Cassandra Fortin, Teen Forced To Have Chemotherapy Cancer Treatment, Describes ‘Horrifying’ State Actions


A 17-year-old teenager known only as Cassandra C., or “Cassandra Fortin” based upon the last name of her mother, Jackie Fortin, is being forced to undergo chemotherapy cancer treatment against the wishes of both herself and her family. Now, for the first time she is speaking out about the experience.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, Jackie Fortin argues that her daughter has “her human constitutional rights to not put poison in her body.” The Connecticut Supreme Court disagreed, ruling that the state did not violate Cassandra’s rights when it forced her to take chemotherapy treatments for her Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Based upon the court ruling, Cassandra Fortin will not be considered capable of making her own decisions until September of 2015, when she turns age 18. The teenager describes herself as being locked away in a facility, monitored all the time by government security agents. She calls the entire experience horrifying, and describes how it all began.

“I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. My mom and I wanted to make sure my diagnosis was correct, so we agreed to seek a second opinion. We wanted to be 100 percent sure I had cancer. Apparently, going for the second opinion and questioning doctors was considered ‘wasting time’ and ‘not necessary.’ My mom was reported to the Department of Children and Families for medical neglect because we weren’t meeting the doctors’ time standard.”

In October of 2014, Cassandra describes how DCF surrounded her house, banging on the doors and windows. She hid in the closet while crying until her mother came home. Connecticut DCF required her to be put into a foster home, although in November she was allowed to return home as long as she agreed to the forced chemotherapy treatments. Instead, Cassandra decided to run from the government.

“I felt backed up against the wall. I had no right to choose what I wanted. I was told I had a voice and was being heard, but it didn’t feel like it. I took things into my own hands — I was fed up with DCF — and ran away.”

Eventually, Cassandra decided to return home to assuage the fears of her family. DCF allowed her to stay home but in December she was hospitalized with no option to leave.

“I was admitted to the same room I’m in now, with someone sitting by my door 24/7. I could walk down the hallway as long as security was with me, but otherwise I couldn’t leave my room. I felt trapped. After a week, they decided to force chemotherapy on me. I should have had the right to say no, but I didn’t. I was strapped to a bed by my wrists and ankles and sedated. I woke up in the recovery room with a port surgically placed in my chest. I was outraged and felt completely violated.”

Although the state of Connecticut ruled otherwise, according to the Hartford Courant, Cassandra Fortin believes the forced chemotherapy is wrong, saying, ” I want the right to make my medical decisions. It’s disgusting that I’m fighting for a right that I and anyone in my situation should already have. This is my life and my body, not DCF’s and not the state’s.”

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