A state court judge has ordered that a teenager be evaluated and if possible, conventionally treated, for his cancer, even though both he and his family oppose such treatment, preferring alternative medicine as a route, since they even don't think he's ill. Judge John Rodenberg found that Daniel Hauser's parents had "medically neglected" him and told them to get him to a hospital for X-rays to see if chemotherapy could still help him, or if his cancer had grown to a point that chemo would be useless.
This case is yet another one of those very sad ones in which a loving family with one view of what is best for its child seems to be pitted against the state and health care specialists, equally devoted to the child, with another view of what is best. The family puts its faith, and in what it holds dearest--the health and welfare of a child--in the approach that conventional medicine considers has not been shown to have much efficacy if not combined with traditional medical techniques. In the Hauser case that approach is "herbal supplements, vitamins, ionized water, and other natural alternatives" as well as prayer--the Hausers are Roman Catholics. I'm not entirely sure why the family chose this type of treatment for Daniel, though. He did try one course of chemotherapy, before rejecting it. He told the judge it made him so ill he "couldn't walk" and he would resist the health care providers physically if they tried to treat him again. Apparently, they believe him. Daniel's physician said he wasn't sure how he would administer the chemo if he found it would still help him. However, the family now claims it chose the alternative medicine route because of its faith. But if the Hausers don't even think he's sick, why are they treating him? Are they hoping that the one course of chemo he did have is keeping his cancer at bay? Do they think that the alternative medicines they are giving him are harmless, so that they are at least doing no harm, if they are doing him no good?
In most, if not all of these cases, the parties discuss and argue. The patient's condition's is likely to deteriorate. What these patients do not have is time. What is particularly sad about Daniel Hauser's case is that his cancer is Hodkin's lymphoma--which is highly curable if caught early and treated as recommended. Chemotherapy is unpleasant, no question, and it can have side effects. But it saves lives. There are also treatment options. (See also the National Cancer Institute page).
Ana Veciana-Suarez weighs in in an opinion column from the Miami-Herald here.
Update: Mrs. Hauser and her son have failed to show for a court hearing today; the judge has issued a bench warrant for her arrest.
Comments