Couple that prayed for child who died of infection are indicted

An Oregon couple have been indicted on charges of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in the death of their 15-month-old daughter who authorities say they prayed over rather than seek medical treatment for an infection.

Carl and Raylene Worthington reportedly are members of a church that preaches against medical care.

Their daughter, Ava, died March 2 of bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection, conditions the state's medical examiner says could have been treated with antibiotics. The child also had an untreated benign cyst on her neck that hampered breathing, said Dr. Christopher Young, a deputy state medical examiner.

Oregon passed laws in the 1990s that took away faith-healing shields for parents after several children died.

-- Lance Murray

Comments

[G-Man]

These are foolish, ignorant people who mistakenly believe that God denies them the right to seek medical attention. I doubt either one of them would rely solely on prayer if they got an arm cut off or their appendix burst.
I sometimes wonder if the real hidden motive is and probably is more commoon) financial in nature. We really don't want to spend the money on our child so we'll dump it in God's lap to fix.