Final Essay Cassandra C., was a 17- year- old girl faced with the daunting diagnosis of cancer. Her future would contain multiple chemotherapy treatments that would bring her to the brink of death. This thought would scare anyone, much less a young 17 year old. Cassandra decided that she simply did not want to undergo the chemotherapy treatments, instead undergo natural treatments. She knew that there would be a larger probability of death with this decision. Although she knew this fact, she still refused to undergo any type of chemotherapy treatments. Her mother respected her decision and because of this the state took Cassandra away from her mother’s custody and forced Cassandra to undergo chemotherapy to ensure life. Cassandra is alive …show more content…
It is hard for anyone, but especially someone underage to grasp the reality of death. To grasp the reality of a possibility of their young life coming to an end. This being said Cassandra could have been scared of the known pain and suffering that these chemotherapy treatments would bring. The shame that they could bring, both physically and mentally. Chemotherapy alters a person’s physical appearance, as well as their metal state. Cassandra is not alive and thriving, in other cases such as these the right action would be what would bring the best outcome. The consequentialism theory would allow for actions like those of the state to occur because the outcome far outweighs the inputs. Although Cassandra had to endure pain, both mentally and physically, because of the separation from her mother and forcible treatment the outcome of life outweighs the short term …show more content…
Although she refused treatment, and at the time did not want chemotherapy at all, she is now thankful to be alive. Forcing a child to undergo treatments is not the ideal situation, but if that is what it takes to save a child’s life that is what needs to be done. In further cases if the parent does not step in and force the child to undergo medical treatment that could potentially save their lives, the state should step in. The state does have the right to ensure the safety of a child that is underage. Although Cassandra was 17 years old, she still was not able to grasp the full seriousness of the situation. Natural treatments for cancer are very rarely effective and would put Cassandra under a great amount of pain. Cancer is a very aggressive disease, and without the proper care can attack a person’s entire