Prayer Rather than a Doctor

Last week, the parents of an 11-year old girl chose prayer and their belief in the bible over taking their daughter to a doctor. As a result the girl died from a treatable form of diabetes.

To further muddy the waters, the couple claimed their daughter had only shown signs of illness in the last day or two before her death, a claim contradicted by medical opinions that the girl would have had symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst and weakness for at least a month. The fact that the couple removed the girl from school for home schooling about the time when the symptoms would have been expected to start sort of supports the medical opinion.

The case is “under investigation,” whatever the hell that means, and at least temporarily the girl’s three older siblings, ages 13-16, have been removed to the care of family members that don’t apparently share the religious convictions of the parents.

This was the lead article last week on James Randi’s page and Randi was willing to absolve the couple while condemning a society that extends such deference to the superstition of religion. His point was simply how can you condemn the parents when all they’ve done is accept a story line that society not only doesn’t criticize but actually identifies as laudable?

As much as I admire Mr. Randi, I have to disagree. I say hit them with at least criminal negligence if not manslaughter. Giving these people a get out of jail free card simply because they yell religion doesn’t do it for me.

Are the real criminals those that pedal miracle cures to the ignorant? Yes, but it’s unlikely we’re going to resolve that problem as long as we don’t make it absolutely clear that you are responsible for the results of your actions, or lack of actions, regardless of the rationale behind those actions. Just because you base what you do upon religion or being sold a lie doesn’t absolve you. Stupidity is not an excuse.

This might sound a little harsh but I have absolutely no sympathy for these two. I don’t understand how any father could watch his daughter suffering and not take every means available to alleviate that suffering. By all means pray, but take her to the emergency room too. Did you idiots every consider that maybe medical science and doctors might be the tools God chooses to use to answer your prayer?