A hemophilic boy in Pennsylvania bleeds to death over a period of two days from a small cut on his foot. An Indiana girl dies after a malignant tumor sprouts from her skull and grows so enormous that it’s nearly the size of her head. A boy in Massachusetts succumbs to a bowel obstruction. (His cries of pain are so loud that neighbors are forced to shut their windows to block out the sound.)
None of these children benefit from the readily-available medical treatments that might save their lives, or at least mitigate their suffering. Because the tenets of their parents’ religious faiths mandate it, their ailments are treated by prayer rather than medical science. The results are tragic.
It is difficult to determine precisely how many children in the United States lose their lives every year as the result of the phenomenon that has come to be known as religion-based medical neglect. A landmark study published in the journal Pediatrics uncovered more than 150 reported fatalities over a 10-year period – a tally that one of the study’s authors later said represented only “the tip of the iceberg” of a surprisingly pervasive problem.
I've discussed this kind of thing here before, but I want to reiterate it - these fools should be prosecuted and sent to jail for child abuse. The responsibility you take on when you have a child is more important than your "belief" in mythical creatures and superstitious remedies.
Bottom line: if you don't get your children some good old-fashiond doctorin' when they are sick, then off to jail with you!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
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4 comments:
I agree wholeheartedly. I also think that any organization that promotes that kind of thinking should be prosecuted as conspirators in the crime.
Bob, are you saying you advocate the Federal (or State depending on the nature of the crime) Government bringing charges against the christian science church (as an example)?
Yes, if in that case a direct connection can be shown. As long as the requirements of evidence for a court proceeding are met, I say take them to task.
Bear in mind, now, that this is not a case of an individual deciding on their own to go without medical care, but of being instructed or persuaded by others.
I subscribe to the idea that you have the right to use or abuse your own body however you see fit. We should have the right to die as we desire as well as live as we desire.
We are in agreement then.
Bawdy, if you are lurking about, I seem to recall from a previous, similar discussion (as well as from your individual's rights stance) that you might not agree with this position?
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