Faith healing Archives - American Atheists

Washington State Residents, Protect Children from Religious Medical Neglect!

American Atheists — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 20:30:17 +0000

Although Washington State has laws protecting children from medical neglect, certain loopholes exempt faith healing practitioners from prosecution for child negligence and criminal mistreatment. This situation endangers children and shields faith healers and caretakers from liability when a child dies from this type of medical neglect. Fortunately, the Child Health Protection Act (HB 1376/SB 5749) has been passed by committee in both the Washington State House and Senate in order to protect vulnerable children and eliminate these unconstitutional religious exemptions. State lawmakers almost passed this bill last year—but now there is a real opportunity to pass it into law! We need your help. Please reach out to your state representative and senator and ask them to pass this bill into law! The Child Health Protection Act will ensure that the government can take action to protect children and to prosecute instances of medical neglect. This legislation has broad bipartisan support and has been endorsed by child welfare advocates, medical professionals, religious groups, civil rights advocates, prosecutors, and parents’ groups. Everyone agrees that this is the right thing to do, but lawmakers need to hear from you to understand that it is a priority. In 2009, 17 year old Zachery Swezey of Carlton, Washington, died from appendicitis after his parents refused to seek medical treatment due to their religious beliefs. Appendicitis has a less than 1% fatality rate when treated with conventional medicine. Under Washington’s current law, caretakers and providers who cause tragic deaths like this one in the name of their religion cannot be prosecuted. This cannot stand—no one’s religious beliefs are more important than a child’s life. Ask your state representative and senator to vote this critical bill into law today!

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Washington Residents: Protect Children from Faith-Based Medical Neglect!

American Atheists — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 15:18:33 +0000

Under current law, Washington State fails to completely protect children from medical neglect. Because of religious exemption loopholes, parents and caretakers can get away with providing only prayer instead of necessary medical care to children. This is not right. The law must be changed! Fortunately, the Child Health Protection Act (HB 1376/SB 5749) is making strong progress in both the Washington State House and Senate. This legislation will protect vulnerable children and eliminate these unconstitutional religious exemptions. Now is the time to push this legislation forward and pass it into law! Please email your state representatives and ask them to vote for this important bill! The Child Health Protection Act will ensure that the government can take action to protect children and to prosecute instances of medical neglect. This legislation has broad bipartisan support and has been endorsed by child welfare advocates, medical professionals, religious groups, civil rights advocates, prosecutors, and parents’ groups. Everyone agrees that this is the right thing to do, but lawmakers need to hear from you to understand that it is a priority. Everyone agrees that this is the right thing to do, but lawmakers need to hear from you to understand that it is a priority. In 2009, 17 year old Zachery Swezey of Carlton, Washington, died from appendicitis after his parents refused to seek medical treatment due to their religious beliefs. Appendicitis has a less than 1% fatality rate when treated with conventional medicine. Under Washington’s current law, caretakers and providers who cause tragic deaths like this one in the name of their religion cannot be prosecuted. This cannot stand. No one’s religious beliefs are more important than a child’s life. Protect defenseless children from faith-based medical neglect! Ask your state representatives to vote for this critical bill!

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Atheists: End Faith Healing Exemptions in Washington State

American Atheists — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 21:43:14 +0000

Updated: 2/20/2019 Olympia, Washington—American Atheists, on behalf of its nearly 1,500 constituents in Washington, submitted testimony supporting HB 1376 and SB 5749. These bills would protect children by allowing the government to prevent and prosecute medical neglect. HB 1376 and SB 5749 were introduced in the memory of 17 year old Zachery Swezey of Carlton, Washington. In 2009, he died from appendicitis after his parents refused to seek medical treatment due to their religious beliefs. But he is not alone. Research shows that between 1975 and 1995 alone, there were at least 140 pediatric deaths from conditions with a 90% or higher survival rate with medical treatment. Under current law, prosecutors in Washington can do little to take action against those responsible for these tragic and unnecessary deaths. That’s because Washington’s child neglect law exempts faith healers from prosecution for child negligence and criminal mistreatment. HB 1376 and SB 5749 are common-sense solutions to a tragic situation. They are constitutionally sound, since the Supreme Court has recognized that parents do not have the right to inflict their beliefs upon children by denying them appropriate care. Moreover, these bills remove the current language that unconstitutionally favors one specific religion by creating special exemptions for Christian Scientists. Finally, HB 1376 and SB 5749 have won broad support. Child welfare advocates, medical professionals, religious groups, civil rights advocates, prosecutors, and parents’ groups have all endorsed these bills.

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ACTION ALERT: Protect Children from Dangerous Faith Healing

American Atheists — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 16:02:53 +0000

Although Washington State has laws protecting children from medical neglect, certain loopholes exempt faith-healing practitioners from prosecution for child negligence and criminal mistreatment. This situation endangers children and shields faith healers and caretakers from liability when a child dies from this type of medical neglect. Fortunately, the Child Health Protection Act (HB 1376/SB 5749), has been introduced in both the Washington State House and Senate. This legislation will protect vulnerable children and eliminate these unconstitutional religious exemptions. We need your help to move this legislation forward! Please reach out to the House and Senate committee chairs and ask them to hold a hearing on this important bill! The Child Health Protection Act will ensure that the government can take action to protect children and to prosecute instances of medical neglect. This legislation has broad bipartisan support and has been endorsed by child welfare advocates, medical professionals, religious groups, civil rights advocates, prosecutors, and parents’ groups. Everyone agrees that this is the right thing to do, but lawmakers need to hear from you to understand that it is a priority. In 2009, 17-year-old Zachery Swezey of Carlton, Washington, died from appendicitis after his parents refused to seek medical treatment due to their religious beliefs. Appendicitis has a less than a 1% fatality rate when treated with conventional medicine. Under Washington’s current law, caretakers and providers who cause tragic deaths like this one in the name of their religion cannot be prosecuted. This cannot stand—no one’s religious beliefs are more important than a child’s life. Protect defenseless children! Ask the House and Senate committees to hold a hearing on this critical bill!

The post ACTION ALERT: Protect Children from Dangerous Faith Healing appeared first on American Atheists.