Cassandra C. Case Study

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In In Re Cassandra C., Cassandra C. had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer in the lymphatic system, in September of 2014. The recommended treatment for her cancer was chemotherapy to help slow down the division of cancer cells. Alongside support from her mother, Cassandra refused the chemotherapy treatments. “In November, 2014, the trial court granted the petition of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for an order of temporary custody of Cassandra and directed her mother to provide and cooperate with medical care under DCF’s supervision and as recommended by her doctors” (“Juveniles”). Cassandra and her mother state that the court should take note of the “mature minor doctrine” to require that before a court can force a minor to receive medical treatment, it must be determined if the minor is mature enough to legally make the decisions. Minors should not be allowed to make medical decisions, especially lifesaving treatments such as chemotherapy. Minors are restricted to alcohol and tobacco products by law until the ages of maturity due to their brain not being fully developed. A scientific study shows teenager’s brains do not fully develop on the road while driving until the age of 26. A minor does not have the right to decide …show more content…
There is no way to determine if a minor is mature or immature or the term minor would not be issued to teenagers. Characteristics of a teenager or tests to determine maturity do not classify if a minor is a “mature minor”. A minor becomes a mature adult as one experiences life and lives through moments to learn from. Cassandra, a seventeen-year old girl, barely understood the reasoning for her chemotherapy and did not come from a healthy household. Her father played no role in her life and her mother rejected the idea of her daughter having Hodgkin’s