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A clash of cultures

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A groundbreaking case that some lawyers are calling precedent setting is being heard in a Brantford courtroom. As we first told you yesterday McMaster Children’s Hospital is taking the Brant Children’s Aid Society to court — to force chemotherapy on a young aboriginal cancer patient.

A publication ban prohibits us from discussing any of the evidence presented in the case. But aboriginal leaders call it a clash of cultures. And at the centre of this medical tug of war is a young girl fighting for her life. The girl was diagnosed with a form of leukemia that doctors say has an 80-percent survival rate when treated with chemotherapy. But only months to live if not treated. The child and her family withdrew from chemotherapy — opting for traditional native healing instead. McMaster Children’s Hospital wants CAS to step in and force the child into chemo.

Lawyer Katherine Hensel: “The ability for families and children to make decisions concerning their own medical care is sacrosanct. It’s important, it’s vital, regardless of whether there’s traditional medicines, alternative therapies or any other form of treatment comes into play. To override that, there’s tremendous significance to that.”

The trial continues next week.

There was a similar case last spring involving an 11-year old girl from New Credit First Nation.

Makayla Sault had uploaded a video to YouTube explaining why she no longer wanted to undergo chemotherapy to treat her leukemia. Doctors called the Children’s Aid Society of Brant to try to force her parents to continue her chemo — but the agency said it would not remove Makayla from her family. Today, CHCH News obtained a letter dated July 16th from McMaster Children’s Hospital President Peter Fitzgerald. It is addressed to New Credit First Nations Chief Bryan Laforme.

It reads in part: “We are very disappointed that Makayla’s experience at HHS did not live up to expectations. Our sincere apologies to you, the Sault family, the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation community and most importantly, Makayla in this regard.”

“HHS is committed to continuously improving the quality of patient care. We would like to ensure that all First Nations members experience care that respects their cultural, spiritual, medicinal and social traditions.”

Today, McMaster Children’s Hospital told CHCH the letter was a response to a request from Chief Laforme for a meeting to discuss ways of strengthening the hospital’s care and support of First Nation’s members. They say they’re looking forward to working with him and other members of his community.