Oregon couple found guilty in son's faith-healing death; get 16 months in prison

[cleanhippie]

Dale and Shannon Hickman have been convicted of the faith healing death of their prematurely born infant son, David. Earlier, we reported on the trial of the Hickmans, and how they defended their use of prayer instead of calling 911 when their son suddenly had problems breathing:

When you recognized he was dying you still did not call 9-1-1, said prosecutor Mike Regan.

"I did not," Dale Hickman said

"You did not know how much longer he would live, did you?" Regan said. Why didn't you call 9-1-1 at that moment of crisis, he asked.

"Because I was praying," Hickman responded.

Sentencing will be October 31st.

http://www.goddiscussion.com/81201/oregon-couple-found-guilty-in-sons-faith-healing-death-get-16-months-in-prison/

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And irrational religious beliefs claim another victim. :puke:

[dmallind]

1. No! Religion is never a motivator of misdeeds!

He anointed his dying child with oil and prayed rather than seeking medical help for entirely secular reasons.

Or failing that he's "mentally ill" - just in a way that expresses itself in acts that solely mimic religious faith!

[Deep13]

2. In Ohio, relying on prayer is an absolute defense.

It's written in the statute.

So how much of this is wrongly believing they are doing the right thing and how much is not wanting a special needs child.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Very tragic.

People have the right to risk their own lives because of their religious or other ideological beliefs, but not that of a baby.

It's not only some religious groups that do this sort of thing - the more doctrinaire anti-modern medicine ideologues do so too.

A child's right to medical treatment should trump any sort of ideology!

[laconicsax]

4. This case wasn't a clear-cut as others.

From what I understand, by the time anyone could have known there was a problem with the baby's health, it was too late.

Of course, they should have called 911 when the child was born prematurely since there are a lot of things that can happen to a preemie.