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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums‘Faith Healers’ Allowed To Let Their Kids Die
http://www.liberalamerica.org/2016/03/09/faith-healers-allowed-to-let-their-kids-die/In Idaho, a pro-life Republican decided not to change the law that shields parents of kids who die from treatable diseases. If the parents dont believe in modern medicine and refuse to take a sick child to the hospital, the parent will not be prosecuted if the child dies.
Senator Lee Heider (R-Twin Falls) cites the First Amendment saying that parents that refuse medicine for their children are allowed to do so because they are practicing their religious beliefs. So, they say we cant use contraception. They say we cant abort a child. But, we can let a child die because they dont believe in modern medicine? How pro-life of them! Unfortunately, other states have these disgusting exemptions as well.
This issue has gotten more attention as more stories come out about kids dying of preventable things. So far, twelve children have died since 2011 because of this issue. The families were from a church called The Followers Of Christ where they are punished if they use modern medicine. Idaho law says that prayer can be substituted for medicine. The exemption works if they use prayer only on their child; the parents get shielded from murder charges in this case.
State Rep. John Gannon (D-Boise) would like to close the loophole. He says parents should be prosecuted for not treating preventable conditions that could result in disability or death. As if this wasnt bad enough, there are religious exemptions for child abuse and neglect as well.
Senator Lee Heider (R-Twin Falls) cites the First Amendment saying that parents that refuse medicine for their children are allowed to do so because they are practicing their religious beliefs. So, they say we cant use contraception. They say we cant abort a child. But, we can let a child die because they dont believe in modern medicine? How pro-life of them! Unfortunately, other states have these disgusting exemptions as well.
This issue has gotten more attention as more stories come out about kids dying of preventable things. So far, twelve children have died since 2011 because of this issue. The families were from a church called The Followers Of Christ where they are punished if they use modern medicine. Idaho law says that prayer can be substituted for medicine. The exemption works if they use prayer only on their child; the parents get shielded from murder charges in this case.
State Rep. John Gannon (D-Boise) would like to close the loophole. He says parents should be prosecuted for not treating preventable conditions that could result in disability or death. As if this wasnt bad enough, there are religious exemptions for child abuse and neglect as well.
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‘Faith Healers’ Allowed To Let Their Kids Die (Original Post)
KamaAina
Mar 2016
OP
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)1. According to some at DU, it's about allowing "democracy" above all else.
Sometimes I really want to be this guy:
longship
(40,416 posts)2. Yup. People should be allowed to just make up their own science and medicine.
Of course, we all know where that ends up, and it is not merely with dead kids.
Ignorance is a horrible thing.
Solly Mack
(90,773 posts)3. K&R
lindysalsagal
(20,692 posts)4. Remember that "religion is harmless", as I've been told, repeatedly
Not harmless when children die, aren't allowed to attend school, and learn to hate themselves for being anything other than the ideological ideal. Not harmless if you're gay or an atheist, or in love with someone from another racial demographic.
I know of 2 Christ scientist grandparents who died this year because they refused routine medical help. Their grandchildren don't understand what happened to Grandma and Grandpa.