MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A Minnesota judge has ruled a 13-year-old boy with a highly treatable form of cancer must seek medical treatment over his parents' objections.

Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg ruled Friday that Daniel Hauser of Sleepy Eye has been "medically neglected" and is in need of child protection services. Rodenberg said Daniel will stay in the custody of his parents, but Colleen and Anthony Hauser have until May 19 to get an updated chest X-ray for their son and select an oncologist.

Doctors have said Daniel's Hodgkin's lymphoma had up to a 90 percent chance of being cured with chemotherapy and radiation. Without those treatments, doctors said his chances of survival are 5 percent.

His parents say they are supporting what they call Daniel's decision to treat his cancer with nutritional supplements and other alternative treatments favored by the Nemenhah Band. The Weaubleau, Mo.--based religious group believes in natural healing methods used by some American Indians.

The family's attorney says the case is about the right of a "young man to be free from acts of assault on his body." The county's attorney says Daniel is too young to understand the medical and other issues involved.


(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)



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By AMY FORLITI
Associated Press Writer

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)