A girl, identified only as "Cassandra C." had two rounds of chemo after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in September.
However, she didn't want to continue so she left the facility. Her mother supported the decision leading the Department of Children and Families to remover her from the home and force her to take the treatments.
"Several physicians involved in this case tell us with certainty that a child will die as a result of leaving a decision up to a parent," the agency said in a release.
The Hartford Courant reports Cassandra has undergone three more treatments, and those will continue until a decision is reached by the court.
Cassandra's attorney Michael Taylor told the paper this is about "the fundamental right to have a say about what goes on with your [her] body."
"Can a smart and knowledgeable 17 year old make the same choice, for better or worse, than she would be able to make without state interference nine months from now, when she turns 18," he asked.
Doctors say the girl has an 80-85 percent chance to survive the cancer with the treatment. They say it's likely she'll die without it.
The Connecticut Supreme Court will take up the case this week.
More here
About the Author
