Mother of 555 Pound Boy Arrested for Medical Neglect

I was telling my mom I was really torn on the Hauser family (we saw their story on the Today show last week). I mean, on the one hand, it is their child not the state's, and he is saying he doesn't want this treatment, that he would rather let it be, and if he dies, so be it, that's the way it is meant to be, I guess (that's what it sounded like the meaning was anyway)....on the other hand, like Susan said, if there was a treatment out there that could save my child, I would do whatever I could to get that treatment for her. But I totally understand where that mom was coming from when she took her son and took off. Anything to protect our babies, right?

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I live in MN so I have followed this since day 1. While I would do whatever medically to save one of my children, I feel it's every parent's right to do what they think best and I feel this is between Daniel and his God (beliefs) and their family. Once we let the government in, the door is open and they will get through the cracks on many other issues and I feel that is very wrong. It doesn't matter to me what I'd do, it matters to me what they chose to do is still their right. This is still America isn't it?

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If it were *my* child that needed medical care I'd be all over it. However, in the United States we are supposed to have certain rights including freedom to practice our religion as we choose (not using medical care and instead relying on prayer or refusing chemo). We also have the responsibility of raising our own children (the way we wish) I'd hate to think what kind of presidence this would set in allowing the government to dictate family decisions.

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In the case of the overweight boy, I think the state was right to intervene. How the mother could not be concerned for his son's health is beyond me. And he certainly didn't get to 550 lbs. all on his own at such a young age. Unless there is some sort of thyroid problem or something, this mother was obviously not promoting any healthy eating habits. To let it get to this point is just horrible.

As for the boy with cancer, I am torn on that one too. Chemotherapy can be horrendous to go through and he is certainly old enough to make some own decisions about his health so I am not sure how I feel about the state intervening there. On the flip side, I did hear that the form of cancer he has is highly treatable with chemo so I can see where the state is coming from. It's a real tough situation.

Rebecca
http://www.decorating-your-baby-nursery.com

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Several articles about the boy with Hodgekin's Lymphoma (which you're right, Rebecca, is highly treatable - it has a 90% cure rate, actually!) have stated that the boy is being considered to be incapable of making a rational decision on his own. He is enrolled in the fifth grade at age 13, and has tested at reading and writing far below even a fifth grade level. His guardian ad litem testified that he could not sight-read the word 'the'! He described himself as a 'church elder' to the court, but when asked for details about his religious beliefs he couldn't tell them anything.

I fully support the right of an competent person, even a teenager, to refuse treatment if they understand the risk and don't want to suffer anymore. But this child is clearly not capable of doing so. To allow him to refuse treatment because of his 'religious beliefs' is nothing short of child abuse.

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I think this is a sad state of our society that we are now putting parents away for fat children. Sure, it is deplorable to see some of these kids today, inactive and overweight. We can see that most of his weight is genetic, but we can also see that they he may also be economically disadvantaged. That type of health care is not covered by many providers, especially if they are on medicare. Also take into account that children that come impovished areas have less healthier places to choose from to eat and the closest stores do not offer or has overpriced many of the "healthier" foods. On a fixed income is it better to buy Hamburger Helper, or some fruits and vegatables. Is that the only problem?..Of course not. If he lives in a bad neighboorhood or an economically disadvantaged one, there are no outdoor activities, no places to play. The playgrounds are dangerous. So take a young man, genetically predisposed to obesity, with little money, in a bad neighboorhood and you will have someone that stays in the house all day and eat snacks and foods that his family can afford. It is not the parents fault, it's societies fault. We are to blame, the rising prices, the less that average jobs and the terrible education, the rewarding for lack of fathers in the household in the form of welfare and other programs, taking the fight out of doing better or wanting more. The computers, the video games, the TV, Cable Digitial all things designed for us to stay home. Next are we going to start arresting parents of teens that dress promiscous? Or lets get the parents who's children get "F's" in school, oh or better lets's get the parents for having too many kids, or those who have more boys than girls, or more girls than boys or girls that are tooo skinny and boys who are too feminine. See how ridiculous this can get.

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I just learned that the mother of the overweight child works THREE (3) JOBS! What I don't understand is whose taking care or watching out for this child while she's working; you would think someone would be supporting her. I know I was very fortunate to have support when I had to work, and go to nite school, to have my family and friends be there for me.

I mean she has absolutely NO TIME for her child, looks to me, the BEST thing for the child is to be placed in a foster home whereby someone can take better care of him.

I'm sorry, I am not working 3 jobs for anything! If I can't live within my means with one, well something is very wrong. Then in todays world, heck, in addition to high rent, she probably needs to work one job just to pay for health coverage, but once the insurance Co. found out how overweight her son is, she would be instantly, disqualifed!

NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORK 3 JOBS, NO ONE!

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When Things Go Wrong We Blame Mama and in this case, we should! Clearly, “It's Mama's Fault!” There is absolutely no excuse for this blatant disregard for healthy living. I guarantee the father is not around and the mother has some insecurity issues. I do not need to know the whole story to know that this one reeks the stench of plain old bad parenting. I write about Illegitimate Births, Unwed Mothers and their children “Doomed to Repeat the Cycle.” In this case, this kid will be dead before 18 without a tremendous amount of outside intervention! He won't need to worry about repeating anything. --Lex Drás

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