Doctor: Daniel Hauser Will Die Without Chemo

Daniel Hauser, a 13-year-old Sleepy Eye, Minn. boy who with Hodgkin's lymphoma, will die if he continues to resist chemotherapy, his doctor testified Friday.

Colleen and Anthony Hauser are in a legal battle with Brown County, where authorities are accusing the parents of child neglect and endangerment.

After Daniel stopped chemotherapy after a single treatment, opting instead for "alternative medicines," child protection workers went to court requesting custody.

Doctors had recommended six chemo treatments, followed by radiation. Dr. Bruce Bostrom, a pediatric oncologist at Childrens Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota and Daniel's treating physician, on Friday estimated the risk of death from forgoing treatment at about 95 percent. And he testified that Daniel's tumor had grown since he underwent one chemotherapy treatment in February.

"What is the ultimate outcome of that process?" Tom Sinas, an attorney for the guardian ad litem, asked of the tumor's growth.

"Death," Bostrom replied.

Attorneys for Daniel and his parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser, asked Bostrom about various side effects of chemotherapy, including lowered immunity, secondary forms of cancer, fatigue and infertility.

"In my opinion the benefits of treatment far outweigh the risks of treatment," Bostrom testified.

Colleen Hauser testified that she approved the use of western medicine during a life threatening emergency, but said her son "is not in any medical danger at this point."

She testified that she only approved the first round of chemotherapy because she felt pressured and intimidated by doctors. When it was done, she said, Daniel felt terrible, "beyond depression."

The hearing was expected to stretch into Saturday, with no indication when a ruling would come. Daniel Hauser was in court Friday but did not immediately testify.

According to the county's petition:

Daniel's lymphoma was diagnosed in January, and the recommended treatment came after he was seen at Children's Hospitals.

But he suffered respiratory distress after the first chemo treatment, and did not return for a second treatment in March. The family sought second and third opinions, but still preferred alternative treatment.

A child protection worker who interviewed the Hausers in April said the parents "believe the cancer is shrinking due to his special diet" and "do not want to put their son through chemotherapy and its side effects for now and possibly in the future."

The same worker said: "Colleen and Anthony also stated they are not denying the chemotherapy and would start a round of it again if the cancer began to grow more. They do not want to follow through on the whole course of treatment recommended for Daniel."

The county filed the legal action after the parents said they planned to seek a fourth medical opinion, according to its petition.

Bostrom, the pediatric oncologist, was asked whether he would force the medicine into Daniel's body if the court ordered treatment.

"It would be very hard for me to force him to take the medicine," Bostrom said.