[PMFB-RN]

Kara died of untreated DKA. Her parents refused to take her for medical care, relying on prayer to heal her diabetes.

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/app...eme=WDHNEUMANN

[Quickbeam]

I've worked (as a personal interest) in the field of laws related to health of children and faith healing/denial of medical care. These parents are almost never charged with anything in the 30 years I've been following cases. They get community sympathy and their churches usually go to bat for them. DAs just back off 99% of the time, much like with parents who back over their kids or let them steam to death in a hot car.

There is an organization which tracks these deaths and promotes mandated health care for children. It was founded by a mom who lost her child in this manner.

http://www.childrenshealthcare.org/

[tvccrn]

Thing is, quickbeam, these people had no church. They aren't affliated with any religious organization in the area at all.

[Quickbeam]

They seem to be linked to a ministry as evidenced by this quote in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

There were also two postings under her name on the Web site AmericasLastDays.com, which is operated by Unleavened Bread Ministries, an evangelical ministry that focuses on the apocalypse.

Many people who refuse medical care for their childern are loosely affiliated with such groups. It's kind of like the fringe vegans who only give their kids almond flour and are surprised that they die. They usually have some type of belief system which may not be with a local church.

I don't care if parents want to not avail themselves of health care. It really bothers me when a child dies for a completely preventable reason.

ETA: in the MJS article, the mother said she'd do it again if circumstances were the same. And there are other children.

[jlsRN]

Tragic, but I'm opposed to sending people to jail for this type of thing.

[CHATSDALE]

according to the wi state law cited in article there can NOT be an arrest in a case like this, that uses prayer instead of medical care

absolutely tragic case, i hope this encourages lawmakers to change this particular law

[luvmy3kids]

You know... the whole story seems very strange to me. I understand different religions that believe in prayer and use it rather than seeking medical attention, but I don't feel like they have stated they are religious enough to use only praying as a healing tool. They said they don't even belong to a specific church.

If they don't have "anything against" doctors... why didn't they take her in after 2+ weeks of vomiting, nausea, etc?? Something sounds fishy to me. They just don't sound very bright.

[SandraJean]

How sad for the family. The article says that she had not been diagnosed with diabetes yet. I think that some people are just not that educated or even have much common sense when it comes to health matters. Maybe that was their situation? Still so sad.

[jlmays1974]

i feel for this child alot. Many children do not have a voice and cannot speak out the way they would like to. I don't feel like the parents should have to go to jail because that doesn't solve anything. They've already lost their loved one theres not many more things that can amount to the pain one feels from losing a child. Did they make the right choice? maybe maybe not but it was their choice to make not ours. When its your time to do God will take you no matter what doctor or nurse is around to try and save you.

[tvccrn]

Quickbeam, the mother told the police that they weren't associated with any church at all. That's what I was going by. I live about 45 miles from Wausau and the only reports I had as of this morning were the local news and the locals papers.

SandraJean, the little girl hadn't been diagnosed with diabetes becasue the parents quit taking her to the doctor when she was three. There wasn't any mention as to why they quit.