From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The parents of an 11-year-old girl who died of complications from untreated diabetes last month have both been charged with second-degree reckless homicide, according to Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad.
Madeline Kara Neumann died March 23. The girl's parents, Leilani and Dale Neumann, of Weston, have said they didn't know she had diabetes, didn't take her to a doctor and prayed for healing.
..."Second-degree reckless homicide has two elements," Falstad said. "The first element is that the defendant caused the death of another. The second element is that the defendant caused the death by criminally reckless conduct.
"In this case, that conduct was the failure to seek medical intervention. The failure to seek medical intervention created unreasonable and substantial risk of death or great bodily harm to Kara and the Neumanns were aware of the risk."
..."There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the availability of a 'religious defense' in this case," Falstad said in the statement. "In our nation we have a constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion. We also give parents leeway in matters of child rearing. However, neither is absolute. In this case, it was necessary to weigh 'freedom of religion' and 'parenting rights' against the state's interests in protecting children."
It took a long time for the Neumanns to be charged in their daughter's death.
I agree with the charges.
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More, from the Associated Press.
12 comments:
Any religion that allows a person to die when medical help will surely save the life of that person, and to go on and live a long productive life . . . is a stupid religion. Haven't we moved beyond prayer as a serious option for healing over good old fashioned doctors and medical procedure known to work? Are some people that backwards? Or is it stupid?
However you look at it, this was a needless, senseless death. Hopefully they'll get some real time and help keep others from dong the same thing.
When it comes to allowing a child to DIE, practicing one's religion shouldn't be a defense.
I, too, hope they serve time.
Sadly, anyone nuts enough to stand by as their child dies is probably not going to be deterred by the Neumann case.
Oh they, the Neumanns, WILL go to prison. They have to. Their case is a very clear-cut case of child neglect and manslaughter. Whatever else about the case that may be complex and controversial and murky, and raises all these questions and debates about religious freedom and parents' rights, etc., the direct circumstances of the girl's death are a very prosecutable case. Slim chance that obscure law we have here in Wisconsin about religious rights or whatever will have any bearing. With the correct charges in place I don't think a religious defense will be very applicable, even with probably alot of money and support for the Neumanns coming from religious interests who may insinuate themselves into the case. Originally there had been talk of charging the Neumanns with murder, I believe even murder 1. That would be more difficult to approach legally. And that was a bit ambitious and far-reaching for the DA to attempt.
Oh yes.. we HAVE moved beyond prayer as a serious (only)option for healing. That is why we are having this case today and why these parents must go to prison. We have always EVER, for thousands of years, been moving beyond prayer as the one way to heal. If you believe that God made us then try denying that God made us thinkers and problem solvers.
There was an old man sitting on his porch watching the rain fall. Pretty soon the water was coming over the porch and into the house.
The old man was still sitting there when a rescue boat came and the people on board said, "You can't stay here you have to come with us."
The old man replied, "No, God will save me." So the boat left. A little while later the water was up to the second floor, and another rescue boat came, and again told the old man he had to come with them.
The old man again replied, "God will save me." So the boat left him again.
An hour later the water was up to the roof and a third rescue boat approached the old man, and tried to get him to come with them.
Again the old man refused to leave stating that, "God will grant a miracle & save him." So the boat left him again.
Soon after, the man drowns and goes to heaven, and when he sees God he asks him, "Why didn't you save me? I thought you would grand me a miracle and you have let me down."
God replied, "You idiot, I don't know what you're complaining about. I sent three boats after you!!"
What's the moral of this story? Sometimes God sends doctors and insulin!
This is taking away a parents right to parent and giving it to the government. Forget the religious aspect of this case. It used to be up to the parents what was the best forms of treatment for their children; now it’s the governments. This needs to be appealed or it will set a new precedent for government control.
I disagree.
I believe the child had a right to life, and the parents failed to safeguard that right.
This wasn't about parents choosing a treatment. This was life and death.
Getting medical care for a child in EXTREME physical distress is a parent's responsibility.
Seeking treatment for their daughter certainly didn't mean they couldn't pray for God's help.
@suemelol
"This is taking away a parents right to parent and giving it to the government. Forget the religious aspect of this case. It used to be up to the parents what was the best forms of treatment for their children; now it’s the governments. This needs to be appealed or it will set a new precedent for government control."
You need to get a grip on reality lady. A child's right to live trumps a parents right to be a parent
No worries, I'm sure God will miraculously get them out of jail in no time.
@suemelol
The parents rights to KILL their child don't you mean?
As a Type1 Diabetic, I understand part of the pain that little girl went through, undiagnosed - the unquenchable thirst, cramps, heart palpitations, stabbing and then burning pain in every muscle, eyesight problems, and then coma, finally followed by the release of death. This would have taken many days.
Now, if you think that is something the parents have a right to issue onto their children, you are a sick and sad individual, and I pray you do not have children, of that is your belief. No God would want that for a child - if he/she did, then insulin would not have been found to treat the disease.
You are a very sad, and twisted person, but I guess this will not be published, as I've offended you - and the constitution protects you from that. Hope you see the irony in that, and your statement.
The Constitution doesn't protect us from being offended.
Note: As a rule, I don't publish comments that are NOTHING MORE than ad hominem attacks on other posters nor do I publish comments riddled with excessively foul language.
"Anonymous," you seem to be aware of my policies and you seem to be challenging them.
If that's, in fact, the purpose of your post, I think the "sick and sad individual" label might fit you.
I hope you're not playing games or lying about being diabetic.
Hi Mary,
thanks for publishing my post - I don't make a habit of publishing on blogs, but that post infuriated me!
I've been a Type 1 diabetic for 33 years, had laser surgery 3 times, cellulitus twice, have been taken to hospital 7 times due to hypos, am currently on a minimed pump which is great -
I didn't mean to offend you or question your posting rules etc. - and looking at the name of the person that posted that flamitory blog 'Sue Me Lol' I guess it's them playing games. If that's the case - I bit.....
"Anonymous,"
You would be amazed at the things people write -- totally false things, horrible things, threatening things.
The worst had to be the person posing as a 9/11 widow. I can't imagine doing that. Some people have no conscience.
That's why I use comment moderation.
I understand how someone with diabetes would be especially incensed at the death of this little girl and the suggestion that her parents did nothing wrong.
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