In a story reminiscent of the Wisconsin girl who died of diabetes while her parents prayed, a boy from a faith-healing family in Oregon died of a highly treatable urinary tract blockage on Tuesday. This is the second child of the Followers of Christ church to die since March. According to Oregon law, however, the 16-year-old boy’s parent may not be responsible for neglect.
Oregon state law allows minors 14 and older to be responsible for their own medical decisions. The family in this case is claiming the boy made the conscious choice to eschew regular medicine and turn to prayer. The prayer failed when the blockage caused urea to poison the organs in his system, eventually leading to heart failure.
In March the boy’s niece, a 15-month-old, died at home of bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection. Her parents have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges.
These are not the first incidents of child deaths within the Followers of Christ church. After earlier deaths involving children of Followers of Christ believers, a 1999 Oregon law struck down religious shields for parents who treat their children solely with prayer.
About Cole Gamble
Cole Gamble’s writings on the crimes of Willy Wonka, man-eating beds and tales from his cringe-worthy life appear here on Babble, the humor site Cracked, The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post and Salon. He is working on a book entitled, Conquer Everything! A Self Help Book to Destroy All Other Self Help Books and Grant You Mastery in Everything.
