Around the Web…

Some stories for your Wednesday afternoon:

• Advice on getting along with your baby’s grandparents — Just the Facts, Baby
• A new study suggests antidepressant use in pregnancy can affect newborns — Health.com
• Oprah Winfrey attempts to interview a child struggling with Schizophrenia — Jezebel
• Wisconsin parents who tried to pray their daughter’s deadly illness away are sentenced to six months in jail — Associated Press
• Interesting ideas for showing off your ultrasound — lilSugar

Comments

I’m completely shocked when I hear people praying a medical problem away. The last time I heard that, it was 12-year-old passing away from cancer her in France, but the parents were devastated at their child’s death. I’m completely floored at how those parents here so strongly believe their child’s death seems to be … just another test from God??

- Allie-Rose on October 7th, 2009

Allie Rose, I agree! It is appalling that they let their daughter actually die on the floor of their house instead of call for help. They deserve to be in jail for life! It sickens me that these people were allowed to be parents. That poor helpless and completely dependent baby and having these wackjobs as parents. So Sad!

- Kim on October 7th, 2009

I absolutely would have gotten my child medical treatment, and frankly, I don’t understand why someone wouldn’t. But, I don’t think it’s really a fair statement for the prosecutor to say they are “misguided by faith” People practice all different religions and I absolutely respect that. But it just doesn’t seem right to call a Christian “misguided”. Lots of faiths believe lots of things that some of us might find ridiculous, but we respect it and keep our mouths shut, don’t Christians deserve the same respect. There are religions that worship cows, ones that believe women can’t show their face in public, and even ones where people worship cats…do we call them “misguided”, no and I wouldn’t dream of it. Just to be clear, I’m not defending the parents, I am just a little annoyed about the prosecutors statement.

- JessicaC on October 7th, 2009

I live in Wisconsin and I swear every time the state is in the news it’s for something crazy bad…this is just another example. What a terrible tragedy!!!

- UggaMugga.com on October 7th, 2009

I am a Christian and believe in the power of prayer, but sometimes you have to pray that the Lord works through the doctor. I can’t imagine not getting a sick child help.

- Christa on October 7th, 2009

I Live in Wisconsin; I am disgusted that the parents got off with such a light sentence. And they plan to appeal. What the hell, they should count their blessing with that sentence. I hope this does not send a message that prayer alone will heal. I am a Christian I believe in prayer, But I believe that GOD gave us a brain and we must use the talents that he has bestowed on us and others. When left untreated Diabetes is a very painful, painful death. For those who do not know the full story of this little girl please look it up! It’s Very sad.

- mary on October 7th, 2009

Not a fan of those ultrasound “showing off” gifts. It’s one thing to say “Oh hey, we got our first ultrasound today, take a look.” It’s a whole other story to stick that on a postage stamp or give it to people as scratch off cards. That’s one of those situations wehre I’d think “I’m at a loss for why you thought that was a good idea. Um, thanks ? *awkward smile*”

- Megan on October 7th, 2009

I pretty much agree Megan. The only thing I could see myself doing is making a copy and sending to to my mom or something if she was living too far for me to show it to her in person. Grandparents would appreciate it and probably even my sister. But otherwise there is no need to do that lol

- Laura on October 7th, 2009

This was a tragic incident that could have easily been avoided. But a jail sentence for faith-based healing sets a dangerous precedent. It puts government in control of how parents choose to treat their children’s illnesses, and takes the fundamental right of care, custody, and control away from the parents. This is an extreme case, but what about someone who decides to treat their children through a holistic, natural approach rather than through traditional medicine? A parent who uses this treatment might be considered negligent or reckless, even if the holistic approach seems to work better in some individual cases. Should Jenny McCarthy go to jail because she’s treating her son by changing his diet rather than using whatever drugs are out there for autism? And what about parents who use her as an example and forego the MMR vaccine for their children, in spite of potential contaminations, and decide to treat or prevent these diseases in other ways?

Last year, two girls in Texas died from an experimental vaccine for cervical cancer that the state required them to have, but that their parents said they never would have approved in that largely untested stage. It all comes down to parental choice. Again, this family definitely made horrible decisions. But we should allow the parents to choose alternative treatment if they believe it is best for their child, whether as the first choice or a last resort.

- Naughty Cal on October 7th, 2009

JessicaC – I get where you’re coming from, but on a basic level, these parents were misguided and they were so because of their faith. Yes, they took it to an extreme level that most of us would not even recognise, but I think the prosecutor’s statement was largely fair. They were misguided by faith. Like I said, I know what you mean, but I don’t think the intent was to say that the faith itself was misguided, it was the parents, and their interpretation of it.

- Alex on October 7th, 2009

I understand.

- Benigna Marko on October 7th, 2009

Alex, I think the parents are misguided-period, nothing to do with faith. But, if people want to get technical, if they 100% without a doubt believed that God was testing their faith, we can refer back to the book of Job in the Bible where something similar did in fact happen. Some Christians don’t just say they’re Christians, they are actually devout practicing Christians and believe the Bible to be the word of God, and believe without a shadow of a doubt. We tolerate every other religion and accept their religion as their “excuse”, why is Christianity not given the same respect? Just something to think about. I often have to take issue with the whole religion thing, it’s just about being fair…in some public schools muslims are aloud to wear garmets because of their religion, but Christian students cannot wear a cross? I just don’t see the logic…

- JessicaC on October 7th, 2009

I have to admit I’m with Alex on that one, maybe because I’m European (French to be precise) and therefore have a different view on religion. It’s faith, regardless of the confession, that led these parents not to seek treatment for their child so they were indeed misguided by faith. I think the sentence was more symbolic than anything else but hopefully will have them re-consider their other children’s well-being

- Allie-Rose on October 7th, 2009

on the anti-depressants causing preterm labour… great, just fabulous. i’ve had severe, chronic depression since my preteens, and my children have been born at 38 weeks and 36.5 weeks. maybe this contributed. i’ve been utterly terrified of going earlier with this one, just scared stiff. but i ca’t even get off them, because they make me so incredibly sick, withdrawing from seratonin. *cries*
prayers, please… *sigh* as if the depression isn’t bad enough.

- jaQ on October 7th, 2009

As parents of minors we have an obligation to our children. I think if you are aware that your child is gravely ill you have the right to stop all interventions. I understand that. But this girl was in a lot of pain. When you have a child that has diabetes, a disease that is treatable you must or should get treatment for that said minor. There is nothing wrong with using alternative medicines. But these people did not even do that! While treatment is being administered you can pray all you want to your God, Allah, Father, your Lord, ect.
Jenny McCarthy still sought out medical help. I will bet if her child had diabetes she would put him on proper meds or if he was needing insulin would administer them. These parents did neither. While this child lay on the couch/floor she had seizures after seizures and covered in her own urine and sweating profusely her parents prayed. The mothers own family who live in California tried to convince their dying niece’s parents to get medical help.
You take a child with Autism and a child with insulin dependent diabetes and withhold meds from both of them. The one who dies first most likely will be the child with diabetes. When a parent forgoes MMR they must sign a waiver. If you are a parent you know your child is sick and you take them to the doctor and then decide to not want them treated we doctors should demand from the parents to sign waivers that you are fully aware of the condition of your child and that child may or will die without proper care. A DNR for children. If you want to be so extreme. Not every state has this option.
This child did not die overnight. It took weeks.
Dale Neumann, 47, read from the Bible and told the judge that he loved his daughter.
“I am guilty of trusting my Lord’s wisdom completely. … Guilty of asking for heavenly intervention. Guilty of following Jesus Christ when the whole world does not understand. Guilty of obeying my God,” he said.
Ignorance should not be put above the law. You can be trusting in the Lords wisdom. You can obey God and still seek professional help! USE YOUR BRAIN it’s what separates us from the animals!

- mary on October 7th, 2009

I don’t think there is anything wrong with prayer, but you certainly CANNOT rely completely on it solving all you problems… ESPECIALLY under these circumstance!

I wonder if they’ve heard of the say “GOD HELPS THOSE, WHO HELP THEMSELVES”

They should have been “helping themselves…” As in they should have been taking some (medical)measures to care for their child’s illness. They can still use prayer in combination w/ medical treatment.

- Shaunie on October 7th, 2009

I agree UggaMugga.com – I’m also from Wisconsin; actually my school has been in the international news twice for bad incidences and it’s just embarrassing and frustrating. As for Oprah, she needs to seriously interview the parents and let this poor girl live in peace. She’s having a hard enough time living with schizophrenia at such a YOUNG age, she doesn’t need to get Oprah anymore attention by being on her show. How is this HELPING the girl??? It’s ridiculous enough she tried flying her out there; I’m glad she has no kids of her own. She obviously has limited judgment about how unpredictable little children can be in general – let alone ones with diseases or syndromes.

- Kait on October 8th, 2009

I’m in the UK, so I’ll admit that I’ve only seen the clip of the Oprah attempted interview with the little girl with schizophrenia, but I’m not sure what the parents could possibly have achieved from putting her on there. Perhaps someone who saw the whole show could clue me in to that, but I think it’s cruel. The kid clearly did not want to talk. On another point, funny to see Oprah not get her own way lol.

And to JessicaC – I get what you mean with that, and I’m totally with you. I think it’s a huge shame that there are some people who trust things without question and follow without independant thought. And as we know all too well, this has led to awful consequences.

- Alex on October 8th, 2009