http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/09/cancer.battle.ap/index.html
Why can't they do this to the Jehovah's Witnesses who let their husbands, wives, mothers, fathers and children die because they refuse blood transfusions? Or from the Christian Scientists who let everyone die because doctors are the devil?

They could. Except "objecting to medical treatment for religous reasons" is exempt from the child neglect laws (or some similar reasoning).

This story hits too close to home.

I tried to stay out of this. I had the same thing she has. I saw her on tv. She says she is gaining weight. My doctors told me that as long as I can gain weight the cancer is not active.

I am glad that I was old enough to tell the doctors to stick it when I had enough of them playing games. They even tried to get my company to make me take more or lose my job. If you want to know if you need any kind of treatment just ask the people who make money from doing it. You know they would not lie about it just for money. Just think about how it would feel to have the cops pick you up and have that done to you. Her parents are not stupid. Her dad has a degree and seems to be doing quite well. When I saw him on tv he was feeding his cattle on a ranch. Next thing ya know the gov. will start a spay& neuter program for people who disagree with them.

This government is getting way too powerful.

When the government can just come and pick up ur kids anytime they want bcuz they don't agree with u as parents we r n deep poop.They came and got my sisters grand kids bcuz she gave one of them 2 whacks on the bottom with an open hand for getting n trouble at school.She was sitting n a desk cahir and he was fighting her and scratched his neck so she is n trouble for child abuse.Just a little red scratch.But, what would b the greater abuse let them grow up without any discipline,or a few whacks on the butt.
Now this little girl with the cancer, this should b her discision,she should have all the facts ands b able to decided what she wants to do.She is the one going through it.
The parents r going to blame their selves either way.If she dies they r going to think we should have talked her into taking the treatments.(but the treatments also kill)
And if she takes them and she dies they r going to think they wished they had talked her out of it.
But, when the government starts deciding for us, do u really think they care about us or our kids?

While I don't think the state should have the right to seize someone and force treatment, this article clearly states its not about religious rights. I don't understand the Jehovah Witness reference in the opening of this thread. It clearly states its not about religion.

Religious rights or not, when the government starts infringing upon ANY of our rights to make a decision then why would religion matter? If the state is so truely concerned about the welfare of a child then some of these crazy religious beliefs shouldn't get in the way. Logically speaking, of course.
Why should the state honor and sanctify a religious belief but not a family's moral belief?

The JWs and Christian Scientists are WELL KNOWN for allowing children and loved ones to die by not giving them the medical treatment they need. But this is ok. It's OK to let a 9 year old girl bleed to death instead of giving her a blood transfusion because it's their "religious belief".

But when you get a 13 year old girl who is saying herself "I DONT WANT THIS TREATMENT BECAUSE I DON'T NEED IT" and the family is supporting her right to have a say in her own life...well that's just wrong. If the state can step in and abduct a child and force medical treatments on her then they need to do it in all cases. Why trample on a family's right to decide but not trample on a religious right?

In the case of the cancer patient and her parents they were not refusing treatment,they accepted the treatment they wanted, and declined what they didnt want.
In a case with religion they don't give the child the right to treatment.And thats is just wrong however u look at it.So yes in those cases the state should step in.

The states seem to be so quick in removing any semblance of religion from any public place so as not to "offend" those who don't share the same beliefs. Yet they want to honor a person's right to religion and let them kill their children through inaction.

Yet, a family is saying, "We want this but we don't want that. We don't see the need for that treatment," and they get their child kidnapped. And I'm calling it exactly what it is. It's an abduction and a kidnapping. The government is holding the child hostage and the ransom price is whatever the medical treatment costs. I wonder how much cut of the treatment costs that the government gets.

The famous" do as I say not as I do" crap !
I thought we had free will , but when our government steps in and tells us otherwize , we are in deep doo doo...........
I smell the starting of United States of Socialist Republics
do a search on it

After watching my dad go through the horrors of chemo and radiation and still pass away. I don't wish these treatments forced on anyone. He would have had a better quality of life without it.

Anyhow, I think that something isn't being reported in this story. Normally a state won't incur the expense for something like this. Nor the legal hassle. Do you realize how many sick children that are not receiving treatment there must be in the state of Texas? Let alone the children who need treatment but their parents can't afford it (uninsured)

Alot of times I see stuff reported by the media when I know thats not how it happened. I just shake my head and laugh.Its like Hey thats not how it happened. They do it all the time. Regardless of the official police report. Its a media spin to gain attention to the news. Usually these slanted stories appear on slow news days.

It would be interesting to have all the facts, but I doubt that will happen. Having all the facts would not be newsworthy.Nor would it insite bad feelings.

To clarify a couple of possible reasons the state took this action:
Maybe the girl said one thing to the doctors and another to her parents.
Maybe a relative (grandmother, aunt,etc.) got involved.
Who knows. The news didn't report the why. Anyone that is concerned should address these issues with the law makers by letter or by not voting them in again if they don't agree with how they handled it. (WHICH I DON'T AGREE WITH)The state should stay out of these affairs IMO. But without knowing all the facts its hard to say. The news is notorious for leaving things out or outright falsifying for sensationalism. But to turn something like this into a personal rant about a religion one doesn't agree with or has personal issues with, does nothing to deal with the issue at hand.

I'm more interested in the Why, and how to stop this sort of state intrusion.

I just reread the article and the why is posted.
Anonymous tips of neglect. That answers part of it. But who was the tipster and why didn't they investigate before grabbing the child. Or Did they?

Whoever the tipster was, if the parents ever find them out I'm sure they will be sued into oblivion.

I think they are making a big deal out of this case because the state didn't get their way with the Terry Schiavo case. They lost their fight on an adult's decision to end their life so now they want to regain their feeling of having control over the people by trying to force treatment on a child.

Funny, now the parents have changed their minds and are going with the treatments. They say they have been shown proof that the cancer has returned and now believe it. Fishy.

Yes that is true. Or maybe it is like the big stink in Florida about Terri Schiavo. All politics. Our president came from there. And we know him and his crew will butt in on a family decision to keep a few of his loony friends happy. People like Tom DeLay, who just happens to be from Texas. And needs to get the heat off his butt.

They can make up proof that a man needs a hysterectomy if they need it. I think it is so they can get their kids back from the nasty bastards.

That is my opinion!

We have a little boy here that has that cancer , and they cant afford the treatment( parents just layed off from the Boeing buy out ) , as we have little containers for donations ,and fliers telling of the donation fund that our community bank set up . Where is the government now ? If they want to help , there are plenty of people to help with out all the cloak and dagger [Bad Word!] !
We have let our government get out of hand and now we are in trouble big time !

Don't you know by now Spray,the people that want and need help never get it. Wouldn't make the news.So sad.

The government will only force treatment on those that could afford it but choose not to have it.

And they don't even try to hide what they do anymore.

Or shot!