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Title: Woman left with life-threatening heart condition after parents chose prayer over medical treatment
Source:
Independent
URL Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w ... rs-mariah-walton-a7766741.html
Published: Jun 1, 2017
Author: Katie Forster
Post Date: 2017-06-01 20:07:14 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 3112
Comments: 11
A woman whose life is threatened by heart and lung complications was left permanently disabled after her parents rejected medical treatment and prayed for her recovery instead. Mariah Walton was born with a small hole in her heart, which could have been repaired in early life, but is now in and out of hospital for her condition, which has become life-threatening. The 21-year-old and her siblings, from the US state of Idaho, are now campaigning for a change in the law so parents such as theirs who choose to follow “faith healing” can be prosecuted. “My lungs burn because I can’t get the oxygen I need,” she told local news channel KTVB. “They used to pray over me. The’d say: ‘God’s going to heal you, just have faith’ and all kinds of stuff… I think it’s time to prosecute them” Ms Walton, who has nine siblings in total, was raised in the Mormon church. She was diagnosed with congenital heart disease aged 18. Her sister Emily told the broadcaster their parents would tell the children “we needed to pray for Mariah, that she wasn’t growing or doing well, and the evil spirits would leave her”. Mariah’s mother said she used natural remedies such as herbs and essential oils as well as prayer. In Idaho, parents cannot be prosecuted for neglect if they refuse medical care before their faith, and state senator Lee Heider said last year there were no plans to change the law, as freedom of religion is a right under the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Campaign group Children’s Right to Live said efforts to change the law are still ongoing, but warned new proposals could in fact put lives further at risk. A spokesperson for the group told The Independent lawmakers had “considered two bills on the topic”. One aimed to “rearrange the left language in the laws to create the appearance of making reforms without actually changing anything substantive,” they said. “Another would have made things worse by expanding the loophole to cover parents who neglect their children in the name of ideological as well as religious beliefs and practices.” Mariah Walton was diagnosed with congential heart disease aged 18
Mariah Walton says parents and guardians in Idaho should be required by law to treat ill children. Screenshot from KTVB footage
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 8.
#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
Only fools believe there is a god that intercedes in the affairs of people.
Only fools don't believe there is a God that intercedes in the affairs of man. If medical care is mandated under force and penalty of law, there is no freedom, no liberty in this country. I personally would have rolled the dice and helped her to have the operation, but she could have died on the table too. Should the fact that she died getting "standard of care" result in more than a lawsuit? Maybe the doctors and hospitals should be subject to manslaughter or murder conviction for a death. Felonious assault for injury? You see, people must be free to live or die of their own accord, or they are slaves. If the State is to control, then they are the master.
George Washington would think you are a dumb ass. Just because you got the short stick in life doesn't mean you have to blame it on God.
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestWoman left with life-threatening heart condition after parents chose prayer over medical treatment
#2. To: rlk (#1)
Only fools believe there is a god that intercedes in the affairs of people.
#3. To: jeremiad (#2)
Only fools don't believe there is a God that intercedes in the affairs of man.
History refutes that statement!
#8. To: rlk (#3)
Only fools don't believe there is a God that intercedes in the affairs of man. History refutes that statement!
Replies to Comment # 8.
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