Cancer treatment ordered for girl; appeal is filed

The Tennessee Court of Appeals Wednesday ordered the 12-year-old daughter of a fundamentalist minister to undergo cancer treatment despite her religious beliefs. Following the lower court ruling, the family's attorney, James A. H. Bell, asked the Tennessee Supreme Court to issue an emergency stay of the appeals court ruling. Mr. Bell said if the state Supreme Court refuses to issue a stay, he would ask the US Supreme Court for the emergency order.

The three-judge appeals court issued the ruling after hearing an hour and a half of arguments in the case of Pamela Hamilton. Pamela's parents are members of the Church of God of the Union Assembly.