Court forcing 16 yr old with cancer into chemo

[Alex]

So no line for you? There is no decision making by the parents that could be so bad that government should intervene?

[Stan4dSteph]

I would say that the kid should stick with the chemo if I were the judge. As blueerica said, it's a fine line, but in this case I would have sided with the proven treatment versus the unproven, given that the decision was not based on any personal belief system.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

So no line for you? There is no decision making by the parents that could be so bad that government should intervene?

Slippery slope right there. Freedom to make your own decisions means being free to make what others perceive as the "wrong" decision. Telling people they're free only to make the government-perceived "right" decision isn't freedom at all.

Yes, some people do make horrible horrible choices. Yes, as parents that negatively affects another human being. But without the freedom to take risks and be innovative, we cannot advance. If someone believes there's a better way, and they believe it strongly enough that they feel it's worth putting their own child's life on the line (or feel the alternative is so horrible that it's worth the risk), then perhaps we take a chance and allow them to try to be innovative. If they're wrong, they suffer the most, so you have to assume they don't take the decision lightly. If they're right, all of society benefits from advances in treatment.

There are drawbacks on either side of the argument, and it's true most people are idiots. But I'd rather be a free idiot making my own decisions than a cared-for automaton living under Big Brother's watchful eye.