More and more we’re seeing people travel from Latin American countries to the U.S. to get medical treatment they can’t receive in their native countries. There have been many cases where families receive special emergency visas because it’s a life and death medical emergency. When people travel to the U.S., they know that they will receive high quality medical care in state of the art facilities where the best type of care exists. There are also many cases where people living here refuse care due to their religious and holistic beliefs.
Why Do People Continue To Refuse Treatment?
That has always been the million-dollar question. If you have access to healthcare and you have a treatable illness, then why not? Some people refuse treatment because it’s against their religion or live a holistic lifestyle. In the U.S., people have rights and freedom of speech and religion. The Supreme Court determined back in 1990 that a competent person has the the right to refuse medical treatment. Except children because they are not responsible for making their own decisions and there have been many cases where families have ended up in court because of this.
Must Read: Dangerous Medical Myths
There are many centers across the U.S. that offer a variety of holistic treatments for various diseases, including cancer. Many of these centers promise holistic treatments as your alternative to injecting poisonous chemicals into your body, like chemotherapy and radiation.
One of the things people need to take into consideration about holistic care is that these types of treatments have not been tested thoroughly. That’s the difference between holistic treatment and the treatment you’ll receive at a hospital. Treatment you receive at a hospital for many cancers have undergone many clinical trials and lots of research before doctors can give offer it to patients.
The effects of chemotherapy can be brutal–you will lose your hair, feel weak, but at the same time those horrible chemicals might prolong your life span or even get rid of your cancer completely. Many times you don’t even need chemotherapy or radiation. Many times if they catch your cancer early, you can have the cancer surgically removed.
Ultimately, the choice is yours and while it may be a scary decision to make, gather all the research you can and ask questions, get second opinions before you commit to one type of treatment.