Family who refused cancer treatment for teen sues Texas: familyhas filed a federal lawsuit saying their constitutional rights were violated.

Family who refused cancer treatment for teen sues Texas
The Associated Press
Published: June 12, 2007

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...ody-Battle.php

HARLINGEN, Texas: The family taken into custody after refusing medical
treatment for their teen's cancer has filed a federal lawsuit saying
their constitutional rights were violated.

Katie Wernecke was 12 in 2005 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's
disease, a cancer of the lymph nodes. Her parents refused to allow
radiation treatment, arguing chemotherapy already killed the cancer and
saying they feared the radiation would do more harm than good. Her
doctor contacted Child Protective Services, now the Department of Family
and Protective Services.

Officials went to Katie's home to remove her from her parents and took
her three brothers when she was not there. Nueces County sheriff's
officials later took Katie from a family ranch where she was hiding with
her mother.

Katie remained in foster care until November 2005, when a judge ordered
her returned to her family. She has since undergone traditional and
nontraditional treatments, including radiation.

Family lawyer Charles Bundren on Tuesday declined comment on the lawsuit
against state officials and two constables but said Katie, now 15, is
doing well and attending school. He would not say whether the cancer was
in remission.

The lawsuit, filed May 31, claims state and county officials violated
the Fourth and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution, which protect
against unlawful search and seizure and guarantee the right to family
privacy.

"The right of a family to remain together without the coercive
interference of the government is a fundamental right protected," the
suit says.

It requests unspecified financial damages.

Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for the Department of Family and
Protective Services, would not comment on the lawsuit.

"I will say that while Katie was in our care, we did everything
according to the law and according to what we determined was in her best
interest," Crimmins said.

Ed Wernecke, Katie's father, did not immediately return a phone call.

According to a family Web log, Katie has traveled extensively since 2005
for different treatments, including immunotherapy and an intravenous
vitamin C treatment. The cancer was in remission in September but
reappeared in multiple spots in December.



CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.

BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...