Ethical Dilemma.

Tyrell Dueck found himself in a terrible position in 1999. The 13-year-old from Martensville, Saskatchewan had bone cancer, the same condition that killed marathon runner Terry Fox. In the fall of 1998, doctors prescribed amputation of Tyrell's leg above his knee and chemotherapy. They said without the treatment he would probably die within a year. With the treatment they gave him a 65% chance of recovery. Chemotherapy involves the injection of toxic chemicals to kill cancer cells; for many patients, the side effects are very unpleasant.

Tyrell's family is deeply religious. The family lawyer, Owen Griffiths said that "Tyrell holds views ... [that] include belief in a God from a Christian perspective, and that God has or can heal him." Tyrell Dueck refused the treatment the doctors recommended.

Then, the Department of Social Services in Saskatchewan stepped in. It got a court order to take control of the boy's health-care decisions. Tyrell underwent the first two courses of chemotherapy. But in March 1999, he refused to go ahead with the amputation and more chemotherapy. He said he wanted to go to a clinic in Mexico which offered alternative treatments.

Back at court, Madam Justice Allisen Rothery decided that Tyrell had been given incorrect advice by his father about the real prospects of a cancer cure in Mexico. He was ordered back to hospital to continue treatment. But, now the cancer had spread to his lungs and the doctors said nothing more could be done. That's when Tyrell's family took him to Mexico.

Several clinics in Tijuana offer alternative therapies. These usually involve different blends of herbs, natural foods, prayer, imaging, minerals, exposure to coloured lights, vitamins, bio-electrical stimulation, magnetic devices, and sometimes chemotherapy and radiation. They are often grouped together as "metabolic therapies," and they are costly. In Tyrell Dueck's case, the bill was $5,900 a week.

The American Cancer Society is highly critical of these clinics saying none of the alternative treatments they use have been proven to be safe or effective. However, such clinics do sometimes produce cures, for which regular medicine can offer no explanation. The clinics do not publish statistics to back up their claims of success.

This story does not have a happy ending. On 30 June 1999, Tyrell died. His passing raises many questions (see Suggested Activities).

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:

1. At 13, Tyrell Dueck was still a minor; considered, therefore, not old enough to make an informed decision about his medical treatment.

The law gives parents the authority to make such decisions on their childrens' behalf. Tyrell's parents decided to place their faith and their son's life in God's hands and to refuse standard medical treatment. Tyrell himself said he agreed with this decision. The government ruled this was not in Tyrell's best interest and removed the right of his parents to control his treatment.

Christian fundamentalists tend to support the Dueck and say their right to religious freedom has been compromised. Others say Mr. and Mrs. Dueck should be charged with murder. Some people believe the government has no business intruding into what they say was a private, family matter. Use some of these views as a basis for discussion.

2. Poll your class or school to determine attitudes about organ donations. What reasons do students most commonly give for being willing to donate an organ, and also for being unwilling to donate? In China, doctors remove vital organs from prisoners who have been executed. In many Third World countries, desperately poor people sometimes sell one of their two kidneys. Include these issues in your survey.

Websites

Canadian Institute for Health Information - http://www.cihi.ca/eindex.htm

Canadian Health Network - http:// www.canadian-health-network.ca/customtools/ homee.html

Health Action Network Society - http:// www.hans.org/