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Chemotherapy Not Necessarily Best Choice and Must not be Mandated by State
Sign this petition
To: The Deseret News
Re: The Parker Jensen issue
As a social worker, and as a mother who has rejected high-risk medical
treatments for my children, I take offense at the State of Utah usurping Daren
and Barbara Jensen’s right to choose their son’s treatment.
The parents of Utah should vigorously defend the rights of the Jensen family.
Parents in this state deserve the kudos for our low crime rate, high education
and employment rates, and outstanding public health statistics.
The “State of Utah as Parent” has a less impressive track record. Only a few
years ago, DCFS was successfully sued by national children’s interest groups
for turning a blind eye to the plight of children who were clearly, grossly
neglected and abused.
The pendulum has swung so far that now DCFS believes parents with a history of
honorable parenting can’t be trusted to do what’s best for their children.
Let’s not neglect to examine the phenomenal arrogance of the oncologist who
reported the Jensen family to DCFS for not acquiescing to his demand that
12-year old Parker undergo long-term chemotherapy. Within standard practices,
medical research and opinions are reversed constantly, and treatments that were
standard a decade ago horrify doctors today. Doctors should offer counsel and
treatment; they have no right to dictate them.
Americans are fed up with drugs and surgery as the primary approach to health.
In 2001, according to nutrition author Jean Carper, two-thirds of Americans
sought alternative health treatments, many of them foregoing the “traditional”
allopathic approach (ironically, a science less than 200 years old). Medical
schools are responding to consumer demands, and 60% of them finally offer one
class in nutrition.
Oncology is the most barbaric of the branches of Western Medicine. By the
profession’s own journal-published admissions, chemotherapy and radiation kill
as many patients as they save. Chemotherapy should be a choice, and that’s
all.
Drugs and surgery are the only cancer treatments medical doctors prescribe,
because they’re the only treatments researched by pharmaceutical companies who
sell to our medical profession and fund their schools. Natural remedies can’t
be patented or leveraged to make billions of dollars. Proponents of chemotherapy
scorn other options for “lack of research.” First, is “research”
conducted by Bristol-Myers-Squibb (multibillion-dollar benefactor of
chemotherapy sales) something you want to bank your life on? Second, many
small-scale studies document the efficacy of other treatments. Unfortunately,
oncologists are scorned in the medical community if they study and promote those
alternatives.
Even if everyone agreed that chemotherapy is always the answer for cancer,
Parker’s case is far from clear-cut. He doesn’t look or feel ill. His
parents sought post-operative opinions, and two other doctors declared Parker
cancer-free. This isn’t a case of gross neglect or abuse, and those are the
only criteria that warrant removing children from the home.
If Parker has Ewing’s sarcoma, the cancer is rare and the chemotherapy “cure
rate” is unimpressive (60% remission, with 50% relapse). What would the
remission rate be if children with Ewing’s sarcoma did not undergo
chemotherapy? We’ll never know, if the state tracks down and arrests parents,
and takes children of families who don’t comply!
It’s ironic that such Orwellian “Big Brother” behavior has landed this “family-friendly,”
“conservative” state in international news.
As an MSW social worker, I’m embarrassed to see DCFS kowtowing to a medical
doctor at the expense of this family who has had to flee our state and return to
kidnapping charges. If people believe that DCFS can be trusted to manage family
health affairs better than parents, they haven’t experienced the DCFS I know:
a shocking turnover rate in undereducated caseworkers with massive caseloads.
DCFS appropriates to itself the right to permanently terminate parental rights
without a trial by a jury of peers. It doesn’t require the state to find the
parents guilty of any actual wrongdoing or criminal behavior prior to
terminating their rights.
Constitutional specialist Joel Skousen predicts the consequence of the Jensen
precedent: “Parents in the future will think twice about taking their children
to the establishment medical community . . . and seek alternative therapies
first.”
I have a question for the State: If you are going to dictate to parents what
their health decisions should be, will you also assume liability for your
decisions, as parents must? If Parker’s kidneys fail from chemotherapy
treatment, will you pay for a kidney transplant? If chemotherapy kills Parker,
will you pay for his funeral and compensate the family for grief and suffering?
If all goes relatively well, will you pay for the medical treatments you are
requiring?
If so, I’ll be paying for that as a taxpayer. So, if Parker’s parents have
no rights, do I and the undersigned have any say about this?
Robyn Openshaw-Pay, MSW
Lindon, Utah
(801) 785-2113
co-signed by:
Utah:
1. Michael Cutler, M.D. 796-8111 Lindon (director, Total Health Institute)
2. Daniel Shumway, Esq. 224-0032 Provo
3. Rob Johnson, CEO, Young Living 292-1898 Bountiful
4. Shelley Abegg 636-0506 Provo (cancer survivor, mother, used “alternative”
medicine)
5. Brenda Corbridge 785-7373 Lindon (cancer survivor, mother, used “alternative”
medicine)
6. MaryLee Bennett 756-4745 Alpine (cancer survivor, mother, used “alternative”
medicine)
7. Heather Steed 572-0020 Sandy (cancer survivor, mother, used “alternative”
medicine)
8. Launa Gae Lindsey 225-3796 Orem
9. Ramon Roberts 636-5888 Orem
10. Shirley Nelson 435-752-6342 Logan
11. Bart Reed 435-865-7119
12. Rodger Smith 602-9000 Orem
13. Barbara Hume 765-4900 Provo
14. Lori Weiss 235-9190 Orem
15. Kim Sadowski Provo
16. Penny Humphreys 224-4253 Provo
17. Richard Tenney 785-4403 Lindon
18. Guy M. Laing 391-3888 Roy
19. Nancy Nichols 252-9210 Magna
20. Paul and Wendy Leatham 435-743-7810 Fillmore
21. Dale and Linda Larsson 226-3530 Orem
22. Ruth Jeppson 226-4400 Orem
23. Chris Humpherys 479-9330 So. Weber
24. Barbara Carter 373-6539 Provo
25. Steve Ochsenbein 391-7604 Roy
26. Fred and Joye Holzer 298-8486 Bountiful
27. Myrna Moulter West Valley City 973-0815
28. Heidi and Layne Hill 295-0461 Bountiful
29. Susan Hess 292-4319 Bountiful
30. Christopher Barnes 435-258-4336 Richmond
31. Gladys Stum 374-1817 Provo
32. Fran Anderson 224-5056 Orem
33. Myron and Sylvia Althouse 435-528-3735 Gunnison
34. Lisa and Chuck Chamberlain 435-846-2089 Oak City
35. Mr. And Mrs. Mac Giblette 435-436-8232 Moroni
36. Kristi Gilbert-Ouahib 223-4843 Orem
37. Ruth Holmes 435-657-2553 Heber City
38. JoAnn Givan 373-3038 Provo
39. Jennifer Strassberg 328-0710 Salt Lake City
40. Joan Gehring 343-3734 Provo
41. Dr. Randall and Gwen Lund 785-7981 Lindon
42. Marvin and Sylvia Olsen 435-688-7915 St. George
43. Richelle Jolley 491-8953 Springville
44. Susan Richardson 563-1650 Sandy
45. Tian Hardman 766-1727 Highland
46. Aaron & Signe Leatham 787-5334 Lindon
47. Rod Smith 787-8835 Highland
48. Sterling Allan 435-283-6340 Ephraim
49. Pam Openshaw 373-0304 Provo
50. Dennis Pay 785-2113 Lindon
51. Terry Hill 785-4489 Pleasant Grove
52. Janice Collins 532-3433 Salt Lake City
53. Della Mae Keil 298-9459 Centerville
54. Kristi Ridd-Young 756-1414 Alpine
55. Wendy Bentley 785-7314 Lindon
56. Dale and Renee Pelo 225-5459 Orem
57. Lisa Smith 318-9777 Lindon
58. Gina Jakins 802-8654 Orem
59. Dr. Steve and Mrs. Jill Waters 796-0205 Lindon
60. Kira Waters 796-0205 Lindon
61. Paul Pontius 393-8368 Ogden
62. RaNae Rowles 435-563-0214 Smithfield
63. Stephen D. Robison 435-843-0344 Tooele
64. Semisi Tukuafu 798-8629 Spanish Fork
65. Tamara Robinson 282-5678 West Jordan
66. David Skousen 224-2613 Orem
67. Lane Stilson 435-384-2949 Ferron
64. Davin Stilson 796-0759 Pleasant Grove
65. Andrew Asay 785-9420 Pleasant Grove
66. Karen Asay 785-9420 Pleasant Grove
67. Sharron Troumbley 558-0929 South Jordan
68. Stan and Charlene Stott 785-0943 Lindon
69. Cheri Allan 435-283-6340 Ephraim
70. Iain and NayLynn Rudd 491-7582 Springville
71. Tammie Carter 491-9401 Springville
72. Lezlee Jones 226-6873 Provo
73. Corrie Dyer 221-5482 Orem
74. Jonelle Francis 373-3637 Provo
75. Philip Snyder 224-4066 Provo
76. Dean and Carolyn Lundberg 785-9292 Lindon
77. Jonia Lundberg 796-5790 Pleasant Grove
78. Laura and Jerry Jacobs 796-5790 Pleasant Grove
79. Pam Lundberg 423-6525 Elk Ridge
80. Emily Wright 435-623-5892 Levan
81. Melody Barber 798-1099 Spanish Fork
82. Kent and Wendi Jackson 278-5213 Salt Lake City
83. Annie Booth 489-3936 Springville
84. Marlton Booth 489-3936 Springville
85. Darren Werner 373-3192 Provo
86. Wilma Ray 373-3192 Provo
87. Connie Carlton 476-2099 Ogden
88. Quinn Morgan 373-3192 Provo
89. Rebecca Harrison 491-0244 Springville
90. Richard Harrison 491-0244 Springville
91. David and Sherri Jensen 489-9034 Springville
92. Matt and Heidi Hailstone 796-6492 Pleasant Grove
93. Shelby Tucker 787-3252 Orem
94. Jackie Griswold 785-1727 Pleasant Grove
95. Celia Arnold 785-0883 Pleasant Grove
96. JoAnn Buffo 489-8139 Springville
97. Jay Gehring 343-3734 Provo
98. David Olson 798-6070 Spanish Fork, Utah
99. Rich Wright 508-1103 West Valley City
100. Myrtle Bloxham 435-854-3825 Tremonton
101. Lyndsey Fox 563-5918 West Jordan
102. Anne Eliason 491-6686 Springville
103. Lloyd and Nancy Bishop 225-4891 of Orem
104. Madelyn Brownell 785-9350 Lindon
105. Bing Holdaway 362-6815 Payson
106. Emily J. Breedlove, EMT 465-3164 Payson
107. Mike Bridan 234-0565 Cedar Hills
108. Valerie Edlefsen, R.N. 785-6466 Pleasant Grove
109. K'Ann Carlson 785-1624 Pleasant Grove
110. Dr. Greg Kofford, D.C. 367-4950 Riverton
111. Barbara Cleverly 787-0527 Pleasant Grove
112. Jacquie Aird 380-7765 Orem
113. Diana Sampson 577-1579 Salt Lake City
114. Virginia Ledbetter 226-5137 Salt Lake City
115. Janiece Sloan 789-3476 Eagle Mountain
116. Michael Hancock 794-1742 Spanish Fork
117. Julie Hancock 794-1742
118. Laura Lund 8781 Riverton
119. Wayne Ash 576-9724 Sandy
120. Sharron Albaugh 361-2534 Utah
121. John Higley 969-7705 West Valley City
122. Mindy Janis 764-0024 Orem, UT
123. Bill Gray 250-0115 Magna
124. Jerilynn Carter 796-3633 Pleasant Grove
125. Suzette Allen 798-8882 Spanish Fork
126. Mike Allen 798-8882 Spanish Fork
127. Coley Allen 798-8882 Spanish Fork
128. Scott Patterson 299-1946 Bountiful
129. Diane Patterson 299-1946 Bountiful
130. Emily Clawson 679-1375 Taylorsville
131. Scott Johnson 226-1012 Orem
132. Christina Kennard 553-0444 Draper
133. Steven Johnson 492-9224 Highland
134. Michael Anderson 944-4663 Salt Lake City
135. Ryan R. Nelson 637-1139 Wellington
136. Tammie Nelson 637-1139 Nelson
137. Mandy Sorenson 465-743-5806 Fillmore (6-year old daughter underwent chemo)
138. Susanne Crawford 435-673-1971 Ivins
139. Joanna Neyman 765-9297 Orem
140. Christine Kasai 485-1265 Sandy
141. Laurel Kwak 253-7600 South Jordan
Out-of-State:
1. James Theronsen 313-688-1921 Traverse City, MI
2. Ramona Woods 208 538-7260 Ririe, ID
3. Cherie Johnson 775-626-6439 Sparks, NV
4. Heather Buller 708-485-5404 Brookfield, IL
5. Dara Hess 208-745-1004 Rigby, ID
6. Karen Kelley 253-230-5443 Auburn, WA
7. Eugene Crocilla 631-265-8817 Long Island, NY
8. Candice Adams 303-774-1560 Denver, CO
9. D. Castagno 239-495-8878 Estero, FLA
10. Angela Schaeffer 310-617-4233 Santa Monica, CA
11. Shellae Branson 208-521-1220 Idaho Falls, ID
12. Dr. Robert Murdoch 239-540-1220 Cape Coral, FLA
13. Tom Loew 847-634-4000 Chicago, IL
14. Kim Benson-Yaekel 615-9320 Rochester, NY
15. David Lawrence 208-589-5100 Idaho Falls, ID
16. Jayne Garcia 805-984-6884 Port Hueneme, CA
17. Kari Lynn Dunkley 208-794-7850 Kuna, ID
18. Wendy Callahan 352-481-7024 Wendy Callahan
19. Tanya Wood 404-555-1212 Atlanta, GA
20. Raymond Gallup 973-299-9162 Lake Hiawatha, NJ
21. Harold Buttram, M.D. 215-257-2701 Blooming Glen, PA
22. Gary Krasner 718-479-2939 Hollis, NY
23. Susanna Averett 937-431-9948 Beavercreek, Ohio
24. Rachel Adair 310-738-7599 Los Angeles, CA
25. Howard Notgarnie 303-386-4238 Aurora, CO
26. Flora Mascolo 469-831-2139 Dallas, TX
27. Joyce Johnson 760-439-6637 Oceanside, CA
28. Tracy Atkins 972-562-8400 Anna, TX
29. Peter Tocci 978-537-2553 Leominster, MA
30. Belkis Young 239-540-9400 Cape Coral, FLA
31. Janet McAuley 760-924-0439 Mammoth Lakes, CA
32. Susan Pearce 307-683-3228 Banner, WY
33. Joan Mootry 503-368-3144 Nehalem, OR
34. Julia Holt 702-242-0675 Las Vegas, NV
35. Jacqueline Jones 307-684-2969 Buffalo, WY
36. Mary L. Hirzel; Ann Arbor, MI
37. Ingri Cassel 208-255-2307 Spirit Lake, CA
38. Susan Fowler 805-925-4006 Santa Maria, CA
39. Alyssa Foos 585-256-9824 Rochester, NY
40. Albert E. Potts 210-697-8521 San Antonio, TX
41. Maurice & Neoma Tudor 870-251-2186 Desha, ARK
42. David DeHaas 888-526-2-55 Boise, ID
43. Charles Edward Koester 563-322-3767 Davenport, IA
44. Anita Whiteley 775-265-1905 Gardnerville, NV
45. Laura Ann Leonard 585-388-6999 Penfield, NY
46. Andrea Johnston 425-348-3557 Everett, WA
47. Gwenna Fierro 702-453-0821 Las Vegas, NV
48. Leslie Pillado 805-389-1432 Camarillo, CA
49. JaNae Neyman 909-790-8466 Yucaipa, CA
50. Sonia Borgialli 512-671-6722 Austin, TX
51. Sara Masey 619-999-9999 San Diego, CA
52. Angel Green 406-742-5330 Fairview, MT
53. Paula Pate 863-660-6812 Lakeland, FLA
54. Barda Allen 406-449-7513 Helena, MT
55. Carol Lazgin C. Ringwood, NJ
56. Cassandra Paula Vannostrand, M.D. 909-686-2139 Riverside, CA
57. Dr. Kimberly Bratton 404-292-3435 Pine Lake, GA
58. Sevaste Spaker 585-346-0396 Avon, NY (lost her child to cancer)
59. Ann No Last Name 208-683-6116 Athol, ID
Published in Salt Lake Tribune, and The Daily Herald on Sunday Sept. 21, 2003
Page posted Sept. 14, 2003
Last updated August 30, 2006
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