Guilty of killing their child

Sunnyisland

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/americas/guilty-of-killing-couple-who-prayed-over-their-sick-child-rather-than-get-a-doctor-2892621.html




AN AMERICAN couple who prayed and rubbed olive oil on their sick newborn baby rather than get medical attention for him, have been convicted of manslaughter.
Dale and Shannon Hickman, both 26, are the latest members of the controversial Followers of Christ Church to be blamed for their child’s death.

The Church has a history of rejecting medical care for their children and relying instead on techniques such as prayer and anointing the sick with oils.

The young couple were convicted of second-degree manslaughter charges which typically require a mandatory minimum sentence of six years in prison.

But because of a religious exemption in state law at time of the crime, the couple likely will face no more than 18 months in prison and a $US250,000 (€185,000) fine, The Oregonian reported.

The court in Clackamas, Oregon heard that Shannon Hickman received no prenatal care when she became pregnant with her son David.

He was born two months prematurely at his grandmother’s home and died nine hours later. He was born with a bacterial infection and underdeveloped lungs.

Medical experts testified that the baby had a 99 per cent chance of survival if his parents had sought medical care. But prosecutors claimed the couple never considered taking the baby to the hospital.

Defence lawyer Mark Cogan said his clients were the victims of religious persecution. He argued that the baby died quickly and said there was no evidence that medical care would have saved him.

Dale Hickman testified that he didn't call an ambulance once he realised his infant son was ailing "because I was praying".

Shannon Hickman said that as a woman in the church, she must defer to her husband.

"That's not my decision anyway," she testified. "I think it's God's will whatever happens."

Five other church members have been convicted in Clackamas County for crimes related to the rejection of medical care for their children, said Greg Horner, chief deputy district attorney.

Two other parents from the Followers of Christ church were convicted earlier this year for failing to seek medical care for their infant daughter, who had a growth that could have left her blind in one eye. They were sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Robert Herndon allowed the couple to remain free until they are sentenced October 31.
- INDEPENDENT.IE REPORTERS

That's not right is it ? surely if your child was/is sick you would do anything you possibly could to save them ? well i would.

smash

Sick sick people

biko

Yes, but if you believe the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, you're more inclined to pray than going to some hospital.

Snakeblood

That's not right is it ? surely if your child was/is sick you would do anything you possibly could to save them ? well i would.

Sadly, they thought they were doing the best thing they could for their kid. Assholes.

Snakeblood

biko wrote: »

Yes, but if you believe the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, you're more inclined to pray than going to some hospital.

Assuming I believed that, I'd probably be willing to accept a doctor as an instrument of god's will.

My name is URL

Absolute retards.. anyone that follows Christian Science and have children should be investigated by social services imo. Seriously messed up that they don't seek medical help for their kids. It's one thing choosing to live your own life that way, but it's plain abuse to neglect your own kids for the sake of your religion.

Jaxxy

This kind of ignorance disgusts me.

sbsquarepants

I wonder if this will their love for their god- i know if i done my bit and he still let my kid die, i'd be pissed!
Something tells me it won't. I just can not get my head around religious thinking at all - they're all fúcking nuts if you ask me. Some, like these particular assholes, are just worse than others!

o1s1n

biko wrote: »

Yes, but if you believe the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, you're more inclined to pray than going to some hospital.

It would seem in this case, the lord taketh away common sense.

al28283

biko wrote: »

Yes, but if you believe the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, you're more inclined to pray than going to some hospital.

If you are hungry, you go get some to eat, you don't wait for god to make it so you're not hungry anymore

Korvanica

Isn't religion awesome ?...


Idiots...

danniemcq

ah olive oil and prayers solve all...

wait no it doesn't!

if they believe that all life is sacred then surley do more than baste the child

Chuck Stone

Snakeblood wrote: »

Sadly, they thought they were doing the best thing they could for their kid.

I don't believe that.

They were probably following stupid religious edict and probably thought more of their standing within their church group than they did for that child.

They don't deserve to have children.

Surely if this is what you believe, then you should believe that medicine and doctors are created by God and therefore his way of saving people. If God is what they think he is, I would imagine he is sitting up there going, eh, people, I've given you ambulances, doctors, medicines, hospitals, what the hell heck more do you want!?

Poor little baby.

foxyboxer

Defence lawyer Mark Cogan said his clients were the victims of religious persecution. He argued that the baby died quickly and said there was no evidence that medical care would have saved him.


Lawyers eh?

Jumpy

"Hick"man?

I think you have been duped good people of boards.

Gmol

As someone who has a child who was born 3 months premature I find this disgusting, if they had gone to a hospital straight away the baby would have had a great chance of survival and had a great chance of leading a perfectly normal live. F**king disgrace, it would be great if someone could take a case against the religion on behalf of that poor baby

checkyabadself

Of course it didn't work. They needed to use extra virgin.olive oil.
Seriously, some peoples ignorance can be truly breathtaking.

Lollipops23

it amazes me when parental instinct is overrode by religious zeal. so so glad they've been sent down. probably won't change their views though. hopefully they won't have any more kids though.

Pedro K

link
In some ways similar to the case I've linked to above. Parents refused traditional medical care, the child died from what should have been a perfectly manageable condition. Although obviously the religion doesn't play a large part in this one.

EDIT: I'm not sure if the link I've posted works. I'm posting from my phone. If it doesn't, you can google Gloria Sam. That's The child's name.

CrazyRabbit

Shouldn't the children of these church members be taken away from them? Since the members of the church have consistently failed to get proper medical care for their children when ill, I'd consider this to be a form of child abuse.

VenusPlays

First time I've seen a conviction for this, hopefully it wont be the last. A friend of mine was a doctor on a case where a girl died because her parents wouldnt allow a transfusion or surgery. Very difficult to be part of the medical team on that kind of case.