Oregon City parents will appear in court in teen's faith-healing death

[depakid]

Source: The Oregonian

An Oregon City couple who tried to heal their gravely ill son with prayer will appear in court today in a case that could test Oregon laws on religious freedom, parental responsibility and the rights of teenagers to make their own medical decisions.

Jeffrey Dean Beagley, 50, and Marci Rae Beagley, 46, surrendered to Clackamas County authorities on Thursday, a day after they were indicted by a grand jury on charges of criminally negligent homicide.

Their son, 16-year-old Neil Jeffrey Beagley, died June 17 of complications from a urinary-tract blockage. A deputy state medical examiner said the boy apparently suffered for years from the intensely painful but medically treatable condition. The blockage ultimately caused kidney failure, uremic poisoning and heart failure, according to autopsy results.

When Neil Beagley died at his grandmother's Gladstone home, he was surrounded by dozens of church and family members. Some of those present told police that Neil Beagley, despite his prolonged suffering, chose faith healing over medical care.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/parents_indicted_in_faithheali.html

[get the red out]

1. Murder by brainwashing

Why is this tolerated as "Religious Freedom"? Why are the FLDS abuses of women and girls tolerated as "Religious Freedom"?

[AtheistCrusader]

2. Oh man, that sucks.

That kid suffered for a very long time. Unbelievable.

[bluestateguy]

3. I guess these morons never heard God telling them to take their kid to a doctor

nt

[bertman]

5. God only tells people to go to war. Duh!

[BlueJazz]

4. When you wish upon a Star, Makes no difference who you are. It doesn't work.