i'm rather curious about what you guys think about the new bill being walked around the idaho statehouse targeting those whose children are dying because their parents are forgoing medical care for faith-based healing.
NWCN.com Washington - Oregon - Idaho
the proposed changes:
Idaho's current law states, "The practice of a parent or guardian who chooses for his child treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone shall not for that reason alone be construed to have violated the duty of care to such a child."
Gannon's draft bill would add an important provision to that bill:
"However, this exemption shall not apply whenever a child's medical condition may cause death or permanent disability."
Rep. Gannon says his bill would not require parents to seek medical help for minor issues or sicknesses, but only for those illnesses that could lead to death or permanent disability.
"The health of a child trumps ideology, and philosophy," Gannon said. "A child has a right to become an adult and receive treatment."
this law seems to be overdue for the number of states that continue to allow those whose faith prohibits medical care from being a requirement for a critically ill child. i'm quite angry that ANY child might die because the parent decides that an ear/bronchial infection (or anything relatively benign or easily cured by antibiotics or medical intervention) could be allowed to devolve into a life threatening infection causing death. it also seems like another case where the fragilest of humans pay the highest price for someone else's rights to exercise their faith in a way that pleases them.
additionally, the window of progression for illness with children is often perilously slim, so dehydration and death can occur far more quickly that anyone without a medical background or knowledge might predict. it also seems particularly sad to believe there are people who are in earnest praying over a sick child while it slowly succumbs to an easily curable illness via medical technology.
on the other hand, it also occurs to me that it lays the groundwork for potential overreaching, depending upon how vigorously the law will be interpreted and enforced.
idaho is considered the second most conservative state in the union. i'm very interested to find out whether this bill will be passed.
i'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, both the bill's subject and potential ramifications that may occur from it's ratification.
NWCN.com Washington - Oregon - Idaho
the proposed changes:
Idaho's current law states, "The practice of a parent or guardian who chooses for his child treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone shall not for that reason alone be construed to have violated the duty of care to such a child."
Gannon's draft bill would add an important provision to that bill:
"However, this exemption shall not apply whenever a child's medical condition may cause death or permanent disability."
Rep. Gannon says his bill would not require parents to seek medical help for minor issues or sicknesses, but only for those illnesses that could lead to death or permanent disability.
"The health of a child trumps ideology, and philosophy," Gannon said. "A child has a right to become an adult and receive treatment."
this law seems to be overdue for the number of states that continue to allow those whose faith prohibits medical care from being a requirement for a critically ill child. i'm quite angry that ANY child might die because the parent decides that an ear/bronchial infection (or anything relatively benign or easily cured by antibiotics or medical intervention) could be allowed to devolve into a life threatening infection causing death. it also seems like another case where the fragilest of humans pay the highest price for someone else's rights to exercise their faith in a way that pleases them.
additionally, the window of progression for illness with children is often perilously slim, so dehydration and death can occur far more quickly that anyone without a medical background or knowledge might predict. it also seems particularly sad to believe there are people who are in earnest praying over a sick child while it slowly succumbs to an easily curable illness via medical technology.
on the other hand, it also occurs to me that it lays the groundwork for potential overreaching, depending upon how vigorously the law will be interpreted and enforced.
idaho is considered the second most conservative state in the union. i'm very interested to find out whether this bill will be passed.
i'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, both the bill's subject and potential ramifications that may occur from it's ratification.
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