While we certainly need freedom of religion in this country and in this state, we do not need so much that children needlessly die as a result of that freedom.
There are lots of reasonable restrictions on our rights and freedoms. Not being able to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Amish children must attend Amish or public schools through at least the eighth grade and receive what amounts to vocational training at home. How can we not require parents to seek medical attention when symptoms become severe?
The law that these parents seek protection under says that healing by prayer is not child abuse, does it really allow those parents to allow the child to die? I would think and hope that the homicide law would take priority in this case.

Also, it's one thing to know your child has a treatable condition but refuse treatment, and its another to see some symptoms but not take them to the doctor. It sounds like this was a case of the latter. Granted this is an extreme case, but how many times do kids get all kinds of random symptoms that could mean either they've got a cold or are just tired, or they have cancer. I'd hate to think I could get charged with murder for not bringing my child to the doctor because I didn't realize how serious the symptoms were.

i believe they should be charged to the fullest extent. faith or not, they bad a very bad judgement call. i know faith is strong in some people, but most know when faith alone cannot help and medicial intervention must take over.

call me cruel, but they let their child die and didn't do a damn thing about it honestly.

they should get maximum punishment.

I agree with gaof3, but I do think this should be used to make laws more definate and help parents make wise choices when it comes to their child's health.

I grew up in a VERY religious home. While I did experience a healing at 17 years old... my parents were sane enough to know the difference between faith healing and grave illness.

There is such a fine line between religion based faith healing and child neglect, I'm at a loss for words.

However, I just do not believe this was a case of malice or intent. Its sad that this happened but I just have a big problem charging these parents with a crime. Medical intervention probably could have made a difference, but the parent's faith was strong... yet made a poor decision.

They are surely grieving, and I'm sure it has rocked their faith, but with faith comes the assurance that they will see their child again someday.

I pray they find peace....

Wouldn't your motherly insincts kick in and say "hey my daughter is extremly sick and prayer isn't working?"