Photo: Facebook / Cassandra Fortin
17-year-old American is forced to undergo chemotherapy
Due to the side effects of chemotherapy, the 17-year-old Cassandra does not want to have her cancer treated. Now she is forced to do so.
In September 2014, 17-year-old Cassandra Fortin from Conneticut (USA) was diagnosed with cancer. A tumor was discovered in the lymphatic system of the young girl. A shock to Cassandra and her mother Jackie Fortin. But there is hope. The chances of recovery for Cassandra are good. The doctors assume that the young woman can be completely cured with a probability of about 85 percent. However, it is necessary to chemotherapy.
After the diagnosis, Cassandra underwent two sessions. Then she stopped taking the chemo . The side effects put a lot on the young woman. These include, for example, nausea or even severe pain throughout the body.
Jackie Fortin, the mother of the underage Cassandra supports her daughter's decision and does not oppose it. In the opinion of the treating physicians and the youth welfare office this is completely irresponsible, as it would mean the death of Cassandra Fortin.
For this reason, Jackie Fortin was temporarily deprived of custody of her daughter. It was instead transferred to the Connecticut State Department of Children and Family. This decreed that Cassandra Fortin undergo another chemotherapy.
During the re-treatment, the 17-year-old was handcuffed to bed because she was so vehemently opposed to chemo. Jackie Fortin now wants to take legal action against forced chemotherapy with her daughter. She believes that Cassandra, who turns 18 this September, is mature enough to decide her own life.
Such a case has not been heard before an American court. He raises many questions. On the one hand: Can a 17-year-old girl really make her own life and death decision? Should not her mother intervene when there is a likelihood of up to 85 percent that her daughter can be healed and stay alive? On the other hand, one wonders if a person can really be forced to undergo medical treatment. He is finally deprived of the right to have his own body.
