Parents face jail for praying instead of getting doctor for baby

[panzerfaust]

http://www.smh.com.au/world/parents-face-jail-for-praying-instead-of-getting-doctor-for-baby-20090616-cfnr.html

"A US judge has rejected defence arguments that claimed selective and vindictive prosecution in the manslaughter trial of a couple whose 15-month-old daughter died of pneumonia while they prayed for her recovery.

Clackamas County {Oregon} Circuit Judge Steven Maurer told lawyers for Carl and Raylene Worthington that he had already determined the Oregon City couple had a duty to seek medical care for their daughter, Ava, despite their religious beliefs.

"There are limits, especially when it comes to the protection of young children," Maurer said."


Earlier in this story, I thought that a commenter (Viking87) in The Oregonian made what I think is the point of all these situations where parents religious beliefs lead them to allow their children to die:

http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2009/06/parents_in_faithhealing_death.html
"The headline to this story {which was: Oregon parents in faith-healing death claim vindictive prosecution} could have just as easily read 'Parents deny medical care to child.' Take faith out of it, that is what they did. This is about parental responsibility to provide proper healthcare to your child, and if you cannot do that, when should the state step in, if at all. The state steps in all the time. Neglected children are taken from their parents and the state becomes their guardian. That is what this debate is about, when, if and should the state step into medical care for kids? It is NOT about the existence or non-existence of God."

Adults certainly have a right to refuse any medical care at all for themselves, for any reason - or for no reason at all. But they cannot use their religion to deny children the right to life.

No child should be made to die for its parents beliefs.

[malaise]

1. No child should be made to die for its parents beliefs

Absolutely correct but look how many people were killed for Bush's beliefs.
When will he be sentenced?

[zbdent]

3. where's the "Right To Life" / "Party of Life" crowd in this?

I mean, that's killing a baby, right?

Oh, it's a "post-womb" fetus ... 24th month "abortion" ...

[malaise]

4. They're the same people

Only the fetus has the right to life.

[armyowalgreens]

2. These people should be treated as mentally insane persons.

They clearly suffer from a mental illness.

[hayu_lol]

5. This infant was old enough to have completed the simple...

early immunization series of DPT which would have prevented Pneumonia.

[old mark]

7. They probably don't believe in that, either, and refused to have the child

immunised against anything.
I worked with a guy who refused to take mandatory blood tests for lead-he was working as a painter in an old institution with lots of lead paint being removed and repainted, and the tests were for his own safety,
but he refused them on religous grounds. He eventually quit.

mark

[no_hypocrisy]

6. I've never understood the mindset of Christian Scientists and their variations.

How could taking your child to a physician be doubting your fidelity to your god? Couldn't you both seek medical attention AND pray for your physician to be competent and effective and for your god to guide that physician? The negligence is manifest with the priority of not offending your god by "second guessing" with a person. And how about loving your child at least as much as your god? I don't get it.

[DaveinJapan]

8. Very nice to meet you, Mr No.

Apparently the answer to this lies in your middle name.

And what an incredible comment you just made there. I am astounded, to say the least!

[KittyWampus]

9. Meanwhile adults are dying for Republicans' political beliefs regarding health care for all.

[Spirochete]

10. How come if they don't believe in doctors

they do believe in hiring lawyers?