The Knuckleheads of the Day

Today's winners include Nunces County Asst. County Attorney Thomas Stuckey and any party involved with taking Katie Wernecke away from her parents.

This is outrageous conduct that should no business being tolerated. Four children were taken at the whim of an attorney who believes doctors are infallible. They are not, thousands of cancer patients die yearly from the cancer treatments they receive. NOT THE CANCER. Taking all the children away from this couple was an outrageous overreach of this man's authority.

Plus does the ignoramous think taking a sick child away from the love of parents is going to be good for her? If anyone Corpus Christi has any sense they will demand the heads of elected officeholders involved with this travesty.

The full article can be found at(Registration is required)- http://www.caller.com/ccct/local_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_811_3842283,00.html

Parents: Religion not part of battle
Best treatment for girl's cancer is central issue
By Neal Falgoust Caller-TimesJune 9, 2005

Edward and Michele Wernecke, whose 12-year-old daughter was removed from their home because of allegations of medical neglect, believe their custody fight is not about religious freedom but about how far a parent's rights extend in making lifeor-death medical decisions for a child.

They believe they had their daughter Katie's best interests at heart when they refused radiation treatment for her Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymph nodes.

"We don't believe that is the best treatment for our daughter," Michele Wernecke said Wednesday.

State officials believe the parents are putting the girl's life at risk by refusing the treatment. She was placed in a nurse's care until doctors at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston can provide an independent assessment of her health and recommend a course of treatment.

"We are doing what is standard protocol for what the doctors advise us," said Assistant Nueces County Attorney Thomas Stuckey.

During a court hearing on Wednesday, Daniel Horne, an attorney for the parents, told Judge Carl Lewis that the couple's arguments about Katie's care have been misconstrued as relating to their religious beliefs, which say Katie can receive blood transfusions only from her mother.
Instead, Horne said, the couple believes doctors are not being up-front about Katie's care and have not adequately answered all the questions they have about the side effects of her treatment.

"This issue is about parental rights, not about religious rights," Horne said. "They just want to be informed of her treatment. They want to be involved in this."

Lewis, who presides over the county's juvenile court, agreed that religion should be taken out of the argument and the case should be judged on medical evidence and on the rights of parents to determine the course of care for a child.

"It has nothing to do with religion as far as I'm concerned," he said. "That doesn't mean anything to me. I don't care what religion they are."

Katie was diagnosed with the lymphatic cancer in January and has undergone a course of chemotherapy. Her parents believe the cancer is now in remission, which is supported by a doctor's affidavit, and disagree with a recommendation that Katie also undergo radiation therapy.