I believe that, in general, minors should be involved in the final decision regarding their treatment,but that the parents should be granted the final say for their children. With that being said, I think it is also very important to look at all aspects of this particular case: Jimmy already is afflicted with a neurological disorder that has progressed rather quickly in his short life, and will eventually make his independent life a dim reality, without the added factor of a rare cancer and the possibility of chemo. In this situation, while it is instinct for the parents to do everything they can to save their child, I believe it is the responsibility of the oncologist to be Jimmy's advocate and help the parents realize that it is best for Jimmy at this point in his life to be comfortable, surrounded by loved ones. Jimmy himself has already come to terms with his impending death, and it is crucial for Jimmy's final days that his parents are supportive of him and his medical decision.
i completely agree with Chelsea. I believe that minors should be permitted to participate in a large decision such as this one because it is impacting their life. However, his parents should be able to overrule him (but in this case I do not believe they made the right decision). The parent's decision should be the decisive one. His parents would love to have him around for as long as they can, but this may not be what is best for Jimmy. They will not be ready to let him go at any time. Even if he lives to 18, the year when he is predicted to die from his neurological disease, his parents will not want him to die. Jimmy is ready now, and if he lives for another few months maybe he will not be at peace with it as much. The oncologist needs to step in here and clearly explain to the parents the situation. There is a high chance that the treatment will not be worthwhile to put Jimmy through, and even if he comes out in the top 20%, he will only have a few more years (in which he will not be comfortable because the neurological disease is degenerating). The oncologist must express Jimmy's wishes clearly with his parents and work towards them understanding why he is feeling like this is the best decision. At only 11, his parents may think that his choice should not be taken into account, but they need to recognize, in this situation, that it is Jimmy's life and there is short time left either way unfortunately.
I completely agree with emily and chelsea. Minors should be involved in the decisions that will effect there life. Yes he is a young child and people can argue that he is not developed enough to fully understand the situation however in jimmy's case i think that he does understand. he knows that he has a neurological desease and lymphoma both of wich have low survival rates. He should be allowed to be part of the decision that will change is life. I think the doctor should talk to the parents and get the parents and child to talk and i dont think that the minor should be ignored completely. His parents need to recognize that jimmy will not survive much longer with or without the chemo and if jimmy does not want to go through the pain and discomfort of chemo then he should not be subjected to it.
I also think minors should have a say in a decision of this magnitude. I do not think the oncologist should take Jimmy's decision over his parents. After debating this issue with myself for a little while, I don't think Jimmy's neurological disease should play a part in making the decision of whether to do chemotherapy. If Jimmy happens to survive the lymphoma, he still has about seven years of life ahead of him, and many people with a neurological disease live much longer than their doctors expect. Yes, his remaining few years will be plagued with pain and discomfort, but I would not allow an 11 year old to commit suicide if he had been diagnosed with Jimmy's neurological disease. I think that by refusing to undergo chemotherapy, Jimmy is seeing his lymphoma as an easy way out to avoid the hard life ahead of him. To me, with a 20 percent survival rate, undergoing chemotherapy is not a lost cause, so Jimmy shouldn't give up!
I believe that, in general, minors should be involved in the final decision regarding their treatment,but that the parents should be granted the final say for their children. With that being said, I think it is also very important to look at all aspects of this particular case: Jimmy already is afflicted with a neurological disorder that has progressed rather quickly in his short life, and will eventually make his independent life a dim reality, without the added factor of a rare cancer and the possibility of chemo. In this situation, while it is instinct for the parents to do everything they can to save their child, I believe it is the responsibility of the oncologist to be Jimmy's advocate and help the parents realize that it is best for Jimmy at this point in his life to be comfortable, surrounded by loved ones. Jimmy himself has already come to terms with his impending death, and it is crucial for Jimmy's final days that his parents are supportive of him and his medical decision.
ReplyDeletei completely agree with Chelsea. I believe that minors should be permitted to participate in a large decision such as this one because it is impacting their life. However, his parents should be able to overrule him (but in this case I do not believe they made the right decision). The parent's decision should be the decisive one. His parents would love to have him around for as long as they can, but this may not be what is best for Jimmy. They will not be ready to let him go at any time. Even if he lives to 18, the year when he is predicted to die from his neurological disease, his parents will not want him to die. Jimmy is ready now, and if he lives for another few months maybe he will not be at peace with it as much. The oncologist needs to step in here and clearly explain to the parents the situation. There is a high chance that the treatment will not be worthwhile to put Jimmy through, and even if he comes out in the top 20%, he will only have a few more years (in which he will not be comfortable because the neurological disease is degenerating). The oncologist must express Jimmy's wishes clearly with his parents and work towards them understanding why he is feeling like this is the best decision. At only 11, his parents may think that his choice should not be taken into account, but they need to recognize, in this situation, that it is Jimmy's life and there is short time left either way unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with emily and chelsea. Minors should be involved in the decisions that will effect there life. Yes he is a young child and people can argue that he is not developed enough to fully understand the situation however in jimmy's case i think that he does understand. he knows that he has a neurological desease and lymphoma both of wich have low survival rates. He should be allowed to be part of the decision that will change is life. I think the doctor should talk to the parents and get the parents and child to talk and i dont think that the minor should be ignored completely. His parents need to recognize that jimmy will not survive much longer with or without the chemo and if jimmy does not want to go through the pain and discomfort of chemo then he should not be subjected to it.
ReplyDeleteI also think minors should have a say in a decision of this magnitude. I do not think the oncologist should take Jimmy's decision over his parents. After debating this issue with myself for a little while, I don't think Jimmy's neurological disease should play a part in making the decision of whether to do chemotherapy. If Jimmy happens to survive the lymphoma, he still has about seven years of life ahead of him, and many people with a neurological disease live much longer than their doctors expect. Yes, his remaining few years will be plagued with pain and discomfort, but I would not allow an 11 year old to commit suicide if he had been diagnosed with Jimmy's neurological disease. I think that by refusing to undergo chemotherapy, Jimmy is seeing his lymphoma as an easy way out to avoid the hard life ahead of him. To me, with a 20 percent survival rate, undergoing chemotherapy is not a lost cause, so Jimmy shouldn't give up!
ReplyDelete