At Last! Virginia's Judicial System Shows Some Sense

This posting is an update on the situation regarding the Virginia teen who is battling Hodgkin’s disease (an in some ways, his state’s judicial system as well). The article excerpt below I found to be a great relief.

Another Virginia judge has set aside the previous judicial order(s) that prompted my previous posting, although a new court hearing is set for August 16th. Hopefully, common sense will permeate that hearing, and this young man may concentrate on fighting his disease, and depend on and take comfort in his human rights rather than defend them.


-- Xi Hyperon

--->> Article excerpt below <<---

Tuesday, July 25, 2006; Posted: 5:09 p.m. EDT (21:09 GMT)

ACCOMAC, Virginia (AP) -- A judge ruled Tuesday that a 16-year-old cancer patient who has refused conventional medical treatment does not have to report to a hospital as previously ordered and scheduled a trial to settle the dispute.

A social worker had asked a juvenile court judge to require the teen to continue conventional treatment, and the judge on Friday ordered Abraham to report to a hospital Tuesday. Accomack County Circuit Court Judge Glen A. Taylor set aside that order.
"I feel free today. I was let off the leash," Abraham said after Taylor agreed to a stay and set a trial date of Aug. 16.
Taylor also ended joint custody of Abraham between his parents and social services officials. Carl Bundick, an attorney for the department, told the judge the department would not object, provided a new trial takes place quickly.

"What the department is interested in is this young man being cured of cancer," Bundick said.

Excerpt from http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/07/25/sick.teen.ap/index.html