This is a very specific request that has just been addressed to the court in Hartford, Connecticut (United States). A 17-year-old girl, Cassandra, who learned last September that she had Hodgkin’s disease (a form of cancer that affects the lymphatic system) has indeed asked to no longer receive chemotherapy treatment, which ‘she considers poison.
Since her diagnosis, Cassandra has been treated “against her will” at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Her oncologist explained to her that following the treatment, she had an 80-85% chance of being cured. But that without treatment, it would be death. But the young girl categorically refuses to be “exposed to the toxic poisons of chemotherapy”.
Her mother explained to the American media: “It is her constitutional right as a human being for my daughter to refuse to poison her body. If she were of age, her request would not be a problem. Now she will be 18 in 9 months old. She is very intelligent and she knows what she is doing. She knows what the long term side effects of chemotherapy can be. ” A speech that did not please the authorities and that convinced the investigators of the child protection service to temporarily take custody of Cassandra. The latter is currently under house arrest at the hospital, where she receives her chemo.
The Supreme Court is due to rule on Thursday
Next Thursday, attorneys representing the state and those for Cassandra’s family will each present their arguments to the Connecticut Supreme Court. For their part, the doctors and social workers are working to reestablish a line of trust with the young girl. “Forcing someone to take chemo is no easy task. So we are looking for a way to get the young girl to commit to treatment. If only by spacing out the schedule of treatment more widely than usual in order to that the effects on his body are less severe. Even if it is less good for his recovery “they explained. Standard treatment for Hodgkin’s disease usually lasts 4 to 6 months.
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