We all remember the faith healing church in Oregon, called the Followers of Christ, but in Oklahoma, there is a similar church, called Church of the First Born, who, like those in Oregon, also believe in faith healing, instead of acquiring medical care when needed. Many of both churches’ adult members, believe that God will heal their children if one prays. And nationwide, such cases continue to grow.
One woman in Oklahoma, who is a member of the Church of the First Born, now faces child neglect charges, after her son died of untreated diabetes. This church also, has been in the court spotlight over the membership refusal to seek medical attention when warranted.
Susan M. Grady, formerly of Broken Arrow, was charged in Tulsa County District Court on Tuesday, 18 months after her 9-year-old son, Aaron, died of complications from diabetes mellitus. Tulsa World
She told authorities that she was a member of the church, and believed in the power of prayer. Seth Asser, a Rhode Island pediatrician who has published a study about children who died after their parents offered them prayer without medical help says the Church of the First Born is one of the biggest offenders of child neglect using religion as its base. The Church of the First Born, well-known in Oklahoma, and Followers of Christ, an offshoot of the church that is located in the Pacific Northwest, together are responsible for more child deaths than any other group.
Asser estimates that each year, up to two dozen children die each year because their parents refuse to get them medical help. Asser and a child advocate, Rita Swan, have studied 172 child deaths, due to what they called religion-based medical neglect and found that 140 of them would have had a 90 percent chance of survival and 18 others a 50 percent chance of survival with proper medical care. “Most were ordinary illnesses that no one dies from – appendicitis, pneumonia … – and many of them died slow, horrible deaths, without the benefit of (pain-relief) medicine,” he said. Tulsa World
Swan is a former Christian Scientist who left that church after her young son died without medical attention while a Christian Science practitioner prayed for him. She founded Child Inc. in Sioux City, Iowa, to fight religion-based medical neglect. Members of the Church of the First Born have been involved in several child death court cases over the last three decades.
This included an Enid case in 1982 that motivated the Oklahoma Legislature in 1983 to limit the so-called “religious exemption.” The exemption was part of an earlier law that said parents cannot be prosecuted for failure to provide medical treatment for their children, if their decision was based on their religious convictions. The Enid couple was acquitted of manslaughter in the death of their 9-year-old son, who had a ruptured appendix. Under Oklahoma’s current law, parents can rely solely on prayer for their child’s healing as long as the child is not in danger of death or permanent physical damage. Tulsa World
But stats show that religious groups against medical are few in number. In many cases, they are not theologically trained, and they teach that dependence on medicine demonstrates a lack of faith in God. That puts pressure on people. Still they believe that all healing comes from God.
Christian Scientists and Jehovah’s Witnesses are two other groups that have found themselves at the intersection of religious freedom and court-ordered medical care. Leroy Gatlin, with the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Oklahoma, said the death of Aaron Grady was tragic but has no connection to the practice of Christian Science. The Christian Science Church emphasizes the healing power of prayer but leaves it up to the individual to decide the best thing to do under the circumstances. Yet Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that blood transfusions violate the biblical command not to ingest blood.
Spokesman Mark Snead said the denomination works with doctors and hospitals to use nonblood alternatives to medical care and to make it a rare instance when medical authorities seek court intervention to give blood transfusions to patients who are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Ed Weir, a leader for the Church of the First Born said that he doesn’t preach about denying medical treatment, but that God’s word proves that faith is all that’s needed. He said church members are free to do what they want.
Shawn Newton
/ 02/14/2011I think it’s one thing for the government to mandate that parents provide medical care to their children regardless of their religious beliefs. The one thing I’m concerned with is the government forcing people to buy medical insurance for themselves. If someone doesn’t believe in being treated with modern medicine and believes in faith healing, then they would have to buy health insurance regardless. This puts a tremendous financial burden on them to buy insurance even if they refuse medical treatment. What next would the government force grown adults to accept medical treatment even if it violates their religious beliefs? I do not have health insurance and don’t plan on purchasing it even if they throw me in prison. I can’t afford medical insurance or medical care either. It’s too bad doctors and hospitals are charging so much for medical care. What ever happened to the hypocratic oath doctors and hospitals supposedly are sworn to ?
Janet
/ 02/14/2011There’s a big difference between free choice when it comes to adults and children. In the faith healing case, young children aren’t capable of deciding for themselves, so normally, parents do it for them. And most when the child is sick, will go to a doctor or hospital. Religious beliefs, yes, they have that right, but where do we draw the line when it comes to the welfare of an innocent?
As for the Obamanuts and his throat choking healthcare mandate, no one wants it. The government doesn’t have the right to force us. How the heck are the morons in Washington going to collect that fine from the jobless and homeless? How gullible do THEY think we are?
And by the way, as of now, I’ve been curious, so started pricing these plans, and it’s pathetic. Maybe we should take away the insurance of all politicians, and make them go on the Obamacare plan…..just how long would that idea last then?
Yet illegals get if free. My idea here, ship them, and their US born kids back where they came from and it would solve many problems. We wouldn’t have the welfare system going dry, families wouldn’t be separated, if those MOTHERS had their babies in their own countries, and their government support them.
Then just maybe, we, the LAW ABIDING citizens would have coverage.
Rather not say
/ 05/02/2011I knew the family in Tulsa & feel for them but I believe it is unfair to children to have to relay on faith based healing. Like the article said, 140 out of the 172 had over a 50% chance of living! Aaron could still be here had she followed through with medical treatment! I believe like everyone else that eveyone has the right to choose what & who to believe in, but as mentioned before….where is that line drawn?