More kids will have to die, needlessly

August 10, 2009

Despite the deaths of numerous children from medical neglect, the members of an Oregon church insist that government intervention is unconstitutional. In a statement released Sunday, the Followers of Christ Church made clear that it stands by Carl and Raylene Worthington, who withheld medical care from their fifteen-month-old daughter Ava last year. The church believes that seeking medical treatment is a sign of weak faith.

Ava died in March of 2008 from bacterial pneumonia and a blood infection, and doctors believe both of these could easily have been treated with antibiotics. Ava’s parents will go to trial for manslaughter and criminal mistreatment on June 23rd .

The church said in the statement released by their counsel, “Concerning the question of parental prerogative in making decisions for children, where core religious beliefs are invoked: Family autonomy is a deeply respected value and tradition in our country, as is religious freedom.”

Raylene Worthington also lost her teenage brother to death from an easily treatable medical condition in 2008. Ava’s 16-year-old uncle, Neil Beagley, died of an easily treatable urinary tract infection in November. Neil’s parents will probably not be charged criminally because he was legally old enough to refuse treatment. He chose instead to die of heart failure as his body filled up with urine.

Followers of Christ Church is no stranger to controversy. The unaffiliated faith-healing church has been in the news over medical neglect of children since the 1990’s. In 1999, because of the previous church deaths, Oregon lawmakers changed state law shielding parents who treat children through prayer alone from neglect charges.

http://www.examiner.com/x-8922-Portland-Skepticism-Examiner~y2009m6d21-Oregon-church-defiant-despite-faithhealing-deaths-of-numerous-children?cid=exrss-Portland-Skepticism-Examiner