is always hope though its unfortunate when it is stalled by situations that do not have to be our reality.

Wow! January 4, 2015 at 3:52 pm - Reply

I have never responded to a post like this before… But this has to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read!!! I also understand that No one  knows the history of this Family… However we are all responding to what the media is Divulging… 

A 17 1/2-year-old young lady has every right to choose what she puts in her body. If she was smoking marijuana or doing any other illegal drug or had mental health treatment and her mother refused to get her services nothing would be done… And if something was done and she refused to continue with care nothing would be done.

The state Department of Children and Families and courts do barely interject when children are abused,  neglected,  assaulted and are regularly returned to incompetent parents/homes. Children who are felons,  addicted to drugs and involved in crimes are maintained in communities with minimal to no support. They are hooked up with outside agencies that provide (12) hours of family therapy a week…  For (six) months? These children and young adolescents continue to manipulate the system and the recidivism rate continues!! There is no accountability and consequences when they do not comply. Children continue to become felons and are taught that doing the wrong thing is okay. Nobody puts them in a room and leaves them there for four weeks. 

This young lady is refusing care and is placed in a room for four weeks against her will? What is she or her mother doing wrong? There are many children committed to DCF who run away and refused to reenter care at 17 years old… Who forces them to a hospital for four weeks? Or anywhere for that matter?? 

The Governor,  the Commissioners and every other person in upper legislation has no idea what the real people who work on these cases and work with these families do every day. We are taking this runaway away from her family who has been there since day one… And willing to provide love and care and maybe not comply with the directives of a doctor- yet we maintain in the home felons and abused children to crack addicted parents and neglectful families with hope and prayer that nothing happens to them day to day. That the in-home services are enough to support the family to stay intact/alive! 

 Runaways from DCF are not found…  And when they are, they typically placed back with the homes They ran from! No congregant care facilities are available… But again we have facilities for a young lady with cancer who is refusing treatment? How about the young (ladies) in the care of the state who are refusing treatment for their mental health/substance abuse/ sexual abuse/ trauma???

This family’s primary issue should be seeking the appropriate medical treatment for this young lady… 
We have resources available and if people choose to access them, that is their business. What is wrong with a second opinion? 

Who are we to judge? Let this daughter and mother figure things out. I wish this family the best on their journey!

Tony January 4, 2015 at 3:05 pm - Reply

This is crazy. I read now almost every day about medical kidnaping in the USA. What is going on there??

Terry January 4, 2015 at 2:07 pm - Reply

My husband took the treatments and died. I won’t take it, I might die trying to cure myself if that happens but I am sure it will be a much better way to die. The chemo doctor told him he would die anyway on our first visit to him,,, did he try to tell us something? Would he take his own medicine? I doubt it.

Chris January 4, 2015 at 1:58 pm - Reply

Who cares who’s funding it?  This person has a right to stay free of poison.  There have been many studies that link Lymphoma to mycobacteria and mycoplasma.  In order to combat it the person needs to promote microbial colonies which chemo destroys.  No preservatives, baking soda water, no meat or dairy proteins and keep away from sugar and especially soda.  The poor child on so many levels.  Stress has been shown many times to excel cancer growths.  She needs a high pH and organic raw diet.

Desiree Monteverdi January 4, 2015 at 1:31 pm - Reply

It’s unconstitutional. She has the right to make that choice. I agree with her.. Nobody should be held against their will and be forced to intoxicate their body.. To be ridden with poisons… She has that right as an American… It’s in her constitutional rights!!! Last I knew they do exist… Although the government seems to have forgotten this….

Pat Dillon January 4, 2015 at 1:13 pm - Reply

Chemo KILLS. I lost family members faster due to chemo poison.  All if them had significantly diminished quality of life which made them pray for death vs celebrating life.

sisterorbit January 4, 2015 at 1:05 pm - Reply

Done….

Governer Malloy,

Parents and adult children should have the right to decide what medical treatment they do and don’t receive. As a Master’s prepared nurse (Public Health Nursing), I have done extensive research into the fallacy of our “health” care system. I do not vaccine my children as the research informs that the vaccination program causes more harm to the public than good. I would not undergo chemotherapy as a treatment for cancer, research shows that it is not effective and that there are other more effective and natural methods of healing from cancer (Gerson Therapy, for instance). Do not allow the state to dictate what Cassandra Forton (or any other citizen of this country) does to manage their personal health.

Sincerely,
C S, RN MS

Jacqueline baxter January 4, 2015 at 12:03 pm - Reply

The federal government can UNCONSTITUTIONALLY force us to carry insurance but as of right now they can not FORCE US TO USE IT.  I am a lung cancer survivor and so thankful i was diagnosed before obamacare was implemented because my decision to receive treatment might have changed. For now we still have the right to refuse medical treatment. my treatment was close to 1/2 a million $. i only received 6 rounds of chemo and 33 radiation treatments. If in had it to do over again would I do it? I’m not sure!  There is a cure for cancer but cancer treatment is much more profitable than cancer cure! it all comes down to the benjamins doesn’t it! I’m sure my oncology doc doesn’t live in a 2 bdrm apt! and neither does my radiation doc! they take nice big expensive vacations and enjoy life to the fullest on the dime of cancer victims! This girl doesn’t want treatment DONT FORCE HER TO TAKE IT! Give her back to her mother and LEAVE THEM ALONE! This is STILL AMERICA FOR NOW!

Pat Fondrin January 4, 2015 at 11:43 am - Reply

Government needs to step aside and stay out of personal decisions. In this case, they are just bending the laws to their whim to control another human being without real concern for the welfare of the individual. It’s disgusting!

Lannette Poole January 4, 2015 at 11:41 am - Reply

My grandma had the same kind of cancer I would much rather have seen her not go through chemo therapy and lived life and let it take its course she is old enough to know the things she will be saying no to at 17 years old that breaks my heart a mother who has been there for 17 years is now being told pretty much she is not doing her job she knows her daughter better then anyone and if they came to the choice that she doesn’t want to have the chemotherapy then they should have not gotten involved stressing her out when she should have lived freely it breaks my heart

Francine LoStocco January 4, 2015 at 11:09 am - Reply

If this girl is permanently damaged by chemo, or suffers a brain injury from anesthesia, and the chemo destroys her quality of life, does the state give her back to her mother do deal with the damage. This is so wrong.

From the land of Liberty and not freedom January 4, 2015 at 2:19 pm - Reply

They will bill her for everything, auction off their belonging to pay for it, this happens in Minnesota all the time and if she is maimed this is just future business, what a great business model.

Mike Parent January 4, 2015 at 10:29 am - Reply

But a 17 yr old can be sent into combat.

DIANE GROOM January 4, 2015 at 5:49 pm - Reply

YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!! I’M ASHAMED OF THIS COUNTRY. FIGHTING OTHER COUNTRIES INSTEAD OF TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE HERE.

Christine Fournier January 4, 2015 at 9:55 am - Reply

This is unjust unconstitutional and wrong on so many levels.  All patients should have the right to refuse medical intervention and should the right toa second opinion. The medical health care corporation can’t make money from healing people. They make money off of appointments treatments and medications. If they healed what ails us,  they wouldn’t be so rich.

Tami Lee January 4, 2015 at 9:36 am - Reply

If we stand by ANd let them force even one of us to be kidnapped -tied up and forced to have radiation and chemicals shot into us against our will– then they can do it to ALL  of us — ESPECIALLY IF THE SUPREME COURT RULES IT..
 This sets a precedent that the government can do whatever they want to us. Right now it’s just about one child with cancer- but if they win– they can snatch us and our children from our homes and force anything they want on us in the name of medicine. 
   I am encouraging people to stand up against this

Achsel January 8, 2015 at 4:46 pm - Reply

Tami Lee, you are correct that everyone needs to become active in this issue before it is happening to someone they love, but this is not one child or even a few isolated incidents.  This is widespread and there are hundreds if not thousands of cases in every state in the U.S. and in other so-called first world countries.  Parents asking for 2nd opinions, children with rare disorders whose parents refuse to enter them into studies where they will either get an experimental drug or none at all as the placebo group, either one that could kill them, so doctors turn them into CPS and voila, the child is taken and entered into the studies.  Children with Autism stolen from their loving families because they get extra money for kids with disabilities, especially if they can sever parental rights and adopt them out.
In the 1980s the government started offering huge bonuses to agencies to adopt out kids who had been languishing in the system.  Unfortunately, once they realized the lucrative bonuses assured their jobs and growth they went crazy, finding new ways to take children and hasten the severing of parental rights.  Now to get the bonuses they have to adopt out more kids than they did the previous year.  The line-graph is astonishing when you see the increases of children taken into custody in every state in the U.S. 67% of all children removed are not for abuse or neglect, but “other” issues such as housing/shelter issues, poverty, medical disputes, educational disputes, and more.  Very subjective criteria, no evidence or investigation required and no guarantees of any rights to the parents.  They can remove your children, sever your parental rights and adopt your kids out to someone else and you may never see the inside of a courtroom or ever be accused of anything, all done in secrecy, rubber-stamped by a judge, and silenced by gag orders and secrecy in the name of “privacy of the child” and “in the best interest of the child” which is turning out to be anything CPS wants to make up as a reason.  
Mandatory reporters like medical and educational workers are becoming voluntary reporters if it can be used to “shut up” a demanding or difficult parents holding their feet to the legal fires.  
It is far worse than you can even imagine.

lisa todd January 4, 2015 at 9:20 am - Reply

Well I feel that you should be able to make your on choices science they say at 17 you’re considered  an adult.and as an adult you should be able to make your own choices. And that includes getting your tubes tied.the government has to support alot of kids  any way. So this young lady should be able to make her own choices cancer  is a horrible way to die.

Brooke Cochran January 4, 2015 at 9:10 am - Reply

I believe this young lady has the right to decline treatment if she chooses to. Not only are they forcing her to take chemotherapy they also take her from a fit mother? Why not focus on the children in your state who are being abused as you read this and get them to safety.

B Gilmore January 4, 2015 at 6:32 am - Reply

With all the folks out there WANTING chemo but cant afford it…who pays when something like this happens? We all have a right to our own health choices, they should never be forced by the government or others, expecially ones who only have a financial stake in the outcome. At 17, this young woman would no longer be considered a child under most circumstances. She is old enough to move out of home to go to uni, old enough to drive, old enough to vote, and old enough to serve in the armed forces. She is certainly old enough to decline chemotherpy.

Admin January 4, 2015 at 7:09 am - Reply

Sadly, once a minor is a ward of the state all medical expenses are paid by Medicaid. So we the taxpayers are funding it. We don’t get a choice either….

Anon January 4, 2015 at 1:48 pm - Reply

You can be sure that there is a team of lawyers presenting this case to the court.  They are practicing fraud against the court, but the court is likely complicit, since they are known lawyers.  The judge will rule in their favor, then fraud will be committed against Medicare/Medicaid.  It’s all about the money, not freedom, care, or justice.