When you have children, it is your responsibility to take care of them and your right to do so as you see fit, but at what point does the government have the right to step in and say what needs to be done?

The Evening Sun office was the site of a debate this week about the rights of parents versus the well being of children, after two high profile stories dominated headlines of national news organizations.

The first story was about a 13-year-old boy and his mother, who were on the run because the boy did not want to undergo chemo therapy, even after the court ordered the treatment be given.

The second story, in the news last week, was about a 14-year-old boy weighing in at 555 pounds. After the South Carolina Department of Social Services began investigating claims of child neglect and endangerment, the mother and son fled to Maryland.

While the two stories are vastly different, they both contain a common theme. Who has the right to decide what is best for a child, the parents or the government?