Sunday, July 12, 2009




In an episode of the Simpsons, a Brazilian nun, distraught over a missing orphan, says to Bart:

Nun: Everyday we light a candle for him.

Bart: Have you tried looking for him?

Nun: That’s plan B.

Watch this episode. -->see 10:20 mark.The conversation Bart Simpson has with the nun is a funny one when cartoon characters have it on TV, but not so funny if you are the missing orphan.  Although not entirely related to the topic I am going to focus on, I thought this conversation showed how religion affects the decisions adults make in regards to children and how it sometimes seems irresponsible.  

So far in my research I have found several legal cases regarding parents accused of child neglect because they did not seek medical treatment for their sick children.  All the children eventually died and their parents argued that medical care was prohibited by their religion.  Should legal authorities have stepped in?  Where do we draw the line?  Do these parents deserve to go to jail?  These questions are difficult to answer for a reason.  They touch on a sensitive subject and address questions that nobody really knows the answer to. 

In a study of 172 children who died from lack of conventional medicine (because their parents did not take them to the doctor), the American Academy of Pediatrics found that 140 of the children (roughly 81%) would have had a 90% chance of survival if they had been taken to the doctor and 18 of them would have had a 50% chance of survival.  158 of these kids could have been saved!!  I couldn’t believe this when I first read it.  My first thought was that these children were suffering from terrible diseases that were eventually going to kill them, but they weren’t.  Many of them suffered from pneumonia or type 1-diabetes, conditions that are easily treated with conventional medication.  What should have been done?

 


3 comments:

  1. I think it's irresponsible to neglect children for religious reasons. I think the point of religion is to try to be the best person you can be and doing so by following various religions' guidelines to do so.

    I think every religion teaches compassion for one another and love and I don't think higher powers (whoever or whatever they may be) would want anyone to suffer.

    Legal authorities should have stepped in because our country is separate from church. So therefore child neglect laws apply to them too.

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  2. Interesting Topic!
    I both agree and disagree with KRK!
    Although parents should most definitely take their children to the doctor if they see they are not well, what I know, medical care is not all that great and that might be an other cause for not taking your kid to the doctor. Is it free for everyone? DO society take care of the costs? IF it don't, do they have the right to punish parents who can't afford it? If parents don't have insurances, maybe they should be required to have one when they get a child.
    If the reason is based on religious beliefs, I believe it is wrong! But otherwise?! We have laws to prevent DUI's and other reckless behaviors that are there to not injure your self or others. If you are not taking care of your child your a definitely injuring people around you and should be stopped.
    A problem rises how to catch it before it is to late. Through teachers and daycare personnel? Neighbours?

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  3. I was so shocked by these stats, and the ones you presented in your oral presentation. I think CA brings up a great point and a logic way of evaluating the problem in that we have laws to prevent people from making other kind of destructive decisions that harm others... how is this any different?

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