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Faith and science at cross purposes for mom and dying son
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Follow-up to "Judge rules for science... Mom and son flee"
Brown County, Minn. Sheriff Rich Hoffman released a statement that he and Anthony Hauser, father of missing 13 year old Daniel Hauser, will speak at 3 p.m. to the news media at the Hauser family farm near Sleepy Eye. A felony arrest warrant for human rights deprivation has been issued for Colleen Hauser, the missing boy’s mother.
Brown County Attorney James Olson explained today why the new warrant was issued: "With verification that they were in California, I wanted to make sure I had a charge that other agencies could use to detain her." The previous contempt-of-court charge might not have held up in other states, he said. The felony warrant carries a possible two-year prison sentence, “but I’m not interested in prosecuting Colleen Hauser,” Olson said.
It is expected for Daniel to be placed in foster care and examined by a pediatric oncologist, once he is back in Brown County, Olson said. Hoffmann speculated Wednesday night that Colleen Hauser and Daniel, 13, were trying to reach Mexico for an alternative medical treatment to chemotherapy. "We're hoping they're still in the country," he said this morning. "The sooner we find Daniel, the better."
The FBI became involved once they crossed state lines, Hoffman said. FBI and the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are assisting in finding and detaining the Hausers. Daniel and his mother disappeared from their home on Monday evening and failed to show up for a court hearing on Tuesday.
Hoffmann said we don’t know how they are traveling or who is helping them. He said this morning that FBI agents had visited Marina del Rey, Calif., where a 57-foot yacht is anchored. The yacht houses the law office of Susan Daya, also known as Susan Hamwi, a California attorney who accompanied the Hausers to a medical appointment Monday
Whether Colleen Hauser has a passport or other paperwork that could get her out of the country is not known. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has issued a national crime alert with a description of the pair and identifying two other adults who might be with them. The U.S. Border Patrol has been alerted to look for the two.
Daniel was diagnosed in January with Hodgkin's lymphoma, an uncommon but treatable form of cancer. The family ceased his treatment after one session in January, citing religious and other objections, and turned to alternative treatments such as herbs and vitamins. The search has a special urgency because doctors’ fear Daniel's cancer could worsen rapidly if left untreated
Their decision prompted Daniel's doctors to alert Brown County child protection authorities. A Brown County judge ordered the family to seek treatment. Then he issued a warrant for Colleen's arrest on Tuesday after she failed to appear in court. The new felony warrant holds more interstate extradition authority than the first misdemeanor warrant.
Doctors have testified that Daniel Hauser has a 90 to 95 percent chance of survival if he gets the recommended chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but only a 5 percent chance of living five years if he goes without conventional treatment.
Daniel’s father, Anthony Hauser has said he and his wife were open to treating Daniel with a combination of low doses of chemotherapy and alternative, holistic medical treatments.
So, how did a relativity unsophisticated pair with little money and apparently no car could disappear so quickly. Anthony Hauser has said his wife does not have a credit card, that she did not take the family cell phone and did not appear to have taken checks from the household checkbook. Who would have so quickly and effectively taken the special interest to aide and abet Colleen Hauser in this potential manslaughter of her child?
Daniel's name has been entered into the database of the national Missing and Exploited Children's Network. Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to contact their office at 507-233-6700.
The BCA issued a crime alert describing Colleen Hauser as 5-foot-4, 130 pounds, with long "dishwater blonde" hair. It describes Daniel as 5-foot-2 and bald.
It also says they may be in the company of Daya, or a man named Billy Joe Best, who appeared at a news conference held by the family in early May to say he supported the Hausers. Best, of Boston, ran away from home at the age of 16 after five chemotherapy treatments and returned home after his parents pleaded with him on television. Best replied that he is home in Boston and had no involvement in their flight.
If it was your child what would you do?
Do any of the many, many religious beliefs around the world—all with no documented evidence of a supernatural being or one that does our bidding by faith and prayer—do these beliefs have the right to interfere with another’s physical and mental health based on spiritual-faith and the denial of hard scientific fact?
Is it now the responsibility of government to make laws to protect the fragile, the children, the elders, the mentally challenged? How are they to be protected?
