Your Health: Who’s In Charge?
The story of Abraham Cherrix is one of the most amazing, and chilling, that I have heard of. He had two strikes against him in his situation, one, he was 16 years old, technically, a minor, and two, he had the misfortune to have Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer that affects the lymph nodes. After going through a regimen of chemotherapy that nearly killed him, he decided he didn’t want a second round of the chemotherapy. 
With his parent’s support, Abraham began to educate himself about alternative cancer treatments, telling his oncologist he did not wish to experience any more chemotherapy. This is where it started getting ugly!
“…the doctor was apparently so enraged by the idea that any patient would not want to submit to his authority that he called the county social services which promptly had the parents arrested and acquired joint custody over the teen. Social services Gestapo members are now in court arguing that the state should force the teen to undergo yet more chemotherapy, as demanded by his doctor. A judge will now decide Abraham’s fate. If the judge orders him back to chemotherapy, Abraham and his family will then become fugitives merely for making their own informed decisions about which type of cancer treatment they wish to pursue. Armed agents will hunt down the family, and Abraham will be effectively forced to undergo chemotherapy at gunpoint. Hence the term, ‘Gunpoint Medicine.'”
This is sad! It illustrates the truth of my “catchphrase” once again… “YOU are the one most responsible for YOUR health!” You should have the right to choose your own health care and treatment. I realize that in this case, this young man is a minor… but his parents are “in his corner” as well. The state shouldn’t be able to come in and force him to do something that has already been illustrated to have harmed him, not helped him! Whether you know it or not, we are in a “battle” to secure our own rights to be free to choose the healthcare that we desire. It should not be forced on us! Unforntunately, according to an AP news release, he lost his court battle:
“NORFOLK, Virginia (AP) — A judge ruled Friday (July 21) that a 16-year-old boy fighting to use alternative treatment for his cancer must report to a hospital by Tuesday and accept treatment that doctors deem necessary, the family’s attorney said. The judge also found that Abraham Cherrix’s parents were neglectful for allowing him to pursue alternative treatment of a sugar-free, organic diet and herbal supplements supervised by a clinic in Mexico, lawyer John Stepanovich said. Jay and Rose Cherrix of Chincoteague on Virginia’s Eastern Shore must continue to share custody of their son with the Accomack County Department of Social Services, as the judge had previously ordered, Stepanovich said. The parents were devastated by the new order and planned to appeal, the lawyer said.”
How incredibly sad, and insane. I hope Abraham’s family continues to appeal this case.