"Ontario [Canada] Children’s Aid officials have closed their investigation into the family of a girl who is refusing chemotherapy treatment, effectively leaving it up to the 11-year-old to decide her own care."
Now why would they do that, do you figure? Well, she's a member of a First Nations community, and her family has found a native healer instead. Canada's courts have ruled in the past that a Jehovah's Witness family cannot withhold lifesaving blood transfusions from a child, but apparently we're not willing to override native beliefs in the same way.
I hope the initial round of chemo did the trick, or else this girl is a goner. And while I disagree with the decision her family is making here, I wouldn't wish that kind of grief and self-recrimination on anyone.
Melinda is right. This decision will, in all probability, result in her untimely death. Furthermore, since when does a civilized society allow an 11 year old to make life and death decisions?! The article says that forcing chemotherapy is not going to be in any way emotionally sound for her, or psychologically or even spiritually. Maybe. But what's the point of emotional, psychological or spiritual 'soundness' when you're dead?
Quite frankly, this strikes me as nothing more than compensating for feelings of guilt by those in charge. Guilt of having treated native americans like shit - murdering them, stealing their lands, and damn near wiping out their culture. Now, the powers that be will 'make it all up' by idly standing by and allowing a child to die in the name of cultural sensitivity.
If the Canadian government is willing to intervene to save the life of a Jehovah's Witness child, I'd like to hear their explanation as to why this child's life is less valuable?
this strikes me as nothing more than compensating for feelings of guilt by those in charge. Guilt of having treated native americans like shit - murdering them, stealing their lands, and damn near wiping out their culture. Now, the powers that be will 'make it all up' by idly standing by and allowing a child to die in the name of cultural sensitivity.
Maybe it has more to do with the long tradition of romanticizing and idealizing Native Americans. They're seen as having ancient wisdom that mainstream Americans don't, being in touch with nature in a deep mysterious way, having a virtuous egalitarian culture, etc.
The native cultures in Africa probably were similar, but people are much more negative about them.
The Canadian government has a history of killing its native peoples and as far as I understand they are still not treated very well.....
w a kid. I might just want to side w t nanny staters
Kids do need nannies.
Here's a followup article by the same paper. Looks like they might follow this story as far as it goes, which might be two or three years down the road according to her oncologist. Of course Jesus told her she's healed already, so I guess it's all okay.
An 11 year old cannot make up her mind as an adult. Rest assured that the parents are pulling the strings here and all of them hiding behind their heritage. The unfortunate girl is simply a part of this delusion.
A visit from Jesus? Ah, come on!