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Connecticut court hears case of teen refusing chemotherapy

In this Jan. 2, 2015 still image from video provided by WVIT-TV, Jackie Fortin speaks at her home in Windsor Locks, Conn., about her daughter's forced chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in an emergency appeal filed by lawyers for her daughter known in court documents only as Cassandra C. The court will consider the "mature minor doctrine" recognized by several other states. The doctrine generally allows court hearings for minors 16 and 17 years old to prove that they are mature enough to make medical decisions for themselves. (AP Photo/NBC Connecticut) MANDATORY CREDIT.
In this Jan. 2, 2015 still image from video provided by WVIT-TV, Jackie Fortin speaks at her home in Windsor Locks, Conn., about her daughter's forced chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in an emergency appeal filed by lawyers for her daughter known in court documents only as Cassandra C. The court will consider the "mature minor doctrine" recognized by several other states. The doctrine generally allows court hearings for minors 16 and 17 years old to prove that they are mature enough to make medical decisions for themselves. (AP Photo/NBC Connecticut) MANDATORY CREDIT. In this Jan. 2, 2015 still image from video provided by WVIT-TV, Jackie Fortin speaks at her home in Windsor Locks, Conn., about her daughter's forced chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in an emergency appeal filed by lawyers for her daughter known in court documents only as Cassandra C. The court will consider the "mature minor doctrine" recognized by several other states. The doctrine generally allows court hearings for minors 16 and 17 years old to prove that they are mature enough to make medical decisions for themselves. (AP Photo/NBC Connecticut) MANDATORY CREDIT.

By Associated Press 1 min read

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – The Connecticut Supreme Court is hearing arguments on whether the state can force a 17-year-old girl with cancer to undergo chemotherapy.

The girl, known in court documents only as Cassandra C., will turn 18 in September. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma last September.

The court is being asked Thursday to decide whether she is mature enough at 17, to make her own decision.

Assistant Public Defender Joshua Michtom, who is representing Cassandra, said the case marks the first time the state Supreme Court will consider the “mature minor doctrine” recognized by several other states. The doctrine generally allows court hearings for minors 16 and 17 years old to prove that they are mature enough to make medical decisions for themselves.