Faith Healing

It's a very sad fact that this has happened. RIP Kara.

The parents held a belief, and that's their perogative. They will now have to live with the fact that their 'God' chose not to 'save' their child (they won't for a second believe they made a bad decision).

They will no doubt question their faith.

Assuming for a second that they are like any average parent, and will greatly mourn the loss of their child, then IMO, that's more than a sufficient punishment.

There's no evidence to show they acted maliciously, so I see no reason to berate them for their belief.

Whilst I don't condone their decision, and in fact feel so strongly about it I'd struggle not to enact YC's post should I even meet them, I think I'm with Anna on this one.

Originally Posted by Baph

It's a very sad fact that this has happened. RIP Kara.

The parents held a belief, and that's their perogative. They will now have to live with the fact that their 'God' chose not to 'save' their child (they won't for a second believe they made a bad decision).

They will no doubt question their faith.

Assuming for a second that they are like any average parent, and will greatly mourn the loss of their child, then IMO, that's more than a sufficient punishment.

There's no evidence to show they acted maliciously, so I see no reason to berate them for their belief.

Whilst I don't condone their decision, and in fact feel so strongly about it I'd struggle not to enact YC's post should I even meet them, I think I'm with Anna on this one.

This child was visibly dying for a long long time. To not even consult a doctor is reckless, and inexcusable. It wasn't malicious as they weren't wishing her to die. But that doesn't mean that they weren't neglectful in their care of the child.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

This child was visibly dying for a long long time. To not even consult a doctor is reckless, and inexcusable. It wasn't malicious as they weren't wishing her to die. But that doesn't mean that they weren't neglectful in their care of the child.

Agree. I think a custodial sentence for them is required too. I don't like the idea of people being made examples of, but I think this kind of negligence has to be shown to not be tolerated.

[anna]

A custodial sentence for upholding their religious beliefs? Jews were also persecuted for their beliefs not so long ago.

Is this a wrong comparison to make?

Originally Posted by anna

A custodial sentence for upholding their religious beliefs? Jews were also persecuted for their beliefs not so long ago.

Is this a wrong comparison to make?

Yes

Even in her twisted philosophy, there is no part stating that god won't work his magic if she seeks medicinal help. That is neglectful.

[Biker Biggles]

If you cause someone to die through negligence or ommission when you could reasonably have been expected to have behaved differently you are looking at a serious criminal charge I would have thought.
I suggest that hiding behind religeous beliefs to justify this course of action(or inaction)shouldnt get you off.But its a mad mad world and you just never know.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

This child was visibly dying for a long long time. To not even consult a doctor is reckless, and inexcusable. It wasn't malicious as they weren't wishing her to die. But that doesn't mean that they weren't neglectful in their care of the child.

Ah, but you're judging them on your belief system, not theirs.

Considering that they truely believed God was the sole being that could remedy their daughters illness, they did everything they could to ensure their daughter was returned to health. They preyed.

By our belief system, yes, what they did was completely atrocious. Someone in our society should (and probably would) at least be taken to court to attempt prosecution on one of possibly a few different charges for doing similar.

I view it though as they are clearly in a different culture. Would anyone want to prosecute a mother in Africa for watching her child die of malnutrition, whether or not the mother chose to give herself food over the child (human nature can be very dark at times)? That afterall is a different culture too.

Originally Posted by Baph

Considering that they truely believed God was the sole being that could remedy their daughters illness, they did everything they could to ensure their daughter was returned to health. They preyed.

They believe that god CAN heal. There is nothing to suggest that it is the ONLY way that they can be healed. For instance, I bet the parents have taken aspirin for a headache, regardless of god's touch.

Watching your child suffer and refusing to look in to alternative treatments is just deplorable.

Baph, I don't know if this is overstepping the mark (I'm not intentionally trying to stir, but if I am, I'll delete this bit happily). But my post on page 3 regarding John Travolta refusing that Autism exists, and contributing to his son's death; do you think differently about that?

Originally Posted by Original post in this thread

Her parents, who believe that God alone has the ability to heal the sick, prayed for her recovery...

I say again, they believed that God was the sole being that could help.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

Baph, I don't know if this is overstepping the mark (I'm not intentionally trying to stir, but if I am, I'll delete this bit happily). But my post on page 3 regarding John Travolta refusing that Autism exists, and contributing to his son's death; do you think differently about that?

Well done for remembering, but no, you haven't over-stepped the mark, so don't fuss about that.

For the specific case, I wasn't aware of it until this thread, the personal lives of celebrities is rarely on my mind, and I must of missed when this was in the news. Again, his belief, he's entitled to it. If he cared about his child as much as I do mine (or any other parent I'm aware of), the grief he would be left with (regardless of the cause) is almost unimaginable. He made a choice and has to live with the consequences.

As for Autistic spectrum in general, I can't really comment. I will however say that you wouldn't believe the number of trained medical professionals that stated (in writing too!) that there was nothing wrong with my son. Referral after refferal for approx 5 years, and we finally found someone that was able to demonstrate which pidgeon hole'd situation he fits into.

From a little googling about the Travolta case, I haven't seen anywhere that specifically, categorically states that Jett Travolta had any form of Autism. The seemingly only offical word on his health prior to death was Kawasaki Syndrome.

There is a lot of speculation about Jett being autistic, but I certainly haven't seen anything concrete.