Abraham's Law": A Bill For Parental And Patient Rights
Aug 17, 2006 02:57 PM CST
www.BreastImplantAwareness.org/blog.htm#Abraham
The 16-year-old teenager who won the battle to treat his cancer with
alternative medicine may now have the power to change more than just
his life.
Abraham Cherrix fought for months in court against chemotherapy
treatments.
His parents sided with their son saying they had the right to choose
as a family.
Just one day after the Cherrix victory, there's already a bill being
drafted that could change state law so no other family will have to
fight for the right to choose treatment.
The lights, cameras and satellite trucks followed 16-year-old Abraham
Cherrix's every move.
He made national news fighting the courts and Social Services to treat
his cancer with an herbal remedy.
All the attention caught the eyes of local Virginia Beach Delegate
John Welch.
"No one should have any decision over that child but the parent again
if there is no neglect no abuse, what makes us as a state be the
ultimate parent," said Republican John Welch from District 21 in
Virginia Beach.
It's that train of thought that prompted Welch to take Cherrix's cause
to the General Assembly.
He's drafting a bill to later be called Abraham's Law.
It will address parental and patient rights...rights Welch says Jay
and Rose Cherrix should have had from the beginning, without any
interference from the courts.
"Immediatly I'm going to put forward legislation that exempts
terminally ill patients from any type of government intrusion," said
Welch.
The court intrusion is something Abraham dealt with for so long, and
says he doesn't want others to feel his pain.
"Right now we're free from our main problem free from the court from
Social Services grasp," said Abraham.
While Abraham continues his battle against cancer, Carl Bundick,
attorney for Social Services in Cherrix's case wonders how "Abraham's
Law" would work.
"The difficulty in coming up with a law that constitutes age is when
to give consent an what not," said Bundick.
But for Abraham's attorney, John Stepanovich, it's not about how but
about when, and what the state can learn from the 16-year-old who
never gave up.
"If we can't make long term permanent positive change for the
commonwealth of Virginia it would be a shame, " said Stepanovich.
Welch plans to introduce the legislation on August 28th.
He'll also present it again in January.
Already there is some support; a Senator from the Eastern Shore, where
Abraham lives says he'll back the bill.
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Giovanna Bechard, Reporting
"Abraham's Law": A Bill For Parental And Patient Rights
Aug 17, 2006 02:57 PM CST
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The 16-year-old teenager who won the battle to treat his cancer with
alternative medicine may now have the power to change more than just
his life.
Abraham Cherrix fought for months in court against chemotherapy
treatments.
His parents sided with their son saying they had the right to choose
as a family.
Just one day after the Cherrix victory, there's already a bill being
drafted that could change state law so no other family will have to
fight for the right to choose treatment.
The lights, cameras and satellite trucks followed 16-year-old Abraham
Cherrix's every move.
He made national news fighting the courts and Social Services to treat
his cancer with an herbal remedy.
All the attention caught the eyes of local Virginia Beach Delegate
John Welch.
"No one should have any decision over that child but the parent again
if there is no neglect no abuse, what makes us as a state be the
ultimate parent," said Republican John Welch from District 21 in
Virginia Beach.
It's that train of thought that prompted Welch to take Cherrix's cause
to the General Assembly.
He's drafting a bill to later be called Abraham's Law.
It will address parental and patient rights...rights Welch says Jay
and Rose Cherrix should have had from the beginning, without any
interference from the courts.
"Immediatly I'm going to put forward legislation that exempts
terminally ill patients from any type of government intrusion," said
Welch.
The court intrusion is something Abraham dealt with for so long, and
says he doesn't want others to feel his pain.
"Right now we're free from our main problem free from the court from
Social Services grasp," said Abraham.
While Abraham continues his battle against cancer, Carl Bundick,
attorney for Social Services in Cherrix's case wonders how "Abraham's
Law" would work.
"The difficulty in coming up with a law that constitutes age is when
to give consent an what not," said Bundick.
But for Abraham's attorney, John Stepanovich, it's not about how but
about when, and what the state can learn from the 16-year-old who
never gave up.
"If we can't make long term permanent positive change for the
commonwealth of Virginia it would be a shame, " said Stepanovich.
Welch plans to introduce the legislation on August 28th.
He'll also present it again in January.
Already there is some support; a Senator from the Eastern Shore, where
Abraham lives says he'll back the bill.