Parents Who Favor ‘Alternative Medicine’ Ordered to Get Chemo for Cancer-Ridden Teen; Did Judge Deliver a Blow for Families’ Rights?

The parents of a 13-year-old Minnesota boy with a deadly form of cancer who wanted to use “alternative medicine” to treat their son have been ordered by a judge to seek chemotherapy and other traditional medical care for the teen.

The parents, Anthony and Colleen Hauser of Sleepy Eye, Minn., had refused such treatment for their son, Daniel, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Daniel had been undergoing chemotherapy until February 2009, when his parents stopped the treatments, citing the family’s religious beliefs, officials said.

The Hausers reportedly had favored using alternative medical care in keeping with the teaching of the Nemenhah Band, a Missouri-based religious group that abides by natural healing methods advocated by some American Indians. Medical treatments followed by the group members include diet choices, visits to sweat lodges, and other natural remedies.

In a lengthy ruling issued today, Brown County (Minnesota) District Judge John Rodenberg found that Daniel had been “medically neglected” by his parents and should be cared for by the state’s child protective services. However, for now Daniel will remain in the custody of his parents, who have until May 19 to get the boy an updated chest X-ray and pick an oncologist for further treatment, the judge ordered.

Slim Chances of Survival Without Conventional Treatments

Daniel’s doctors he has a 90-percent chance of being cured of the cancer with chemotherapy and radiation treatment. However, without those conventional cancer treatments, Daniel’s chances of survival are just five percent, doctors have said.

Colleen Hauser recently testified in her son’s case that Daniel has refused to undergo chemotherapy treatments. The mother told the court that “My son is not in any medical danger at this point,” according to published reports.

To the contrary, the judge said in his ruling “The fact is that he is very ill currently.”

The Hausers have eight children, including Daniel. Colleen Hauser recently vowed that she would refuse to comply with a court order to seek traditional cancer treatments for her son. She has not yet issued a public reaction to the judge’s order.

Families Rights Infringed?

Philip Elbert, Daniel’s court-appointed attorney, called the judge’s order to seek chemotherapy and other traditional cancer treatments “a blow to families.”

“It marginalizes the decisions that parents face every day in regard to their children’s medical care,” Elbert said Friday after the court’s order. “It really affirms the role that big government is better at making our decisions for us.”

Balancing the interests of medical science and religious beliefs in Daniel’s case is precarious and full of ethical, scientific, and religious concerns. The Hausers certainly must believe that they have their son’s best interests in mind and that he can be cured with alternative medicine.

The question is, how reasonable is that belief? Should society allow a child to suffer and die rather than undergo chemotherapy and other treatments, which have been proven to dramatically improve his chances of survival? On the other hand, the right of parents to decide how their children will be cared for is an essential liberty not to be taken lightly.

This case has struck and emotional nerve with many Americans, and for good reason. It directly challenges our nation’s deeply held beliefs in medicine, science, and God. There are no easy answers in the case of Daniel or other children in similar situations. We hope a reasonable outcome can be reached in the case to ensure that Daniel lives free of suffering and pain.

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