A Mother Denies Her Son Chemotherapy

   By drodriguez  May 20, 2009
81

When a child is sick it seems only natural that parents do whatever necessary to make the child better.  This is why the case of Daniel Hauser has raised such heated debate and enraged the public. 

Daniel Hauser is a 13-year-old boy suffering from Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  There is now an arrest warrant out for his mother, Colleen Hauser, because she has refused the life-saving chemotherapy that doctors want to give Daniel.  Daniel’s doctors became alarmed and notified child protection officials when Colleen Hauser failed to return Daniel Hauser to chemotherapy after having just one treatment in January.

A recent article from the Star Tribune reported that Daniel and Colleen Hauser’s whereabouts are unknown, presumably running from the current arrest warrant and public demand that Daniel receive treatment.  The courts have also decided that when found, Daniel will be placed in foster care. 

Daniel’s doctors have testified in recent court hearings saying that his chance of survival with chemotherapy treatment would be between 80 and 95 percent, but without it he would probably die within 5 years.  Colleen Hauser has testified in a previous hearing that using chemotherapy on her son would violate her religion and thinks that the drug is a fatal poison.  She has said that she prefers using vitamins and other natural herbs to treat her son’s cancer.

Judge John Rodenburg has stated that the county proved “a compelling state interest in the life and welfare of Daniel sufficient to override the fundamental constitutional rights of both the parents and Daniel to the free exercise of religion and the due process right of the parents to direct the upbringing of their child.”  The judge also ruled that Daniel should remain in the custody of his parents if they comply with the treatments recommended by doctors.

What do you think of Colleen Hauser’s decision not to give her son chemotherapy for his cancer?

Do you think chemotherapy should be court ordered in this case?

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SirahLou by SirahLou | fremont, OH
Jun 06, 2009

Ok well i feel that if this is the only way for my child to get better then i'm going to do the treatment. dont agree with the docter to do the therepy and then not show up! If it was my son or daughter I will try any possible thing out there for them to get better.

Mzthangxoxo by Mzthangxoxo | Jacksonville, FL
Jun 06, 2009

i feel that it is the mother and the sons choice in the way he is treated she isnt saying that she doesnt want her son to get better just that she wants to go about a different way of doing it which is his and her decision the courts should not be able to order her to treat her son the way they want her to!

Keyclubgirl05 by Keyclubgirl05 | Tulare, CA
Jun 05, 2009

The mom has a right to choose what is right for her child, but in this case and in any case of curing cancer, chemotherapy should be court ordered. If it isn't court ordered and the mom refuses the treatment, give the boy the choice of whether or not he wants it. He is old enough and should know what chemotherapy can do with his cancer. I knew at the age and I think if I was in his shoes, I would go for the chance of survival over my parents' choice anyday.

noegirl by noegirl | San Francisco, CA
Jun 02, 2009

It's abusive, and she is crazy

TEEMARIE17701 by TEEMARIE17701 | WILLIAMSPORT, PA
Jun 02, 2009

In my opinion parents are to do all they can to make sure their children are healthy, happy, and cared for, so if getting treatment for this precious child will give him a better chance to survive and be healthier then so be it. Your right betsylynn chemo is not picnic but if it or any other treatment helps this boy than by all means give him the chance at a longer healthier life.

calichristy2 by calichristy2 | Bakersfield, CA
Jun 02, 2009

Honestly its not right to cast judgement on the mother, she is as scared as the boy. She wants what is best for him and her religion is standingin her way. Im glad she brought him back for treatment and they dropped the charges. We dont know what is going through her head therefore we cnt say she is nuts, otherwise anyone that refuses medical treatment(i.e blood transfusions) would be considered nuts. She just is having a hard time dealing with such a terrible illness. Her boy being 13 should be able to choose what he wants as well, we dont know how much he suffers.

sarmetta by sarmetta | painesville, OH
Jun 02, 2009

My mother and myself are both cancer survivors, when the cancer started spreading all over my mother, she went through a body life change, she started eating like a vegan for the most part, but did incorporate many meats with iron. She went on all kinds of herbs and vitamins, and started to juice 3 times a day... her health increased greatly, so i see the mothers point behind it..... HOWEVER, in my case, nothing helped me but the chemo itself... I am on both sides here, but we all need to pray for this little boy.. in hopes life finds his way....

lnchldy by lnchldy | elko, NV
Jun 02, 2009

As parents we are protectors of our children, we are given these children to nurture and love. We must do everything that is available to see that our children are healthy. Sometimes the cures seen so bad but in the long run when your child is feeling better you know you made the right decision. I do not think the boy should be in foster care but closely monitered at home. He really needs the treatments and I think the right decision was made. My heart hurts for him and his family. I hope and pray it turns out good.

edohpa by edohpa | Venango, PA
Jun 02, 2009

Part 2: However I would not want to force a treatment on my child that that my child truly did not want. and that caused them pain. This Mother is doing what she feels is right for her son. It is her son and her family and in my opinion her decision. She is the one who will have to face her maker and she is the one who will have to decide if she can live with herself for the rest of her life knowing that there was a chance to save her son. However the decision is being made for her and her son as to what is right or wrong in there situation and I feel that is extremely unfair. I do not believe this mom is out to see her son die. If that was the case she would have never went though the first bout of Chemo at all. They tried it and decided this is not the option they want to go with at this time. I say They should of had a right to try and figure it out themselves and perhaps if given the time they would have decided to return to chemo.

edohpa by edohpa | Venango, PA
Jun 02, 2009

This is a hard topic to discuss as it really gets people heated to think that a mother would not want to help her child survive, but at the same time when the child is feeling tortured wouldn't that same mother be obliged to help him get away from what tortures him?? I firmly believe that chemo can help! I also firmly believe that chemo does not always help. The child in question is plenty old enough to know what feels right and wrong in his situation. I would be hard for me as a mom of a teenager to say tell my child they have no choice in what happens to there body because I want them to be with me forever. How selfish is that. However It would be equally hard for me to allow my teenager to have the choice of treatment or not. again all selfish reasons. I would not want my child to die and be left without my child in my life.

wjrbooker by wjrbooker | CHICAGO, IL
Jun 02, 2009

WELL ME PERSONALLY I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR CHILD SO YOU CANT JUDGE HER.! MAYBE SHE DOESNT WANT THE CHILD TO SUFFER ANYMORE . WHATEVER HER REASONS ITS HER CHILD SHE BRUNG IT IN THE WORLD AND SAD TO SAY BUT MOTHER KNOWS BEST!

becky89 by becky89 | lakewood, NJ
Jun 01, 2009

i think she is stupid sorry to say but you should want the best for your child and want them to have a healthy life if possible.

cgarrison306 by cgarrison306 | Stanley, NC
Jun 01, 2009

It is one thing for an adult to choose their religion over modern medicine when it comes to their own treatment. However, I do not feel that it is right for a parent to deny their own minor child treatment when the child is not of the age to consent to non-treatment.

americangal2 by americangal2 | manahawkin, NJ
Jun 01, 2009

The goverment should stay out of our personal business. How about the mother that refuses to immunize their child/children ? When do we say its ok for the goverment to be involved ? Where do we draw the line ?

akmommy18 by akmommy18 | Eagle River, AK
Jun 01, 2009

My thoughts on this is that we do not know the full story. The son could not want it. People refuse care all the time. He is a teenager and should have a voice in this all. Everyone goes about Cancer differently. There are many who choose not to do chemo while others choose to do it. Its up to them on what they do. She isn't refusing the treatment as a way to kill him, she just thinks of medicine in a different light then others.