RICHMOND, Va., July 12 (UPI) -- A 16-year-old Virginia boy is battling in court for the right to decide which treatment he wants for Hodgkin's disease.
Abraham Cherrix of Chincoteague, Va., went through chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease that left him so weak his father had to carry him from
the car to the house. He and his family fear that a second round of chemo recommended by doctors may kill him, USA Today reported.
The parents were charged with neglect and a social services agency has taken joint custody of the teenager. The agency has asked a juvenile court to order the boy to undergo chemotherapy, the newspaper said.
Cherrix and his family are treating his cancer with an herbal remedy called the Hoxsey method, which the American Cancer Society says has not been clinically tested. He argues that he is old enough to make decisions about treatment to save his life.
"This is my body that I'm supposed to take care of," he says. "I should have the right to tell someone what I want to do with this body."
