Oregon Couple Convicted in Son's Faith Healing Death Face Jail

Oregon Couple Convicted in Son's Faith Healing Death Face Jail

www.foxnews.com

Jeff and Marci Beagley face a possible 16 to 18 months in prison under state sentencing guidelines, though their attorneys intend to ask for probation.

A jury found them guilty last month of failing to seek medical help for their 16-year-old son, who died in June 2008 from a urinary tract blockage. The Beagleys are members of the Followers of Christ, an Oregon City church that shuns most medical care in favor of prayer.

(visit the link for the full news article)

While I don't believe in the whole don't seek medical help heresy, I do think this sets a dangerous precedent. I mean this is a really sticky situation. When does the government get to say what type of medical attention is enough or not. In this case a think a urinary infection could have been easily treatable and preventable, but what about cancer?

I mean what about times when the chances are 50/50 with the medical procedure and one decides to pray in faith instead. When is it the governments job to decide someones well being? Especially in regards to religion. Thoughts on this please.

www.foxnews.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

hmm, like you say, it could open up a tricky can of worms with reguards to where the goverment step in and tell you how to look after someone. but in this case, they got it spot on. (sentances are a little light IMO, not something you'll usually hear from me) It's all well and good being spiritual and trying out faith healing stuff. But you got to know when someone is in alot of pain, and needs to be in hospital. A block in the urinary tract is painful. Very very painful. My partner had one after an opperation on his bladder, and he was in intense pain. (this very same thing killed his brother)He couldn't pass water at all, and every time he tried he was doubled over in pain. Got the doctor out, he sent him to hospital and within half an hour of being there he was out of pain. It's a simple thing to treat (obviously if there's infection it can take time to recover, but on the whole, you scrape it out and the main problem is sorted)

basicly, they killed their child with neglect. And whilst I'm sure that nobody will be able to punnish them as hard as they will themselves, the law is the law when death is involved.

[edit on 8/3/2010 by Acidtastic]

Give them the death penalty

Lets see if their prayer will save them.

Originally posted by Acidtastic
basicly, they killed their child with neglect. And whilst I'm sure that nobody will be able to punnish them as hard as they will themselves, the law is the law when death is involved.
[edit on 8/3/2010 by Acidtastic]

Yep, it would be an obvious case of neglect. I however, as much as I disagree with the concept of faith healing excluding medical help, I feel that it is not the government's job to step in. As cold and callous as it seems, I view it as survival of the fittest, in a sense..

Besides, how is this any differant than the government getting involved with abortions? In both cases, the government needs to step aside.

Just my two cents. Probably not a popular view.

popularity's over rated anyway, just ask Gordon Brown.

My response to these christian denominations / organizations that shun medical care is this:

Almost all (if not all) medical technologies we have today originated from natural sources via plants, animals, bacteria etc. If God didn't want us to have medicine he would never have created the organisms that led to most medical breakthroughs.

God in essence then would have created the medicine and medical technologies that we use today. God directly created the field of medicine.

It is logical!

[edit on 8-3-2010 by DaMod]

reply to post by DaMod


Exactly, God gave us the means to use our physical world to meet our physical needs. It reminds me of a story about a guy stranded at sea and he prayed that God would rescue him. As he was praying he heard a helicopter in the distance. It was the coast Guard. When they dropped down to get him he refused there help and said he was waiting for God to answer his prayer and rescue him.

That is exactly how these false teachings are. God has gifted people with the ability to fix the broken body. Anyway, the point is that the government is treading in dangerous waters here I think.



[edit on 8-3-2010 by trueperspective]

reply to post by trueperspective


Just fyi, the punch line of that joke is:

The guy dies, goes up to heaven to face god and asked him, "Why did you forsake me? I asked you to rescue me and you did nothing!"

God replied, "no, I sent 2 boats and a helicopter to save you!!!"

Well, we now know the parents are going to hell because they didn't have enough faith.

I think government intervention is a necessity in these cases, it was an easily treatable life threatening condition, and the parents made the decision not to have their son treated. The reason why I condone government intervention in these cases is because nobody was protecting the kid.

The minds of adolescents are easily swayed and persuaded. I wouldn't be surprised if this kid agreed with his parents decision, he was raised in this religion and he will certainly be thinking like them.

This is the reason why the government lets the medical community decide for non-adults. If you are mentally stable, and can make reasonable and logical competent decisions than you are more than welcome to refuse any type of treatment for any type of disease.

I agree with the OP
this is a very sticky situation

Parents like this make it hard for sane people.

reply to post by trueperspective


This is very sad but as usual I must say if they spent more efforts learning humanitarianism and less being the best Fundie Nutjob perhaps their son would have been alive.

I believe that the best parts of religion are still below humanitarianism.

[edit on 16-3-2010 by Tiger5]