Thirteen-year-old Daniel Hauser has Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer that is generally considered easy to treat with radiation and chemotherapy treatments.  His doctor, Dr. James Joyce, prescribed a six-month regimen of the chemotherapy treatments but the boy and his parents decided to stop treatment just one month into the program, opting instead for alternative therapies, a decision they say is based on their religious beliefs.

Officials for Brown County, Minnesota, where the Hausers live, have accused Daniel’s parents of neglect.  The district judge presiding over the case ordered on Friday that an x-ray be taken immediately to assess the size of the child’s tumor and to report to court today for the court’s decision on whether or not chemotherapy would continue.  The boy’s doctor testified that the cancerous tumor had reduced in size during chemotherapy but was growing again since chemo had been stopped.

The x-ray was not taken and Daniel and his mother did not appear in court as ordered.  Daniel’s father, Anthony Hauser, was present in today’s courtroom but said he had no idea where his wife and son were.  He said the last time he saw them was on Monday, when his wife, Colleen Hauser, told him she and Daniel were leaving and ‘that’s all you need to know.’  A warrant has been issued for the woman’s arrest.

The court-appointed attorney representing Daniel has recommended that the child be placed in the custody of Brown County.  Daniel has said he will resist chemo by kicking and punching anyone who tries to administer it.