The Rob’s Radio Show Discusses 17-Year-Old Girl with Cancer Being Forced to Take Chemo

This morning on The Rob's Radio Show with Kat Mykals, we talked about the 17-year-old Connecticut girl who is fighting to make her own decision regarding her cancer treatments.

Without the chemo treatments, doctors have told the girl and her family that she has no chance of living but with them, she has an 85% chance. In a ruling by the Supreme Court, she must continue the cancer treatments, though her mother supports her decision to stop treatment.

Many were in favor of the girl and her family but some where not. Have a listen and see what else we have to say below...

Kat Mykals

I think that she should be allowed to select her treatment. Personally, if I am ever faced with that decision, I would make the same choice as this young woman. I have no desire to undergo chemotherapy or radiation, and will seek alternative treatment options. My understanding is that chemo cannot target isolated cells, which means that it impacts the entire body, and all of it’s cells… even the healthy ones. Again, I do not agree that the state should be able to require that this young woman undergo this treatment.

Ashley Sollars

I am really torn on this one. I don't know enough about the details of the case to formulate a definite opinion. Is the family planning on perusing faith healing, alternative medications or other types of treatment?

I am not a believer that just because a parent feels it's what's right for their child that is is, in fact, what is right and for the most part, children - even teens - do not possess the maturity to formulate such decisions about their future.

This family may, in fact, believe that an alternative route may be what's best but it's our job as a society to protect children. According to Time magazine, a couple was jailed after losing their second child to a treatable disease. They thought faith healing was the best option for them and though I believe they had the children's best interest at heart, it wasn't was was medically best for the children. If the courts had stepped in, their kids might still be alive. I'd hate for this young woman to lose her life because of an ill-advisement or belief that a non-tested medicine might hold her cure.

Chandelle

This is definitely one of those difficult stories where I am torn between which side to take. I can honestly see where both sides are coming from. On one hand, I don't think it is wright for the state to decide what this girl has to do to her body, whether she is 17 or not. She should have a choice in what she puts her body through. But on the other hand, if this girl was my sister, daughter, friend, etc. I would hate that she had no desire to even try to fight, so she could remain in our lives. As selfish as that sounds, I can't think of anything worse than losing a friend or family member. So I would hope that if someone I knew had the choice to fight, then they would. But untimely, I still think the decision should be hers.