On Thursday, the Worthingtons were found not guilty of manslaughter. The father was found guilty of criminal mistreatment, a misdemeanor that could carry a penalty of up to a year in jail. I doubt that he'll serve any time, though.
Remember when I posted about the case here ? And my thoughts that really, they should no longer be allowed to reproduce? It came out during the trial that Raylene is expecting another baby.
You know, I just don't know what to say.
Do you have any thoughts?
The commenters on the website for the Portland Tribune had quite a lot to say:Mom acquitted, father guilty on one charge in faith-healing case
This is a hard thing. I had typed out so much more but deleted. I think the real question here is if "God" wasn't the motive for denying treatment, would some of us be as upset? Or rather if this had been one of the parents, not the baby, would it ever have become a case?
ReplyDeleteI dunno. Again, tough stuff here. Goes along with doctors deciding who gets the kidney, heart, lung, etc. We just haven't accessed that region of our brain that allows us to intelligently make those decisions and therefore are limited to a primitive rationale.
If an old scientist on the brink of discovering a cure for all our ailments and and young person just starting out were on the same donor list and were exact matches, who gets the organ. I know many would say the scientist because of her contribution to the world at large. Others would say the young person who hasn't had a real start in life. Kill the child or the old woman. You decide the fate. I'm not so sure it's our decision to make.
Damn, I'll be mulling this over all day and night.
I have to agree here, I would feel badly if I did something and then didnt get care and should have (say baby fell off the bed or something)... but should I go to jail? I don't know, but I wouldn't think so. As much as it thrills me to name people that should NOT breed, it is their right, and one that should not be taken away, in my lowly opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think they should have MANY children. It raises the chances of some living to adulthood.
ReplyDeleteOf course, their children will probably be stupid, too.
Maybe they shouldn't have any more of them.
If we take religion out of the equation, it seems to me a simple case of abuse through neglect with a very sad outcome.
ReplyDeleteI'm not usually one to say whether or not a person should reproduce, either.
But it just kills me that they can do the same thing over and over... not take sick kids to a doctor. And that the same outcome is possible for any children they (and other members of their cult) may have.
And in a time where children are removed from their families on some pretty outlandish charges, medical neglect through religion being ignored just pisses me off.
Does that makes sense?
They are getting off for political reasons! Again take religion out of the case. It becomes a simple case of child abuse and neglect causing the death of a minor child.
ReplyDeleteTake the case of the mother who was arrested and is not facing jail time because her young son weighs over 500 LBS. The story has been all over the national media.
Where is the outcry from the national media about these parents! They are being allowed a free pass because of religion....
Will the court take steps to make sure this new baby will receive any and all treatment???