Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Do parents have the right to make an informed decision about their child’s health, if their decision disagrees with a doctor’s? That was the question a Michigan court answered this past January. Mike Farris has more, on today’s Home School Heartbeat.

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Mike Farris:
This week, I’ve been telling the story of Ken and Erin Stieler. These parents ended up in court because they disagreed with their doctor who was treating their 8-year-old son for cancer. The doctor caused the state to take them to court for medical neglect. Would a court agree that it was their decision to make or not?

Well, the Court recognized that this was a hard case, at least factually, and a difficult decision. Ultimately, it ruled in favor of the Stielers—and in favor of parental rights. Jacob’s parents were not neglecting his health. They had his cancer treated immediately when they discovered it. They followed up with a PET scans. They learned about the risks and benefits of the course of treatment that the doctors recommended. But then they decided that the risk of more rounds of chemo were too great for Jacob.

And, the Court said, when a doctor informs a patient or a patient’s parents of the risks of a potential treatment, that implies that they have a choice of whether or not to go forward with the treatment. It is the parent’s informed choice that ultimately counts.

This Court got it right. And we thank them for this good decision. However, the state is appealing this decision, and it is ongoing at this time.

We believe that it is crucial to defend the right of parents to make decisions for their children. You can learn more about parental rights, how they’re being threatened, and what you can do about it, by visiting on the web www.parentalrights.org. I’m Mike Farris.