Minnesota Court Upholds Order Requiring Chemotherapy for Child Against Parents’ Wishes

The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday upheld a district court’s orders requiring the continuation of chemotherapy for a 6-year-old boy, whose parents refused to authorize the treatment. The child, referred to as K.K.P. in court documents, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 4. The family was visiting relatives in Wright County, Minnesota, when K.K.P. fell ill in December 2022. His mother had observed swollen lymph nodes and a rash on K.K.P’s body and took him to a pediatrician. The child began a five-phase chemotherapy treatment on Dec. 20, 2022. The parents later decided to discontinue the treatment after the first phase due to concerns about the severity of side effects. His mother told the doctor that she preferred natural remedies such as garlic and lemon....