Mike Smith:
Mike, there’s a case going on in Virginia right now that demonstrates the battle parents are facing. What is that?
Michael Farris:
It’s the Cherrix case and it’s getting a lot of national media attention. It’s involving a 16-year-old boy, who unfortunately has cancer.
Mike Smith:
The parents have been charged with medical neglect and a trial is set for next week. Is that right?
Mike Farris:
That’s right. Abraham Cherrix, 16 years old, has cancer, and the parents are wanting to pursue a respectable but nontraditional form of treatment for this boy. There is no guarantee whatsoever, as I understand it, that the conventional medical treatment will work. And this is simply a choice among difficult alternatives that adults make all the time for themselves. This is not a case where parents are ignoring obvious, clear answers that would save the child’s life. This is a case where there’s a judgment call as to which medical treatment is the best.
Mike Smith:
Mike, what can parents do to protect themselves?
Mike Farris:
Well, we need to be prepared to battle not just for one family or another, but for all of us, and I think we need a parents’ rights constitutional amendment. HSLDA’s going to be leading the charge on that. I would encourage families to join HSLDA, to look at our website. We need to put parents’ rights in the black and white of the Constitution.
Mike Smith:
Amen, and amen. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
