The following article appeared in the Contra Costa Times on 9/14/95.
--- Contra Costa County, California
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      MOTHER UPSET AS LEUKEMIA-PATIENT SON, 6, SENT TO FOSTER CARE
OAKLAND -- A 6-year-old boy who was given chemotherapy under court order
has been released to foster parents, hospital officials said Wednesday.
Adrian Chavez was doing well, and his leukemia has a 90 percent chance  
of going into remission, said Dr. Caroline Hastings, the boy's doctor 
at Children's Hospital Oakland.
The boy has been suffering from a relapse of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
The decision to place the boy with foster angered his mother, Elena
Duarte, who said she did not know he was to be released to foster care.
Bu doctors, during a news conference Wednesday afternoon, said Duarte,
27, knew in advance the child would be given to a foster home until a
Sept. 18 hearing, which will determine where he will stay.
"In fact, she said, How long will he be here?  I can only see him when 
he is at the hospital,' " Hastings said.  Hospital officials said the
decision to release the child to Child Protective Services was the
court's, not theirs.
Adrian was taken from his home Sept. 1 by a Child Protective Services
worker and sheriff's deputy after Duarte threatened to run away with the 
child and deny him the treatment doctors say will save his life.
Hospital and Child Protective Services officials contend Duarte had been
skipping appointments and did not seem to want to bring Adrian in.  But
Duarte said she was waiting for a second doctor's opinion and was seeking
treatment from an herbalist in Fresno.
Duarte has said she sought a second opinion from a doctor at John Muir
Medical Center, but was unable to get one because she did not have 
complete medical records.  Hastings said Duarte has not come to the
hospital for the records.
Doctors estimate Adrian's chances for survival at a conservative 50 
percent.
Hastings said the custody was unfortunate.  "I think the mother and child
are suffering." she said.
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