Originally published June 19 2005
Texas sides with doctors over parents in decision to give girl cancer treatment
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Family News reports that when the parents of 12-year-old Katie Wernecke did not immediately authorize radiation treatment after she was diagnosed with cancer, the state of Texas came and took Katie and her three brothers away.
In Corpus Christi, Texas, a legal tug-of-war between a state agency and the parents of a 12-year-old cancer patient is shining a spotlight on who's in charge when it comes to a child's medical treatment.
The case involves a doctor's recommendation to Michele and Edward Wernecke that their 12-year-old daughter, Katie, receive radiation treatments.
"What we're talking about is giving the parents the option to take their daughter to another oncologist," said Daniel Horne, an attorney representing the Werneckes.
The Werneckes need an attorney because, when they balked at immediately authorizing radiation for Katie, state child-welfare officials then took custody of the girl, as well as the couple's three sons.
"First, they act and then they ask questions later," Horne explained.
"It's fundamental rights and due process, turned on its head."
The courts have ruled the U.S. Constitution "protects the (fundamental) right (of parents) to make decisions concerning the care.
In fact, a 1979 ruling specifically says that just because a parental decision "involves risk, does not automatically transfer" the power to decide to the state.
Horne said the religious beliefs of the parents---who are Church of God members---are not part of this case.
But Dr. Robert Scheidt, who chairs the Christian Medical Association's ethics panel, said hostility to Christian beliefs in such child-health matters has increased.
"There's more and more a tendency of the state to think that strict or intense religious beliefs are harmful," he said.
Scheidt opposes the government taking custody of children away from parents except in cases of physical or mental abuse.
Horne, meanwhile, said he has reports of similar conflicts between parents wanting to decide treatment for their children, and governments inclined to impose doctor recommendations.
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