Refusing Cancer Treatment?
If you're under 18 do you have the right to refuse cancer treatment? can anyone force you to go through with it or is it personal choice?
Cancer - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
yes you have the right to refuse
2 :
Once you are 18 you have a right to decide. Treatment is forced on people only if they have a serious mental health problem.
3 :
Not sure but the end results will be permanent.
4 :
If you are under 18, I don't know. My father refused cancer treatment. He was in his late 70's, had lung cancer, refused treatment, also refused to give up smoking and drinking. He lived for 18 months after being diagnosed. Being under 18, I'm not sure why you would want to refuse treatment, you could beat it perhaps, and still live a long full life.
5 :
You have the full right to refuse any medical treatment. It is a fully personal decision. The only way you would not have that is if you were in a coma or unconscious and typically your parents would get the right to make decisions. I suggest talking to your parents about big decisions such as burial or if you were to become reliant of life support what to do.
6 :
depends on what country your in and what stage your at. i believe in some countries the state can take over your care and force treatment on you (if they feel its in your best interests) if your under 18. i read a story in australia where a family refused to let their kid have chemo,, they believed only in natural treatments, and the courts removed the child from their custody and sort treatment for her. i dont know the final outcome of that story... but it did happen (the story was on one of those crackpot sites that tells everyone not to have chemo for any reason). the story is true (it was in the news) but it was made out that the doctors and courts did the wrong thing to make this child have chemo personally id go with the chemo... if the oncologist strongly advised it. there are sometimes when chemo isnt always the best option too, but u need to get doctors opinions.
7 :
It depends on the country you live in as under 18 you are considered a minor. The problem is that many minors do not understand the serious consequences of their 'decision' . . if the minor has done their own research and is capable of making this type of decision . . individual courts may allow it. There was a case a few years back where a 16 year old refused to go through treatment for a relapsed cancer. He wanted to try Alternative medicine. His doctors filed negligance against the parents to try and force him to be treated. He won his court case with the stipulation that a doctor of his own choice be allowed to help him chose his own treatments. He did do some alternative as well as some traditional and is currently in remission. This is not the same as refusing cancer treatment completely . . if a cancer is in an early stage and can be treated and 'cured' than a minor may have no choice in this matter but to undergo treatment. If the disease is advanced, than often the pediatric oncologist will give all information, make suggestions, and allow the minor child to make the decision about whether to pursue treatment or not. I think most people feel that a 15 or 16 year old may be 'old' enough to be in charge of their own health care treatments and make these types of decisions. We just want to make sure that a child that wants to continue treatments but is being denied by their parents or guardians beliefs can still legally be treated. So your question is really a mixed bag . . in some cases a child under 18 can refuse cancer treatment if they can convince a Judge that they fully understand the consequences of their action (that they could die) and convince him that there is no treatment available that works or that they wish to pursue unconventional treatments. In other cases a Judge may determine that it is in the best interest of the child under 18 to be encouraged to undergo traditional treatments . . hopefully with that childs cooperation.
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Title : Refusing Cancer Treatment
Description : Refusing Cancer Treatment? If you're under 18 do you have the right to refuse cancer treatment? can anyone force you to go through wi...