Despite a court decision rejecting her petition to be considered mature to make medical decisions, 17-year-old cancer patient Cassandra Fortin is aware that the consequences of her action is death.

But she insists that is a better option than undergoing chemotherapy treatments, which she considers poisoning her body that is already suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Connecticut teen, who would turn 18 in September, told AP, "the quality of my life, not the quantity" is a more important consideration.

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However, at least for eight more months, she would be forced to undergo the treatment as she is no longer in her mother's care but under the custody of the state's Department of Children and Families (DCF).

While her mother, Jackie, is allowed to visit her twice a week, the hospital staff has removed Cassandra's mobile phone and the landline to limit their communication since Jackie is siding with her daughter in stopping the treatment.

Since December, she has been confined at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford where she has been made to undergo surgery and chemotherapy, which Cassandra said has traumatized her.

The DCF is aware that forcing treatment on Cassandra places them in a tight spot and risks public criticism. But it said, "We have an obligation to protect the life of a child when there is consensus among the medical experts that action is required."

Jackie tried to invoke the mature minor doctrine that 17 states, which excludes Connecticut, recognize. But the state Supreme Court said the two failed to prove that Cassandra is capable of making mature decisions when it comes to her health. It cited as proof her running away from home and stopping the treatment on her own.

Although the court decision appears to be unpopular, bio-ethicist Arthur Caplan agrees with its landmark ruling. In an essay to NBC News, Caplan, founding head of NYU Langone Medical Center's bioethics division, argues that the main goal of the DCF is to save a young life.

He explains, "This is a disease where medicine can do that. Admittedly, the treatment sucks, but it works ... Respecting choice is important."

Caplan concludes, "Not burying a young teenage girl who would have lived is far more important."

But for Cassandra, she prefers to provide the answer to questions she asked in an article for Courant such as "How long is a person actually supposed to live, and why?" and "Who determines that?"

Cassandra insists it should be her decision, while the court says otherwise.

TagsChemotherapy, Cassandra C., Connecticut