Many people likely breathed a sigh of relief late last week upon finding out a 13-year-old Sleepy Eye, Minn., boy had finally gotten another round of chemotherapy.
The case of Daniel Hauser and his parents’ decision to avoid traditional treatment of his Hodgkin’s lymphoma after only one treatment last winter has drawn national attention. And consternation.
Acknowledging that chemotherapy has horrible side effects, including nausea, hair loss and depression, people still wondered how Colleen and Anthony Hauser could ignore the expert medical opinions that said the chance of saving their son’s life was far greater with the treatment.
In fact, reputable doctors, including some from Mayo Clinic, testified that Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a very treatable disease in young people, especially if caught early. There are cases and statistics that back that up. The doctors said there is about a 90 percent chance of beating it with chemotherapy.
Instead of finishing the round of treatment, the Hausers insisted on treating their son with strictly alternative methods, beginning a bizarre journey that has included intervention by county family services, court hearings, running away, a multiple-country search and a trip home on a charter plane, courtesy of a media company.
Part of the intrigue of following this case is that the Hausers appear to be a nice southern Minnesota farm family. The judge determined after extensive interviews that Colleen and Anthony Hauser are loving parents who want the best for their son, who is one of eight children. Some of the people who helped Colleen and Daniel Hauser return home after their escape to California claim the down-to-earth family has been misled and abandoned by those who jumped ship when things got serious (a federal arrest warrant was issued).
It was reported Colleen Hauser had learned about some of the alternative treatments on the Internet. That means a regimen that stresses diet and includes supplements, herbs and water with a more acidic pH. The family, who is Catholic, also have adopted spiritual beliefs of the Nemenhah.
Practical people are shaking their heads and saying: Buyer beware, even when money isn’t involved. Common sense needs to prevail.
One of the Colleen Hauser’s arguments for abandoning treatment was that Daniel didn’t feel sick before the chemotherapy, but did so afterward. Letting a child determine his own treatment based on his comfort level is not responsible parenting. Most kids would choose to run from a needle rather than get a vaccine any day. Chemotherapy has intense side effects and a child, who in this case is lower functioning than his 13 years of age, should not be the one calling the shots.
Everyone has a right to explore their belief systems and health practices. But in this case, the parents ignored the reality of the situation and used alternative methods as an escape rather than in conjunction with treatment with a proven track record.
Now they are complying with a court order to get Daniel chemotherapy. And the medical facility that is treating him, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis, is working with the family to use alternative treatments to deal with side effects. That could include acupuncture, vitamin supplements, yoga and other non-Western practices.
It seems to be a win-win situation for the family if all goes according to plan. And best of all, the chances of their son’s survival are much better with the care he’s receiving and the fact he’s home.
— The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.
