Oregon House unanimously votes to end faith healing exception

[laconicsax]

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/03/bill_ending_faith_healing_exce.html

The Oregon House approved a bill Thursday that would remove legal protection for parents who choose faith healing over medical intervention when treating their children.

...

The legislation comes in response to an Oregon City church, the Followers of Christ, that has a long history of child deaths even though the conditions from which the children died were medically treatable.

Currently, spiritual treatment can be used as a defense against all homicide charges. The bill would eliminate that defense and subject parents who chose faith healing over medical treatment at the expense of their child's life to mandatory sentencing under Measure 11.

"In the past two years alone, two children have died and another had been severely disfigured due to lack of medical care," said Democratic Rep. Carolyn Tomei, one of the bill's sponsors. "These children suffered needlessly. Their deaths were avoidable."

Fantastic news that will prevent needless deaths.

[semillama]

1. Great bit of news on this tragic day. n/t

[get the red out]

2. Good

Children have rights, they are citizens. I have a lot of trouble with children's rights being considered at the disgression of their parents.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Good.

Parents would be prosecuted if they starved their children, or let them play in traffic, so why would they be allowed to expose their children to the danger of being deprived of medicine in favour of faith healing? Adults have the right to risk their own lives in service of their religion, but not their children's!

[HuckleB]

4. Recommend.

Now how about homeopathy, reiki, and...?