In September 2014, a 17 year old Connecticut teenager known by the alias Cassandra C in view of her underage status, became ill and was subsequently diagnosed with Stage 3/4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Doctors at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center preceded to perform surgery, removing part of her lymph nodes. This was a procedure both Cassandra C and her mother willingly agreed to. Cassandra’s doctors felt that she should undergo chemotherapy treatment following the surgery; Cassandra thought otherwise and she, with the support of her mother, sought a second opinion in another state.

However, shortly thereafter, the situation took a bizarre, horror flick-like turn which certainly begs the question; at what point do we cease to belong to ourselves when it comes to medical treatment and are arbitrarily prevented by state government our choice to determine what sort of treatment we choose to accept or deny? PoliceStateUSA reports:

“Despite doctors’ objections, the mother and daughter left the hospital “to seek a second opinion” in another state. CCMC doctors proceeded to get the government involved. They called Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) alleging “parental medical neglect.”

DCF went to Superior Court and got a court order that Cassandra would be forced to endure chemotherapy. Initially, Cassandra and her mother complied, and she was subjected to two compulsory chemo treatments in November 2014.

Cassandra, growing weak and discouraged, “subsequently ran away from home to avoid further treatment,” according to thestate Judicial Branch summary.”