Mom Charged With Denying Son Cancer Medication, Son No Longer Expected to Survive

AP/Salem Police Dept.

SALEM, Mass. — A woman has been charged with withholding cancer medication from her 8-year-old autistic son, who prosecutors say likely will die because the cancer has returned.

Kristen Anne LaBrie, 36, of Beverly, was released on personal recognizance Monday after pleading not guilty in Salem District Court to a charge of reckless child endangerment.

Her son, Jeremy Fraser, had been in remission from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

He had a good prognosis when first diagnosed, with chances of recovery put at 85 percent to 90 percent, according to a police report. But his chances have dropped to 10 percent since being deprived of medication, authorities said.

Prosecutor Kate MacDougall said "in all likelihood, Jeremy Fraser will not see his ninth birthday."

"This child was in remission," she said. "His prognosis was good. This child came out of remission. ... He is not expected to survive."

Labrie declined comment to the Salem Evening News as she left court. Her lawyer, Kevin James, said Labrie had taken her son more than 100 times to Massachusetts General Hospital and "has been extensively involved in this child's care."

He said prosecutors had "a very weak case."

According to a police report, Fraser was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2006 and underwent a five-phase regimen of chemotherapy, including drugs that were supposed to be given to him at his house by his mother.

Police said LaBrie canceled at least a dozen appointments for chemotherapy treatments. MacDougall also said LaBrie did not fill at least half of the prescriptions her son was given.

In March, Dr. Alison Friedmann, the child's oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, filed a report of suspected neglect with the Department of Social Services after discovering Fraser's cancer had returned, something that should not have happened if he was on his medications.

The boy's father, Eric Fraser, now has full custody of his son in Saugus. He said Jeremy spends part of his day in a special education program.

"The kid's a peach," he said. "He doesn't do one bad thing."

Eric Fraser said he's outraged LaBrie did not have to have to post bail Monday.

"I'm pretty disgusted about the whole justice (system) and DSS," Fraser said. "Now my son's going to die."

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My heart goes out to that Father!

thats sad

..truly a tradgedy

I'm not saying this is right at ALL... but where was the father to help take his ill child to the hospitals if the mother couldnt?? He should have been aware of EVERY appointment also..and not left up to the mother to tell him of such appointments.. there are ways for him to get every appointment needed from the Dr's. And did he not have custody of the child at ANY time during these months? To even question where the medication might be??

Just to be clear.. the MOTHER is totally in the wrong.. very sad, she should be prosecuted. This though will not do any good for the child it sounds like at this point in time.

But shouldn't the father be held partly responsible?

this is so sad

and God forbid she have any other children...just my opinion

Not that I believe this to be a rational thought process (she obviously had not a rational bone in her body); but perhaps she couldn't believe her son would recover so easily and so did not want her son having to take chemo. It is a very harsh treatment, but it is something you just do, you have to weigh it, and if it is your child you always try. But chemotherapy kills all on it's own. I have watched loved ones die because of it. But, if you die w/o it, you are no better off. She may have THOUGHT she was being loving. Who knows. She's a nut.

what about all the people denied proper medical attention because they are poor - will the state get charged with murder?

that is a little brilliant

Another drop of cyanide in the gene pool.