What are you babbling about?

This case had nothing to do with religious fanaticism or the Mormon church. The parents were actively seeking a second opinion and were pressured by PCMC to have Parker undergo chemo without delay. The original diagnosis was wrong. Read up on the story before you post your non-stop drivel. I�m not LDS and certainly no apologist, but even I can see you have an obvious axe to grind. You're way off topic...do it someplace else.

to Orwell's Nemesis:
1. I am a lawyer and the son of two Doctors, brother of two more and have the higest regard for the medical profession.
2. yes, medical science has made amazing breakthroughs, including cures for some forms of cancer.
3. the Jensens did not "use religious fanaticism as grounds for denying the best health treatments science has to offer" - they merely asked for an unbiased second opinion, sought surgical help, received it and had the original diagnosis PROVED WRONG!!!! How dare you judge them to be abusive parents! and on such a totally baseless allegation of falsehoods!
3. the comparison between government leaders trying to force parents to do the wrong thing to their child under threat of using the power of the state to take him away from them and LDS folks being forgiving of errors made by Church leaders is intellectually vacuous at best. The coercive power of the state compared to voluntary religious activity? The Church does not (and has no power to) criminalize the behavior of anyone victimized by leaders mistakes. On the other hand, in this case the medical profession and the state tried to do exactly that.

But if they weren't "ABUSIVE parents" as you call them, their child would most certainly would have been radiated until near death or he possibly would be dead.

You are not making a case in favor of child abuse are you, or was that your intention? And before making this post did you consider that many of the key players in wanting to take away this child from the Jensens are members of that church/religion you profess to hate, the LDS CHurch?

However, it seems there were some parallels in this story to religious stories, such as the two women who both went before Solomon claiming to be the parent of the same child, one was more than delighted at the prospect of cutting the child in half, much like those who rationalize it was right to take this child from the Jensens and radiate him. But where can you find leaders with the wisdom of Solomon in public office anymore?

I think Orwell's Nemesis has a good point, even if it is made with an unsupported accusation that the Jensen's were "abusive" parents. It raises the whole question of how much power ANY authority should be given over our individual lives and liberties. Although the LDS Church cannot "criminalize" behavior in the legal sense, I have seen people's lives ruined in every other way because local leaders of the Church TREATED people as if they were criminals! And on the other hand, too many people denounce the U.S. Government like they are just paranoid, and never give anyone representing the government the benefit of the doubt. As a foster parent, I have dealt with Departments of Family Services in two states, and every time I found them to be sincerely trying to do their best for the welfare of the children and families involved. Yes, they were 'human' - they don't claim to be "saints" - but they were GOOD human beings trying to do what is GOOD; NOT a bunch of conspiratorial, malicious monsters!

"On vacation in Idaho?"

HAH! I caught them! NO ONE goes to Idaho by choice.

Obviously the situation turned out for the best. No one is denying that.

The problem is that only the extraordinary cases get publicity. If Jensen really did have cancer this story would have died years ago.

But just because the Jensens accidentally made the right decision does not make it logical, wise, or moral. The odds are heavily set against people like the Jensens. Far more kids die each year from the kind of decisions that the Jenson parents made than live.

Just because you are parent does not mean that you are an expert in everything that effects your child. I hate government invasion but it is people like the jensens that show me that it is needed in extreme cases.

I find it hard to believe the conspiracy theories being propagated here. Do people actually believe that Primary is filled with medical personnel who are indifferent to killing people as long as they make a dollar or are able to complete a research project?

Did the United States invent Aids? Did Bush order the 911 attacks? Are you guys nuts!?

The picture being painted here is highly unrealistic.

RE: "A likely story" comment

You "caught them"?

The Jensen's have family in Idaho, they made a choice to go there on vacation.

Whole lotta misinformation goin on round here. Don't you people check your facts?
My daughter is one of 1000s (!) of long-term survivors of childhood cancer--in her case leukemia, now ten years off treatment. Straight-A student, tall and beautiful like her mom.
Her odds were not good (I was told 15%), but there she is. Thanks to (dare I say it?) chemo.
Sure, if she had had glioblastoma multiforme, she would be dead now. Cancer is many diseases, not one. Hello??!!
As a former Utah resident and strong supporter of PCMC, I have actually reviewed the public records of the PJ case closely (unlike many posters here, apparently). The diagnosis was _never_ disproven. The tumor _was_ malignant. The smart treatment statistically was exactly as recommended but never given. Parker got lucky. Good for him but don't make his parents out to be brilliant or his doctors, malevolent.
MOST children are treated on clinical trials. That's why the outcomes keep getting better. The doctor does not "profit" from enrolling patients. The trials are mostly paid for by the NCI, not drug companies.
I could go on but, in contrast to cancer, you can't cure stupid.

"Unless we put medical freedom into the Constitution, the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship . . . to restrict the art of healing to one class of men, and deny equal privilege to others, will be to constitute the bastille of medical science. All such laws are un-American and despotic and have no place in a Republic . . . The Constitution of this Republic should make special privilege for medical freedom as well as religious freedom."

Dr. Benjamin Rush (signatory to the Declaration of Independence)

Obviously you didnt read the facts about the Jensen Case. The facts are posted on their attorneys website at Christensen and Jensen. Besides, the brilliant scoreboard shows: Jensens-1, Specific PCMC Dr. = Big 0. If you want to treat your children on statistics...go right ahead. That is probably why you are bitter...now questioning your decision. Drs do profit from enrolling patients...just look at their CV's and all the publications they list. The more they have listed, the more they can ask. They write articles, books and other publications trying to add to their prestige. You cant tell me they do not profit. Also, NCI does not pay for trials, most patient have insurance which get the bill.

To: anonymous

Getting the "facts" from the Jensens' lawyers: what a brilliant way to get to the truth of this matter! Why didn't _I_ think of that?

Treating patients according to statistics: obviously a bad idea. What _was_ I thinking?
As we all know, 73.3% of statistics are made up.

Next time, it's the ouija board for me.

I sounded "bitter"? I challenge you to find bitterness in my original post. Frustration, yes. Bitterness, no. (Shhhhh: the psychologists call that "projecting.") The only thing I'm bitter about--now--is your clumsy attempt to psychoanalyze me.

You are of course correct--for once (woo-HOO!)--about insurance companies (or Medicaid) paying for care on most pediatric cancer trials. But ponder this: would they fork over money for ineffective treatment? What's their motive?? Is it all part of some vast conspiracy??? My point--poorly made--was that doctors do not profit in any direct financial way from enrolling patients. Many of those who are upset about this case seem to think otherwise.

One last _real_ fact (is it on the lawyers' website?): childhood cancer survival rates get better every year. The credit goes to all those benighted, greedy, statistics-crazed, CV-obsessed doctors.

This is fun! Your turn!

I think that we are missing the point that the Jensens wanted to seek other opinions, not refused him any treatment other than from Primary Childrens. They have every right to figure out a plan and take the time to evaluate and study, I don't see the harm in that, and by doing this they ended up with a Dr. that turned them in because he needed their son in a study... Correct me if I am wrong here, but there is something really really wrong with this. I don't care where this Dr. works, I would like to know if he is still at primary childrens (Which I believe is a great hospital, my brother has seen Dr.s there for a long time). I would like to know if this Dr. is being evaluated, and questioned, and if Primary Childrens has kept him on. I don't think he should still be there, and he is someone I will avoid like the plague if anything ever presents itself. I would also like to say, my own personal review of DCFS in UT is horrifying. I have been sickened at the injust crap that comes from this State Child Protection.

One more note... I hope they get enough money to reimburse them for the money they took paying bail and other crap. They should be given money for pain and suffering and time lost fighting. They at least deserve a public appology from Primary Childrens, DCFS, and the Dr. who needed the study candidates!!!!

Thank you Parkers for standing up for your rights, and ours! Much Love and respect.
T