CONNECTICUT COURT RULES AGAINST TEEN WHO DIDN'T WANT CHEMO

[Omaha Steve]

16. APNewsBreak: Girl says she knows she'll die without chemo

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/54ddae1d597346e88326cbaa7c31ce07/connecticut-court-hears-case-teen-refusing-chemotherapy




This summer 2014 photo provided by Cassandra C., shows Cassandra, a teen who does not give her last name, who is confined in a room at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Conn., where she is being forced to undergo chemotherapy. The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, that state officials are not violating the rights of the 17-year-old by forcing her to undergo cancer chemotherapy she does not want. (AP Photo/Cassandra C.)


HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A 17-year-old girl being forced by state officials to undergo chemotherapy for her cancer said Thursday she understands she'll die if she stops treatment but it should be her decision.

The state Supreme Court ruled earlier in the day state officials aren't violating the rights of the girl, Cassandra C., who has Hodgkin lymphoma.

Cassandra told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview from her hospital it disgusts her to have "such toxic harmful drugs" in her body and she'd like to explore alternative treatments. She said by text she understands "death is the outcome of refusing chemo" but believes in "the quality of my life, not the quantity."

"Being forced into the surgery and chemo has traumatized me," Cassandra wrote in her text. "I do believe I am mature enough to make the decision to refuse the chemo, but it shouldn't be about maturity, it should be a given human right to decide what you want and don't want for your own body."

FULL story at link.