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In reply to the discussion: Teen girl and mother fight the state over right to refuse chemo cancer treatment [View all]KentuckyWoman
(7,408 posts)I watched the doctors prolong the dying with almost 5 years of continuous chemo on a member of my family who didn't want to face the reality of the situation. So I view chemo with a lot of skepticism and have said repeatedly I won't go through that. So I understand he sentiment here.
However, I'm over 60. Depending on what illness befalls me at this stage in life my choices are based on the benefit versus my age.
In her case the potential benefit is enormous versus the risk. And as I have read more about this case the more I'm convinced Mom has been doing so much chattering in the girl's ear that this girl is not really making her own decisions clearly. No I don't believe Mom wants her child to die... but I do think things are a little bit mixed up here.
Now all that said, only in the rarest of cases to I believe in forcing medical treatment on anyone. It's a really tough call in any situation and I feel for the medical people willing to put themselves in that situation. "the system" is rigged to shovel in the profits yes... but there's an individual doctor and/or nurses who are human beings and want to do what is right. They don't always get it right ....
So yes I have some mixed feelings on this but I hope they are able to keep her alive .... a long and happy life... where she can spend a lifetime fighting for patient rights if she wants.