Thread: How could this be allowed to happen...

How could this be allowed to happen in a modern state?

I was saddened to hear the details surrounding the case of 11-year-old Madeline Kara Neumann, who died last month from a readily treatable type of diabetes. Her parents refused to seek medical attention for eight years prior to her death.

During her last months, the disease manifested itself, the girl lapsed into poor health and an eventual coma, which immediately preceded her death. The parents relied only on prayer based on religious beliefs, which allegedly prohibited medical intervention. This approach produced tragic, yet, when considering empirical evidence, predictable results...

In 2003, the federal government passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. Requiring that states receiving federal grant dollars must include “failure to provide medical treatment� in their definition of child neglect. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, the Christian Science lobby was able to place a small addendum onto the bill: “Nothing in this Act shall be construed as establishing a Federal requirement that a parent or legal guardian provide a child any medical service or treatment against the religious beliefs of the parent or legal guardian.�

Furthermore, Wisconsin state law says that parents are to be held accountable if they fail to act to protect children from bodily harm. However, there is currently an exemption for “treatment through prayer.� Essentially, in Wisconsin, parents who trust only prayer to heal their child’s ailments are not culpable for bodily harm visited upon that child—even if modern medicine can easily remedy the illness...

Parents should choose medical care over prayer - The Daily Cardinal

This is law from the middle ages!

Originally Posted by Leo

This is law from the middle ages!

Yea, ain't religion great.

Originally Posted by bla bla

Yea, ain't religion great.

From what I remember reading on this story (not in the article posted here) was that they didn't practice any formal religion. I'm pretty sure the mom said she believed the girl could be resurrected too.

Tis a very sad story that I can only hope will cause the parents to at least learn that prayer doesn't heal everything.

Originally Posted by mjdsr

From what I remember reading on this story (not in the article posted here) was that they didn't practice any formal religion. I'm pretty sure the mom said she believed the girl could be resurrected too.

I read an article on it to, and she attends a Bible study group.

Personally, I could see finding not guilty, if the man and wife were devote worshippers in a religion that does not believe in modern medicine practices. Since they do not seem to be, I say let them fry.

Originally Posted by bla bla

Yea, ain't religion great.

So is freedom of choice.

Originally Posted by TurnBackTheClock

So is freedom of choice.

The choice to let your child die when simple medical attention would
save the life?

Thats not a choice, its manslaughter.

Originally Posted by TurnBackTheClock

So is freedom of choice.

Would you punish a couple who chose to leave their baby in a car while it was over 100 fahrenheit outside?

Same deal. Holy hell, duh. :hissy:


First day back and I'm annoyed already.

Originally Posted by TurnBackTheClock

So is freedom of choice.

I don't think there should be freedom of choice when the choice is life or death. This was a child that depended on her parents to take care of her. Did the child make the choice? I don't think so. I think the parents were negligent and should be held responsible. Some may disagree, but so be it.

Originally Posted by Feslin

First day back and I'm annoyed already.

I understand. It gets easier though!:waving: