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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 07:41 PM Jun 2014

Vegan FL mom refused to take sick newborn to hospital for fear of exposure to animal products

By David Ferguson
Thursday, June 26, 2014 14:01 EDT

Police arrested a 23-year-old Casselberry, Florida woman Wednesday on charges of child neglect after she refused to seek medical treatment for her newborn baby because of her rigid vegan dietary beliefs.

According to Orlando’s WKMG Channel 6, Sarah Anne Markham’s pediatrician told her the 12-day-old was dehydrated and losing weight and needed to be admitted to Florida Hospital South Medical.

The doctor gave Markham medicine to help the baby, but she refused to administer it because it contained non-vegan ingredients. When she failed to report to the hospital, health care personnel notified the police.

Markham refused to answer her apartment door when police arrived. Officers called a locksmith to gain admittance to the home. The woman told police that she disagreed with the doctor’s diagnosis. Her baby was still having bowel movements, she said, and therefore couldn’t be dehydrated.

more
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/26/vegan-fl-mom-refused-to-take-sick-newborn-to-hospital-for-fear-of-exposure-to-animal-products/

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madaboutharry

(40,153 posts)
2. A person can become an extremist over just about anything.
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 07:43 PM
Jun 2014

I hope the baby is ok. I have a feeling that she isn't going to be getting her baby back for awhile. I see foster care all over this story. Sad.

LeftyMom

(49,212 posts)
7. Human milk is vegan. Every vegan organization I'm aware of
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 07:53 PM
Jun 2014

would also encourage her to follow medical advice in the care of her child.

 

Boom Sound 416

(4,185 posts)
8. Thanks. Didn't know.
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 07:56 PM
Jun 2014

And hell yes.

She said the baby was having bowel movements as her reasoning, only they don't determine hydration.

She endangered that child in my book.

LeftyMom

(49,212 posts)
13. Newborns have some pretty runny poo. Counting diaper changes is the usual way to check their intake.
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 08:04 PM
Jun 2014

Or weighing the kid before after feeds and BMs, if there's a real concern. It's a little harder to keep track of intake with an exclusively breastfed child versus a formula fed one where you get handy ounce marks on the bottle, but it's not rocket science either.

Hekate

(90,202 posts)
9. Caption at link: "Vegan mother arrested for beliefs." Untrue--it was for letting her baby almost die
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 07:57 PM
Jun 2014

... due to her gross stupidity.

tblue37

(64,982 posts)
14. Notice the stupid chyron says she was "arrested for her beliefs."
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 08:04 PM
Jun 2014

No, she wasn't arrested for her beliefs. She was arrested for neglecting and endangering her 12-day-old infant.

bluestateguy

(44,173 posts)
17. Veganism is a worthy lifestyle choice
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 08:14 PM
Jun 2014

But when it becomes a bullshit ideological agenda, then it's just a little bit nutty (are nuts ok?).

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