Texas Girl with Cancer Taken from Parents

[Oceanbreeze]

I'm usually pro medical establishment, but this really makes me angry! In my opinion, parents have the right to decide the best and most appropriate treatment for their children.

What are your thoughts?

Mods: I wasn't sure if this belonged under the health forum or not. Please move, if appropriate. Thank you.

Texas Girl With Cancer Taken From Parents

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (June 10) - Child welfare officials seized a 12-year-old cancer patient from her parents, saying they were blocking radiation treatment that doctors say she needs.

During a court hearing Wednesday, Michele and Edward Wernecke asked that doctors be barred from giving radiation therapy to their daughter Katie until a hearing next week to determine whether she will stay in state custody.

They say their daughter's cancer is in remission and they object to her getting the radiation treatment after undergoing a round of chemotherapy. Katie has Hodgkin's disease, a type of cancer involving the lymph nodes.

Juvenile court Judge Carl Lewis said he would rule on the request Friday.

Last week, authorities issued an Amber Alert to gain temporary custody of Katie after receiving an anonymous tip about possible neglect. She was found with her mother at a family ranch, about 80 miles west of Corpus Christi near Freer, on Saturday.

She remains at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is undergoing tests, officials said. State Child Protective Services says her life could be in danger without further cancer treatment.

Michele Wernecke was arrested on charges of interfering with child custody and was released Monday after posting $50,000 bond.

The Werneckes' three sons were placed in a foster home.

Speaking Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Michele Wernecke said her daughter's illness is unique and should be treated as such.

"I think they should treat her for what her body calls for and not standard protocol. Nobody will look at that," she said. "Not every cancer is the same. Nobody understands that. Her body is not standard, and her cancer is not standard."

The couple, members of the Church of God, have said they oppose blood transfusions unless they were from Katie's mother. But the couple's attorney, Daniel Horne, said religion wasn't at issue in the fight over cancer treatment.

Rather, they believe doctors haven't been upfront about Katie's care and have not answered all their questions about the side effects of the radiation.

"This issue is about parental rights, not about religious rights," Horne said. "They just want to be informed of her treatment. They want to be involved in this."

Katie was diagnosed with cancer in January. In a videotaped statement recorded by her parents, Katie said she's feeling better.

"I don't need radiation treatment. And nobody asked me what I wanted. It's my body," she said.

Officials on Wednesday reached an agreement to let Edward Wernecke and the couple's sons visit Katie on Friday, the day before her 13th birthday.


06/10/05 06:43 EDT

 

[WBHarley]

mixes feeling from me..

but from what I went thru with my son.. I am thankful I made a right decision for his treatment to get better... He goes in for follow up on June 22nd to make sure he is still cancerfree.

Wendy

 

[Oceanbreeze]

mixes feeling from me..

but from what I went thru with my son.. I am thankful I made a right decision for his treatment to get better... He goes in for follow up on June 22nd to make sure he is still cancerfree.

Wendy

I hear you, Wendy. My best wishes for your family!

 

[Vance]

That's what I warned some parents about it. I wouldn't be surprised if someday governments will take our parental rights away by mandatory drugs & treatments in the future to satisfy the drug companies and their greed, er... I mean, profits. It's just a matter of time.

Of course, my opinion is: governments are wrong to do that. They should know better that radiation therapy is, by far, worse than anything else. According to several medical jouranls & books, it is like... radiation therapy 'kills' or destroys 100,000 healthy cells to get in order to 'kill' or destroy one cancer cell. 100,000 healthy cells = 1 cancer cell. Think about it. That's why many patients become so sick, so weak and so pale right after radiation therapy. In many medical opinions, radiation therapy is quite dangerous and useless. There are natural or healthy methods to get heal from cancer conditions.

The couple, members of the Church of God, have said they oppose blood transfusions unless they were from Katie's mother. But the couple's attorney, Daniel Horne, said religion wasn't at issue in the fight over cancer treatment.

"This issue is about parental rights, not about religious rights," Horne said. "They just want to be informed of her treatment. They want to be involved in this."

More reason why I support the Separation of State and Church. Religion should be always stay out of politics (parental rights) no matter what.

"I don't need radiation treatment. And nobody asked me what I wanted. It's my body," she said.

She is fuckin' right about that issue.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

That's what I warned some parents about it. I wouldn't be surprised if someday governments will take our parental rights away by mandatory drugs & treatments in the future to satisfy the drug companies and their greed, er... I mean, profits. It's just a matter of time.

Of course, my opinion is: governments are wrong to do that. They should know better that radiation therapy is, by far, worse than anything else. According to several medical jouranls & books, it is like... radiation therapy 'kills' or destroys 100,000 healthy cells to get in order to 'kill' or destroy one cancer cell. 100,000 healthy cells = 1 cancer cell. Think about it. That's why many patients become so sick, so weak and so pale right after radiation therapy. In many medical opinions, radiation therapy is quite dangerous and useless. There are natural or healthy methods to get heal from cancer conditions.More reason why I support the Separation of State and Church. Religious should be always stay out of politics (parental rights) no matter what.She is fuckin' right about that issue.

I agree with you. The State of Texas doesn't have the right to step in like this. As I understand it, the parents aren't refusing to treat her. They just want to get more opinions before they decide to go ahead with the radiation therapy. To me, this is reasonable. I agree with the parents position that not every cancer is "standard", and no two people react to treatment or their illness in the same way.

I'm behind the parents on this 100%!

 

[Vance]

I agree with you. The State of Texas doesn't have the right to step in like this. As I understand it, the parents aren't refusing to treat her. They just want to get more opinions before they decide to go ahead with the radiation therapy. To me, this is reasonable. I agree with the parents position that not every cancer is "standard", and no two people react to treatment or their illness in the same way.

I'm behind the parents on this 100%!

Ditto!

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Ditto!

yup. And, I also agree with what the little girl said as well. It's HER body. She's 12 yrs old. She's old enough to state how she feels, and I think that should be respected as well.

This whole thing just really burns my butt!

Edit:

:fu2: Texan authorites!

 

[Eve]

I was with ya until your last statement ("fuck texas"). That was uncalled for. I can assure you that not all Texans are supporting this. IMO they should do testing to see whether or not the girl is actually in remission or not. If she is found to be cancer-free then they should respect her wishes and not force radiation on her. If she still has signs of cancer, then I agree that they should go through with the radiation. I do NOT think they should do it just as a precaution.
I am for parental rights, unless they jeopardize other's rights.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

I was with ya until your last statement ("fuck texas"). That was uncalled for. I can assure you that not all Texans are supporting this. IMO they should do testing to see whether or not the girl is actually in remission or not. If she is found to be cancer-free then they should respect her wishes and not force radiation on her. If she still has signs of cancer, then I agree that they should go through with the radiation. I do NOT think they should do it just as a precaution.
I am for parental rights, unless they jeopardize other's rights.

Ack. I meant to edit that.

As for the rest of it, I agree. Well, almost. I still think the parents have the right to a second, third or even a fourth opinion. I'm really upset that the Texan authorities just came in there, and removed this child like they did.

Anyway, let me edit this response so it reflects what I really meant. I didn't mean to offend.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

I agree with you. The State of Texas doesn't have the right to step in like this. As I understand it, the parents aren't refusing to treat her. They just want to get more opinions before they decide to go ahead with the radiation therapy. To me, this is reasonable. I agree with the parents position that not every cancer is "standard", and no two people react to treatment or their illness in the same way.

I'm behind the parents on this 100%!

Exactly!!!!!

We do the same with my son before head surgery of last Monday.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

yup. And, I also agree with what the little girl said as well. It's HER body. She's 12 yrs old. She's old enough to state how she feels, and I think that should be respected as well.

This whole thing just really burns my butt!

Edit:

:fu2: Texan authorites!

Yes, it´s right.

12 years old has the feeling and know what he/she do with his/her body. I know what is this because I myself have 12 years old son.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

update: Girl is no longer in remission

Texas Parents Drop Objection to Radiation Treatment


CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (June 11) - A 13-year-old cancer patient will get the radiation treatment her parents had opposed after new medical tests showed she is no longer in remission.

Katie Wernecke's parents decided to drop their objection to the treatment after the tests were disclosed during a juvenile court hearing Friday. Katie, who turned 13 on Saturday, will remain in state custody as her therapy gets under way.

Michele and Edward Wernecke lost custody of Katie last week after doctors said lack of treatment could be life-threatening. The parents had insisted that the four rounds of chemotherapy Katie received then had killed the cancer and that more radiation would only harm a healthy girl.

The new testing result "changes everything," said attorney Daniel Horne, who represents Michele and Edward Wernecke.

Katie was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease in January, when her parents brought her to the hospital for pneumonia treatment. Hodgkin's is a type of cancer involving the lymph nodes.

"The Werneckes have never said that they would deny medical treatment to their daughter if she was ill and getting worse," Horne told state juvenile court Judge Carl Lewis.

Lewis called off a custody hearing scheduled for next week unless the Werneckes could present compelling evidence that Katie was still in remission. Horne said the treatments were set for next week.

The judge said that the parents would be allowed to attend the treatments but that doctors would make the decisions.

"Early evidence indicates that given opportunity to abscond with the child, they did. And no way would I give them opportunity to do that again now," the judge said.

Last week, authorities issued an Amber Alert to gain temporary custody of Katie after receiving a tip about possible neglect. She was found with her mother at a family ranch, about 80 miles west of Corpus Christi near Freer, on Saturday.

Charges against Michele Wernecke, who was free on $50,000 bond, were dropped Friday. The family's other children, three boys, were reunited with the parents Friday following a CPS inspection of the home.

The couple, members of the Church of God, have said they oppose blood transfusions unless they were from Katie's mother. But Horne has said religion wasn't at issue in the fight over cancer treatment.

Rather, they believe doctors weren't upfront about Katie's care and did not answer all their questions about the side effects of the radiation, Horne said.


06/11/05 09:43 EDT

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