Kaine Signs Law Allowing Children to Refuse Medical Care

March 22, 2007 - 7:35am

Starchild Abraham Cherrix, who is battling Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system, refused a second round of chemotherapy when he learned early this year that the cancer had returned. (AP)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Tim Kaine has signed into law legislation giving teenagers and their parents the right to refuse doctor-recommended treatments for life-threatening ailments.

"Abraham's Law" arose from the case of Starchild Abraham Cherrix, a teenager from Chincoteague.

Cherrix and his parents chose alternative therapy for his Hodgkin's disease and waged a successful court battle in Virginia against state officials who tried to force him to undergo chemotherapy.

The bill Kaine signed allows children 14 or older to refuse medical treatment.

A child could only refuse treatment if he is sufficiently mature, all his treatment options have been considered and if the refusal of a prescribed regimen is done in what the parents believe is the child's best interest.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Tim Kaine has signed into law legislation giving teenagers and their parents the right to refuse doctor-recommended treatments for life-threatening ailments.

"Abraham's Law" arose from the case of Starchild Abraham Cherrix, a teenager from Chincoteague.

Cherrix and his parents chose alternative therapy for his Hodgkin's disease and waged a successful court battle in Virginia against state officials who tried to force him to undergo chemotherapy.

The bill Kaine signed allows children 14 or older to refuse medical treatment.

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