Can Connecticut force a teenage girl to undergo chemotherapy?
Can Connecticut force a teenage girl to undergo chemotherapy?
Update at 3:05 ET: The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday afternoon that the state can require Cassandra to continue treatment. The girl, named Cassandra, is now in the custody of child welfare authorities and is being forced to undergo cancer treatment.
What happens if someone refuses chemotherapy?
Studies have reported rates of less than 1% for patients who refused all conventional treatment [4] and 3%–19% for patients who refused chemotherapy partially or completely [5–9]. We tend to think that refusing therapy leads to a poorer quality of life as the disease progresses without treatment.
Is Cassandra C still alive?
Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. HARTFORD, Conn. — Cassandra Callender, who was forced by Connecticut courts as a teenager to undergo chemotherapy for cancer, has died after a five-year battle with the disease, her mother said Thursday. She was 22.
Can a teenager refuse chemotherapy?
“Basically, anyone under age 18 doesn’t, on their own, have the ability to make those decisions,” said Slaten. “Just like they can’t enter into a contract, they can’t decline medical treatment on their own.” A problem would occur in a case when parents want to take heroic measures, but the child doesn’t want that.
What is the point of palliative chemotherapy?
Palliative treatment is designed to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life. It can be used at any stage of an illness if there are troubling symptoms, such as pain or sickness.
Can a 16 year old refuse to take medication?
Refusing Medication to Exert Independence Teens and young adults in most states have a legal right to refuse treatment, however parents also have a right to insist that their children accept necessary medical attention.
Can a teenager refuse treatment?
A mature minor is an adolescent younger than the age of majority. Such a minor can consent or refuse to consent to medical treatment if it is established that the minor is sufficiently mature to understand, discern and appreciate the benefits and risks of the proposed medical treatment.
Can a medical facility refuse treatment?
A hospital cannot deny you treatment because of your age, sex, religious affiliation, and certain other characteristics. You should always seek medical attention if and when you need it. In some instances, hospitals can be held liable for injuries or deaths that result from refusing to admit or treat a patient.
Can a 17-year-old refuse chemotherapy?
A 17-year-old girl, listed in court papers only as Cassandra C., is in protective custody at a Connecticut hospital where she is being forced to undergo chemotherapy treatment that she says she does not want. Americans strongly value the right to refuse medical care.
Can a minor refuse medical treatment?
In the latter example, the minor’s justifi cation for refusing treatment should, at a minimum, be considered by the parents and the medical team. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends physicians obtain a mature minor’s assent prior to treatment.
Does the state of Connecticut do anything for cancer patients?
The state of Connecticut does not. Neither do I. Find her a doc, social worker or counselor with whom she can bond and trust, who can guide her through the hell of chemo. Indeed, Cassandra is close to being an adult but not quite there. She is also a teenager — a group not known for always making the best judgments.
Can a 16 year old refuse treatment for leukemia?
The 16 year old, having battled leukemia for her entire life, may possess adequate understanding of the treatment options and be able to understand the nature of her decision. In the latter example, the minor’s justifi cation for refusing treatment should, at a minimum, be considered by the parents and the medical team.
