Either parents are responsible for decisions regarding their kids ... or they're not. The problem is, the .gov wants to have it both ways. So do the figgin' doctors.
There is documented evidence of people defeating cancer without conventional medicine, through prayer, meditation, faith ... and sometimes diet. There are also (obviously) innumerable people who have undergone conventional cancer therapy and died despite the best efforts of big medicine. Thus, it cannot be argued that alternative methods don't work, and it cannot be argued that conventional methods will work. All you're left with is a gamble ... either way. So what's at stake is who gets to roll the dice.
My view is that it should be left to the parents. ESPECIALLY when it's a case like this one, where the kid doesn't WANT the chemo anyway. Somebody mentioned in the first page of this thread that there's a "conflict of interest" because parents have to pay for expensive treatments. I view it the other way. I assume that parents make their decisions out of conscience, and choose what they believe is in the best interest of the child. If their religion or their philosophy doesn't accept conventional medicine ... they should not be forced to be subjected to it.
And, more importantly, if the doctors and the judge(s) overrule the parents and require the treatment ... then the damned doctors and judge(s) should just step up to the plate and pay for it, too.