Complicated decision, probably unconstitutional, definitely the right thing do from a moral standpoint. If the family appeals, they likely win easily in appellate court.
Having read the thing, let me first say: Judge Rodenberg can write and he's whip smart. He's wasted in his current role, and I think he knows that. Hopefully this decision, while I think it's legally wrong, will get him some attention on a larger scale. Anyway, that aside, here's where I think he stumbles:
The decision's really long and well reasoned, and touches on many elements of law, but the crux of it is really this:
Hauser, and by extension, his parents, are competent enough to make other legal decisions, function in society, etc, but are not competent to make this decision because their religious belief is that Hauser isn't ill and will recover without intervention. This is where he runs into problems. In trying to slice the baby in half here, Rodenberg comes dangerously close (and in my opinion does stray into) arguing that religious belief contradicted by fact isn't protected by the 1st or 14th amendments. Which, of course, it is. It's the entire point of religious freedom as a legal concept. Compelling medical treatment for people who's only fault legally is legitimate religious belief isn't going to wash. It sets a precedent for all sorts of "slippery slope" arguments that I don't think we need to get into.
A more effective decision, legally, would have been to find Hauser incompetent to make the decision, his parents unfit to raise children because of mental illness, and take the kid into state custody. There are obvious issues with that, and it's easy to see why this was the better option, and again I agree that it was "the right thing do" and likely the best practical option Rodenberg had, but as a matter of law, it's got serious problems.
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