During the boy’s early years his parents were addicted to methamphetamines and did not provide him stability. Dennis went to Mt. Vernon, Washington, to live with his aunt, who became his legal guardian. His parents say they have since completed drug rehabilitation and been free of substance abuse for the past few years.
On November 8, Dennis was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Doctors at Children’s recommended a three-year program of chemotherapy and reportedly warned that many blood transfusions would also be necessary to prevent fatal side-effects from the chemotherapy.
Dennis and his aunt declared that as Jehovah’s Witnesses they could not accept transfusions, but wanted the best medical treatment available without blood.
Chemotherapy treatments were given, but soon had to be stopped because the boy, predictably, developed severe anemia and an enlarged heart.
On November 26 Dennis’ grandmother contacted CHILD. We advised her to contact Child Protection Services. CPS immediately contacted the biological parents, flew them to Seattle, and arranged a court hearing for the next morning.
Though CPS petitioned for custody and the parents told the court they wanted their son transfused, the judge ruled that Dennis was a mature minor who had made an independent choice to die.
“He knows very well by stating the position he is, he’s basically giving himself a death sentence,” Skagit County Superior Court Judge John Meyer said.