Texas District Judge Jack Hunter has a hell of a choice ahead of him: he can return 13-year-old Katie Wernecke to her parents (who insist on treating her advanced Hodgkins' lymphoma with Vitamin C), or he can give her over to the tender mercies of the state (which has been forcing her to undergo radiation therapy, against her parents', and her own, wishes). Wherever he decides she'll go, there's a good chance that's where she'll die.
There's something in this case to get everybody's knickers in a twist: alternative medicine promoters, child welfare advocates, folks who worry about the government interfering in their kid-raising, doctors, family law practitioners, and all kinds of other people who think they know what's best for Katie. (And let's not forget that more than just Katie Wernecke's life is at stake. What's that dirty word? Oh, yeah: precedent.) Here's a thread from a blog for young libertarians that touches on a few of the complex issues at hand, before it devolves into ad hominem attacks and Nazi-baiting.
Update: Judge Hunter ruled that Wernecke should be returned to her parents.
Contributed by Lissa Harris
1. Sad, but great, story. I like where the new management is leading this blog!
This case illustrate a fundamental concept in western medicine, the consent of the patient. Here, of course, we have a minor; her parents must consent to therapy.
Oh, and a message to Katie's father: no need to worry about "breast cancer, stunt her growth and cause learning problems." Left untreated, Hodgkin's Lymphoma is lethal. Rapidly.
Posted at 3:19PM on Nov 3rd 2005 by EM