Two Virginia legislators have announced plans to introduce a law that will prevent a situation similar to that of Abraham Cherrix, the 16 year-old cancer patient nearly forced by the state to undergo chemotherapy against his will, from happening again:
RICHMOND, Va. — Inspired by a teenage cancer patient’s legal fight to obtain alternative treatment, two Hampton Roads lawmakers said Thursday that they will introduce legislation to strengthen families’ rights to manage the health care of gravely ill children.
Republican Del. John Welch III, R-Virginia Beach, said the goal is to curb the kind of government intervention that forced 16-year-old Starchild Abraham Cherrix into court after he replaced chemotherapy with an herbal treatment available through clinics in Mexico.
“The 800-pound gorilla known as government should not intervene at the 11th hour as the arch enemy,” Welch said in a telephone interview. “Government is supposed to help people.”
(…)
This family had no history of abuse or neglect,” Welch said. “There was no reason for Social Services to get involved–no reason for the medical community to try to take over parental rights.”
Welch said he has asked the state Division of Legislative Services to draft the bill, which he will call “Abraham’s Law.” He hopes to submit the bill Monday.
Sen. Nick Rerras, R-Norfolk, said he plans to introduce similar legislation. He said he and Welch likely will work together toward the same goal.
“There’s some things that ought to be left to families,” Rerras said. “Pulling people into court because they are choosing medicine that is not popular or well known or practiced by local physicians–that’s not right.”
And the fact that it even got as far as it did is a stark indictment of the state of the legal system today.
Previous Posts:
The Nanny State vs. The Family
Judge Holds Teen With Cancer In Limbo
The Nanny State vs. The Family Part II
It’s D-Day For Abraham Cherrix
Abraham Cherrix Gets A Reprieve
The Nanny State vs. The Family Part III
Abraham Cherrix Wins His Case
