When Does Religious Practice Become Neglect?

The story itself is tragic for all involved. An 11 year old girl died from undiagnosed diabetes.

Why did it go undiagnosed? Because the parents belong to a church that eschews medical treatment. This differs somewhat from the cases in recent years where youthful Jehovah's witnesses have refused treatments in that the child was never taken to a doctor in the first place, and the option to refuse treatment never existed.

As adults, we are all free to choose for ourselves if we seek treatment for a condition. Our children do not enjoy such a liberty. In fact, as parents, we have a responsibility to our children to ensure that in fact our offspring are looked after to the best of our ability.

Praying for your children is fine, and in its way, admirable. Doing so in hopes of divine intervention when your child is clearly ill, and doing so in place of a trip to the doctor is beyond horrifying. It ignores the old adage - "The Lord helps those who help themselves" to deny your child every chance of survival. We aren't talking about someone who lives in isolation on a mountainside somewhere, but an ordinary family living in an area with access to a doctor.

Religious freedom is a wonderful thing, but it does not grant anybody the unfettered right to neglect their children. If your child is not well, get them to a doctor - regardless of what your faith tells you. In the best case, nothing is seriously wrong; in the worst case, you can at least make an informed decision about treatment. No decision is neglect, no matter what your faith is.