There are many complexities and opinions that can be drawn away from the 13 year

old boy’s story. The idea of alternative therapies continues to gain momentum and
popularity, depending on the population you consult and there are many legal and moral
complications arising from the complicated nature of these cases. Ethics has been defined as
the difference between right and wrong, being defined through religious theory, public
policy, and moral practice.1 All of these separate considerations make the subject a very
complicated issue.
I feel that many times physicians are not supportive of or uncomfortable with the idea
of alternative therapies, as they have not been developed, studied, and tested in the tedious
manner that implemented FDA therapies would be. It would be understandable if a physician
was to feel morally and ethical irresponsible prescribing a less-understood mode of therapy
over a technique that has shown success, as was the case in the story where the physician
deciding upon chemotherapy which had displayed a 95% survival rate.2 I feel that in the
event that a child was in serious danger and there was a well-known therapeutic therapy
available, the courts must step-in in the manner described in the story as to effectively protect
the life of the unable-to-consent patient.
I believe the real mix of emotions would come particularly at the hands of the
patient’s family. Even though it may become very misconstrued based on the opinions of
others, it is clear that the main goal of the parents is to seek what they deem to be the most
ethical and effective treatment possible for their son. Although they may mean well, there are
cases in which the parents opinions may be deemed unstable and putting the patient in harm.
In my opinion, the parents are most definitely guilty of negligence as they knowingly
decided to take their sons care into their own hands rather that following a court order. This
is different than carelessness, but they are still not acting in a way that a normal, prudent
person may have.3
1. Lenards N. Introductory Healthcare Ethics. [SoftChalk]. La Crosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry Program; 2018.
2. Steil M. Boy's disappearance shakes up Sleepy Eye. Minnesota Public Radio News.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2009/05/20/daniel_hauser_reactions. Published May 20, 2009. Accessed September 5, 2018.
3. Lenards N. Professional & Legal Aspects. [Softchalk]. La Crosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry Program; 2018
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