Finally a Smart Decision
photo credit cbs news
The top court in Connecticut ruled that a 17-year-old girl named cassandra would be forced to undergo chemotherapy. The 17 year old child was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which with chemo she has an 85 percent chance of survival, but she was refusing treatment saying she did not want something toxic (chemo) in her body, and her mother was supporting her decision even though that meant her daughter would die. So the 17 year old was removed from her mothers care and custody was given to the state, so that she would have to undergo treatment. Yesss woot woot, finally a smart decision. This girl is 17 way to young, and to dramatic to make a decision about whether she lives or dies, and her mother is just crazy im sorry but what kind of mother would let their child essentially kill them self when there is a treatment for their condition? Anyway im very glad in this case, that the courts stepped in and did what needed to be done. What do you think? Do you think the right decision was made?
trying to make things right 
While, I do like this post and do agree that she should comply with treatments, we have to look at the fact that if she were just months older at 18, she would have every right to refuse chemo. Chemo is not fun to go through, it’s not a sure fire thing to work and your body is completely ravaged by it. It also causes infertility. So, in my opinion, while I agree that she should have chemo, I also think at the age of 17, she should be able to make this decision for herself, considering in most states a “child” of 17 can consent to sex. If that’s okay, why can’t she choose her medical treatment?
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January 10, 2015 at 4:48 pm
I dont think it should be okay because I dont think you truly understand the consequences of your actions at 17 and at 17 you are more likely to do something crazy to get noticed, even if it means your life.
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January 10, 2015 at 4:53 pm
That’s why I said it seems funny that 17 year olds can consent to sex, but apparently can’t decide they don’t want a medical treatment. Im sure at 17 she can understand it will kill her. No news reports have said anything about her being mentally impaired or anything, so Im sure she understands. Maybe she just wants to die without being bald, weak, in pain, and unable to eat.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:03 pm
The crazy part of that is though she may experience some unpleasant things that wont last forever death will and if someone says they would rather be dead than go through a period of not feeling good, yes I would call that being mentally unstable. Also I dont think a 17 year old should be allowed to have sex yet.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:06 pm
You know, I think I have to agree with you. I’ve heard a few of the headlines, but haven’t had a chance to dig into the story much. If this was considered retroactively- say the daughter passed away and it came to light that the mother had refused to get her daughter treatment- even if it had been the daughter’s wishes…she would have been charged with criminal negligence, and possibly manslaughter. That being the case, I do not see a problem with preventing that from happening. Yes, a case could be made for free will and the ability to make your own decisions, but if said decision is directly responsible for a completely preventable death, it isn’t as black and white as all that. It’s a complex situation, but in the end, I think I agree with you.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:02 pm
Thankyou, I just think its wrong for anyone to choose death over life especially when a complete recovery is possible.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Like I said, I agree she should, but not everyone wants that for themselves, and for you to think she is mentally unstable for not wanting that is highly judge mental of you. I don’t know. Not all of us know what we would do if put in that kind of position, so we shouldn’t her or her mother.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Well thankyou for sharing your opinion, but anyone who takes their own life or chooses death when they dont have to is clearly mentally unstable, in my opinion and all health care professionals. That is why if you tell a doctor you want to die they will put you in a mental institution. Also I didnt say she was mentally unstable for not wanting to go through that, no body wants to go through that. But I think she could be mentally unstable because she would rather die than go through that.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Also im sure in 10 years when her chemo is long over with and she is alive she will be very glad someone made her take the treatment. Oh and chemo doesnt always cause infertility.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:28 pm
No, it doesn’t. It also doesn’t mean you’ll survive either. My grandmother refused treatment herself and my fiance’s grandmother has went through chemo and her cancer is still there. She is no longer wanting treatment either, and I would never think that they are/were wrong for that.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Different cancers respond better to chemo than others. If there is not a good chance for survival than I would understand not wanting to go through that but an 85 percent chance of survival is very good odds, and I dont think any life should be thrown away just to avoid a little discomfort. Now your fiances grandmothers chemo has not helped so I understand her not wanting to continue it but at least she tried. When I was 16 I sliced my wrists down to the bone, I was being dramatic over something stupid and yes in the back of my mind I knew it was possible to die from it but I didnt actually think I would. My point is at that age you really dont know what is best that is why you are still supposed to be looked after by a mature adult.
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January 10, 2015 at 5:41 pm
I think the courts did a decent job in this. In fact, I had a friend who was a juror at another case that went well, and also my case (well, the county’s case, since they press the charges rather than I) had an unexpectedly decent outcome. But those last two were criminal. So maybe there is some hope, that some court rooms are seeing justice done.
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January 10, 2015 at 6:39 pm
Yes I think they made the right decision.
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January 11, 2015 at 9:19 am
I agree. She is likely to live if treated. I believe her mother is off-base.
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January 10, 2015 at 8:16 pm
Thankyou for reading and taking the time to comment
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January 11, 2015 at 9:20 am
Bravo! I have been telling my wife the same thing. We have a friend with the same diagnosis and she did the chemo and yes it made her feel like crap but she is now out of the woods and happy she chose to do the chemo. What kind of mother does not encourage her child to do every thing possible to save her life? Life is a gift and it is my belief that above all one must fight the good fight to continue to live…if not her actions would simply be suicide. Great post, glad you see the issue here. =)
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January 10, 2015 at 9:24 pm
Thankyou and im so glad your friend is doing good now to.
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January 11, 2015 at 9:20 am
Thank you, she is quite well and thats a point this girls mother should have thought of as you said 85% really high odds. How is it this woman could not find in herself to encourage her daughter to fight as opposed to giving up?
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January 11, 2015 at 6:52 pm
This is a great post – painful, has different consequences, life should continue with support of their parents to fight and win!
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January 11, 2015 at 1:36 am
Thankyou
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January 11, 2015 at 9:21 am
God forbid, but if it were my 17 year old daughter, I would be making sure she had the chemo. With such high odds of a good recovery, it would be the only solution. I would want to try anything to give my daughter the life that she so deserves. Of course I would not want to see her suffer, but if at the end of it she had the chance to live a full life, maybe even have kids of her own, then I am all for it.
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January 11, 2015 at 5:31 am
I wouldnt want to see my child suffer either, but if it were my child I would duck tape them to the bed if I had to
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January 11, 2015 at 9:22 am
If the girl has trepidations about chemo, namely the pain and discomfort that comes with it- to the point where she says she’d rather die than deal with it (especially when the treatment boasts a high survivability rate to her particular type of cancer) then she needs to be educated and supported by her mother and those around her, not have a rash and emotional decision backed…by anyone. I’m not minimizing the negatives of chemo, but when you have people of more advanced years, with far more terminal types of cancer willingly taking on the fight- then this girl needs guidance and education, NOT a mother willing to see her daughter die because “its her choice.”
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January 11, 2015 at 6:03 am
Exactly you be there to comfort them not support their decision to give up and not even try.
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January 11, 2015 at 9:23 am
I honestly do respect everyone’s opinion and agree with everyone here, she does need the chemo and if it were my child they would do it. I was simply saying I respect this child and her mother’s opinion as well. 🙂
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January 11, 2015 at 11:58 am
I dont know these people so I cant say I respect them or that I dont, overall that is, I can say that I dont respect the mother’s decision because I believe it was wrong. But anyway I appreciate you sharing your opinion and taking the time to comment here.
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January 11, 2015 at 12:15 pm