NORFOLK, Virginia (AP) -- A judge ruled Friday that a 16-year-old boy fighting to use alternative treatment for his cancer must report to a hospital by Tuesday and accept treatment that doctors deem necessary, the family's attorney said.
Rest of Story here.
Forced to take medical treatment??? This is an outrage!
Teen loses fight to use alternative cancer treatment
Moderators: family_man, LindaJM
Teen loses fight to use alternative cancer treatment
End terrorism-Dismantle CPS!
Article On This Case Today
Judge Lifts Order for Cancer Treatment
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By SONJA BARISIC Associated Press Writer
July 25,2006 | ACCOMAC, Va. -- A judge ruled Tuesday that a 16-year-old cancer patient who has refused conventional medical treatment does not have to report to a hospital as previously ordered and scheduled a trial to settle the dispute.
Starchild Abraham Cherrix, who is battling Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system, refused a second round of chemotherapy when he learned early this year that the cancer had returned.
Abraham chose to instead go on a sugar-free, organic diet and take herbal supplements under the supervision of a clinic in Mexico.
A social worker asked a juvenile court judge to require the teen to continue conventional treatment, and the judge on Friday ordered Abraham to report to a hospital Tuesday. Accomack County Circuit Court Judge Glen A. Taylor set aside that order.
"I feel free today. I was let off the leash," Abraham said after Taylor agreed to a stay and set a trial date of Aug. 16.
Taylor also ended joint custody of Abraham between his parents and social services officials.
Carl Bundick, an attorney for the department, told the judge the department would not object, provided a new trial takes place quickly.
"What the department is interested in is this young man being cured of cancer," Bundick said.
Sounds like they have a good circut judge.
Rachel
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By SONJA BARISIC Associated Press Writer
July 25,2006 | ACCOMAC, Va. -- A judge ruled Tuesday that a 16-year-old cancer patient who has refused conventional medical treatment does not have to report to a hospital as previously ordered and scheduled a trial to settle the dispute.
Starchild Abraham Cherrix, who is battling Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system, refused a second round of chemotherapy when he learned early this year that the cancer had returned.
Abraham chose to instead go on a sugar-free, organic diet and take herbal supplements under the supervision of a clinic in Mexico.
A social worker asked a juvenile court judge to require the teen to continue conventional treatment, and the judge on Friday ordered Abraham to report to a hospital Tuesday. Accomack County Circuit Court Judge Glen A. Taylor set aside that order.
"I feel free today. I was let off the leash," Abraham said after Taylor agreed to a stay and set a trial date of Aug. 16.
Taylor also ended joint custody of Abraham between his parents and social services officials.
Carl Bundick, an attorney for the department, told the judge the department would not object, provided a new trial takes place quickly.
"What the department is interested in is this young man being cured of cancer," Bundick said.
Sounds like they have a good circut judge.
Rachel
Cherrix case breaks ground
Va. teen's fight to pick his cancer treatment falls in legal gray area
BY SHAUN BISHOP
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Jul 31, 2006
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... 9189700401
The case is uncommon for other reasons. An official at the Virginia Department of Social Services said out of all the abuse or neglect reports filed in the past fiscal year, only 2.3 percent stemmed from medical neglect.
Beyond that, taking social services cases to court is fairly rare, said Nan McKenney, Child Protective Services policy supervisor for the department.
"Filing a [court] petition is not a routine part of [Child Protective Services]," McKenney said. Cases are taken to court "only if the agency feels that there is no other way to ensure the safety of the child, in their assessment."
Va. teen's fight to pick his cancer treatment falls in legal gray area
BY SHAUN BISHOP
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Jul 31, 2006
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... 9189700401
The case is uncommon for other reasons. An official at the Virginia Department of Social Services said out of all the abuse or neglect reports filed in the past fiscal year, only 2.3 percent stemmed from medical neglect.
Beyond that, taking social services cases to court is fairly rare, said Nan McKenney, Child Protective Services policy supervisor for the department.
"Filing a [court] petition is not a routine part of [Child Protective Services]," McKenney said. Cases are taken to court "only if the agency feels that there is no other way to ensure the safety of the child, in their assessment."
Battling cancer
At home and in court
BY SHAUN BISHOP
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Aug 6, 2006
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... 9189828104
Last week, he took a break from another struggle, one waged in court with the Accomack County Department of Social Services. It believes he should undergo conventional cancer treatment instead.
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An Accomack circuit judge ordered a new trial for Aug. 16 to decide whether Cherrix can choose his treatment. The judge threw out a juvenile-court ruling that ordered Cherrix to show up for conventional treatment at Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk.
Local and national media have descended on the family's white, two-story house, which sits next to the bright-yellow, family-run kayak shop on a quiet inlet of the Chesapeake Bay.
When the TV show "Nightline" wanted to basically live with the family for an in-depth story, Cherrix's father respectfully declined -- to prevent disruption in the family's life.
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But Jay Cherrix also feels the media has helped expose how the family was being treated by officials.
"I think it's a story that will help a lot of people," he said.
At home and in court
BY SHAUN BISHOP
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Aug 6, 2006
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... 9189828104
Last week, he took a break from another struggle, one waged in court with the Accomack County Department of Social Services. It believes he should undergo conventional cancer treatment instead.
- - - - - - -
An Accomack circuit judge ordered a new trial for Aug. 16 to decide whether Cherrix can choose his treatment. The judge threw out a juvenile-court ruling that ordered Cherrix to show up for conventional treatment at Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk.
Local and national media have descended on the family's white, two-story house, which sits next to the bright-yellow, family-run kayak shop on a quiet inlet of the Chesapeake Bay.
When the TV show "Nightline" wanted to basically live with the family for an in-depth story, Cherrix's father respectfully declined -- to prevent disruption in the family's life.
- - - - - - - -
But Jay Cherrix also feels the media has helped expose how the family was being treated by officials.
"I think it's a story that will help a lot of people," he said.
http://www.wvec.com/news/local/stories/ ... efb7c.html
Debate rages over teen's right to choose cancer treatment
Monday, August 14, 2006
"The attorney for the State of Virginia, who has declined to be interviewed, says the case is about which treatment is right. He told the judge that Abraham should be treated appropriately as the court sees fit."
The circuit court judge will hear more on the controversial case on Wednesday.
Debate rages over teen's right to choose cancer treatment
Monday, August 14, 2006
"The attorney for the State of Virginia, who has declined to be interviewed, says the case is about which treatment is right. He told the judge that Abraham should be treated appropriately as the court sees fit."
The circuit court judge will hear more on the controversial case on Wednesday.
Cherrix, Accomack reach agreement
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... 9190006489
Cherrix, Accomack reach agreement
BY SHAUN BISHOP
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Aug 16, 2006
ACCOMAC -- The battle in court is over, but the battle with cancer will continue -- with a new doctor in the mix.
Starchild Abraham Cherrix, a 16-year-old from Chincoteague, will be able to continue treating his cancer with an herbal tonic and will also be treated by a Mississippi radiologist under an agreement reached today in Accomack County Circuit Court.
The settlement between the Cherrix family and the local department of social services marks the end of a monthslong debate over whether Cherrix's parents were guilty of medical neglect for allowing Abraham to refuse chemotherapy.
"The legal battle is over," said John Stepanovich, a lawyer for Cherrix's parents, Jay and Rose. "Now they can take this battle to the hospital and treatment rooms where it needs to be fought."
Dr. R. Arnold Smith, a radiation oncologist in the North Central Mississippi Regional Cancer Center, will draft a treatment plan that does not include chemotherapy, lawyers said.
"The fight has been about the chemo," said Abraham, who has said be believes additional chemotherapy would kill him. "I'm very happy about today."
The Cherrixes will also be required to submit a report on Abraham's health and treatment to the court every three months until the cancer is gone or until he turns 18.
During an hourlong hearing in Accomac, attorneys from both sides thanked all parties involved and the judge for coming to an amicable solution.
Abraham, his parents and the family's lawyers all thanked the several dozen members of the media gathered outside the courthouse for publicizing his case, which in turn led people to refer them to Dr. Smith.
"You have opened up doors for this family that would not have been opened, and we thank you for that," Stepanovich said.
(Read Thursday's editions of the Times-Dispatch for more details about the day in court.)
Cherrix, Accomack reach agreement
BY SHAUN BISHOP
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Aug 16, 2006
ACCOMAC -- The battle in court is over, but the battle with cancer will continue -- with a new doctor in the mix.
Starchild Abraham Cherrix, a 16-year-old from Chincoteague, will be able to continue treating his cancer with an herbal tonic and will also be treated by a Mississippi radiologist under an agreement reached today in Accomack County Circuit Court.
The settlement between the Cherrix family and the local department of social services marks the end of a monthslong debate over whether Cherrix's parents were guilty of medical neglect for allowing Abraham to refuse chemotherapy.
"The legal battle is over," said John Stepanovich, a lawyer for Cherrix's parents, Jay and Rose. "Now they can take this battle to the hospital and treatment rooms where it needs to be fought."
Dr. R. Arnold Smith, a radiation oncologist in the North Central Mississippi Regional Cancer Center, will draft a treatment plan that does not include chemotherapy, lawyers said.
"The fight has been about the chemo," said Abraham, who has said be believes additional chemotherapy would kill him. "I'm very happy about today."
The Cherrixes will also be required to submit a report on Abraham's health and treatment to the court every three months until the cancer is gone or until he turns 18.
During an hourlong hearing in Accomac, attorneys from both sides thanked all parties involved and the judge for coming to an amicable solution.
Abraham, his parents and the family's lawyers all thanked the several dozen members of the media gathered outside the courthouse for publicizing his case, which in turn led people to refer them to Dr. Smith.
"You have opened up doors for this family that would not have been opened, and we thank you for that," Stepanovich said.
(Read Thursday's editions of the Times-Dispatch for more details about the day in court.)
USATODAY.com Video
http://usatoday.feedroom.com/ifr_main.j ... 3754104093
Teen battles with cancer and courts
USATODAY.com Video
Teen battles with cancer and courts
USATODAY.com Video
Settlement reached in Cherrix cancer treatment case
http://www.wvec.com/news/local/stories/ ... 8c87a.html
Settlement reached in Cherrix cancer treatment case
12:25 PM EDT on Wednesday, August 16, 2006
By 13News and AP
Click to watch video
ACCOMACK CO. - A settlement was reached Wednesday in the case of Abraham Cherrix, the 16-year-old Eastern Shore teenager fighting for the right to forgo conventional cancer therapy to treat his Hodgkin's disease.
13News has learned that Cherrix will not have to undergo chemotherapy, but he will admit himself to North Central Mississippi Regional Cancer Center in Greenwood, Mississippi.
The teen was there last Friday and was treated by radiologist Dr. Arnold Smith, who does alternative treatments with radiation and is against the use of chemotheraphy.
Cherrix’s attorney said in court the Cherrix family believes this decision will lead to his cure of cancer.
The agreement, between the family and Social Services, requires the Cherrix's to provide the court updates on Abraham's treatment and condition every three months until he's cured, or turns 18, whichever comes first.
Circuit Court Judge Glen Tyler approved the agreement and added that the decree states that the parents weren't medically neglectful.
The battle dates back to March when his family tried to win the right to skip chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters and pursue an alternative herbal treatment in Mexico.
The family said it was the doctor at CHKD that brought the case to the attention of social services.
At that point, a social worker asked the courts to step in and force Abraham to resume chemotherapy.
A juvenile court judge found Abraham's parents neglectful and ordered him to report to a hospital for treatment as doctors deem necessary.
Abraham's mother Rose told The Associated Press that her son feels good and has even been helping his father lead water tours around Chincoteague -- the Eastern Shore island where the family lives and runs a kayak business.
Wednesday morning, Attorney General Bob McDonnell issued a statement.
"Abraham and his family asked that they, after careful and intensive study, be allowed to choose the treatment they believe to be best. On Monday, I filed an amicus brief in the Circuit Court of Accomack County, analyzing the legal framework supporting the parent's right to make this decision in the best interest of their son. Parental responsibility for the care, control and custody of children has long been viewed as a fundamental constitutional right, and is a foundational belief of all Virginians. This is the kind of difficult personal decision that the state must allow parents to make, absent a clear case of neglect. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Abraham Cherrix and his family as they focus on Abraham's long-term health."
Settlement reached in Cherrix cancer treatment case
12:25 PM EDT on Wednesday, August 16, 2006
By 13News and AP
Click to watch video
ACCOMACK CO. - A settlement was reached Wednesday in the case of Abraham Cherrix, the 16-year-old Eastern Shore teenager fighting for the right to forgo conventional cancer therapy to treat his Hodgkin's disease.
13News has learned that Cherrix will not have to undergo chemotherapy, but he will admit himself to North Central Mississippi Regional Cancer Center in Greenwood, Mississippi.
The teen was there last Friday and was treated by radiologist Dr. Arnold Smith, who does alternative treatments with radiation and is against the use of chemotheraphy.
Cherrix’s attorney said in court the Cherrix family believes this decision will lead to his cure of cancer.
The agreement, between the family and Social Services, requires the Cherrix's to provide the court updates on Abraham's treatment and condition every three months until he's cured, or turns 18, whichever comes first.
Circuit Court Judge Glen Tyler approved the agreement and added that the decree states that the parents weren't medically neglectful.
The battle dates back to March when his family tried to win the right to skip chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters and pursue an alternative herbal treatment in Mexico.
The family said it was the doctor at CHKD that brought the case to the attention of social services.
At that point, a social worker asked the courts to step in and force Abraham to resume chemotherapy.
A juvenile court judge found Abraham's parents neglectful and ordered him to report to a hospital for treatment as doctors deem necessary.
Abraham's mother Rose told The Associated Press that her son feels good and has even been helping his father lead water tours around Chincoteague -- the Eastern Shore island where the family lives and runs a kayak business.
Wednesday morning, Attorney General Bob McDonnell issued a statement.
"Abraham and his family asked that they, after careful and intensive study, be allowed to choose the treatment they believe to be best. On Monday, I filed an amicus brief in the Circuit Court of Accomack County, analyzing the legal framework supporting the parent's right to make this decision in the best interest of their son. Parental responsibility for the care, control and custody of children has long been viewed as a fundamental constitutional right, and is a foundational belief of all Virginians. This is the kind of difficult personal decision that the state must allow parents to make, absent a clear case of neglect. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Abraham Cherrix and his family as they focus on Abraham's long-term health."
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... 9191060849
Cherrix ready to return home
Eastern Shore teen says there's a good chance he is cancer-free after treatment in Mississippi
BY SONJA BARISIC
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oct 10, 2006
NORFOLK - Starchild Abraham Cherrix is coming home to Virginia this week, feeling energetic and hopeful that five weeks of treatment at a Mississippi clinic will help him defeat cancer.
...
At an August court hearing in Accomack County Circuit Court in Accomac, Cherrix's attorneys and social-services officials reached a resolution to allow the teenager to forgo chemotherapy and let him be treated by an oncologist of his choice. Cherrix said the low doses of radiation prescribed by Smith made him queasy but that was bearable.
Cherrix ready to return home
Eastern Shore teen says there's a good chance he is cancer-free after treatment in Mississippi
BY SONJA BARISIC
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oct 10, 2006
NORFOLK - Starchild Abraham Cherrix is coming home to Virginia this week, feeling energetic and hopeful that five weeks of treatment at a Mississippi clinic will help him defeat cancer.
...
At an August court hearing in Accomack County Circuit Court in Accomac, Cherrix's attorneys and social-services officials reached a resolution to allow the teenager to forgo chemotherapy and let him be treated by an oncologist of his choice. Cherrix said the low doses of radiation prescribed by Smith made him queasy but that was bearable.
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