Jackie Fortin's dilemma

   One recent issue in my home state of Connecticut is one of the state having the right to force a 17 year-old girl to undergo treatment for her Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is a heated issue with valid points on both sides of the issue.
    As it stands right now, the Supreme Court of Connecticut has given temporary custody of the girl to the Department of Children and Families. This is to ensure that the girl gets chemotherapy. Both the girl and her mother are opposed to this situation.
   The girl's argument against receiving chemo is that she does not want to put poison in her body. Unfortunately for her, because she is not 18, the state does not recognize her as an adult capable of making her own decisions. The mother is not being allowed to maintain custody because by refusing treatment she is endangering the life of her child.
   The girl has an 85% chance of survival if she receives chemo. While there is no set rate of survival if she chooses another form of treatment, the cancer will be fatal if not treated at all.This issue encompasses many questions. Should the state be able to force treatment against both the patient's and the parent's will? Will the girl be anymore capable of making a mature decision a few months from now when she turns 18? If a child can be criminally charged as an adult for a crime they commit, should they not also be treated as an adult when making medical decisions about their own bodies?
   My mother was diagnosed with kidney cancer just over three years ago. Her five year survival rate was only 8%. She had a kidney removed, but she opted against chemo in favor of holistic therapy. As of right now the cancer has gone into remission. She had the right to do what she wanted regarding her treatment because of her age. Based on my mother's experience and listening to the girl's argument, I believe this girl should be considered old enough to pursue the treatment she wants.
Conversely, this situation reminds me a little of the trolley study and how people consider life valuable. 85% seems like a good rate of survival compared to an unknown quantity using other therapies. But 85 is not 100, and there is no guarantee any form of treatment will work. I will just wish this young woman the best of luck.