Parents charged in daughter's death.....

8 posts · started Apr 28, 2008

cougarnurse Apr 28, 2008, 10:07 PM
Update on the story: ABC News: Praying Parents Charged With Homicide
The parents of an 11-year-old Wisconsin girl who prayed instead of seeking medical help for the diabetic child are facing homicide charges in connection with her death.
Dale and Leilani Neumann were charged with second-degree reckless homicide, Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad announced at a press conference today. If convicted, the couple could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
Madeline Kara Neumann, who went by the name Kara, died in March at a hospital in Everest, Wis. Her parents called 911 after she stopped breathing on Easter Sunday.
The Neumanns told authorities they did not call for help earlier because they believe in the power of prayer.
Kara died of "diabetic ketoacidosis," according to the autopsy report. Efforts were made to revive the little girl, whose diabetes had never been diagnosed, when she stopped breathing at the house, officials said.

Here is the original story link: Prayers picked over doctors; child dies
Any thoughts or comments? Anyone?
JennyP Apr 29, 2008, 5:09 PM
There was a case like this here many years ago (maybe 20?) and a friend was involved with the criminal case.

I STILL believe that God has given us all of this medical knowledge for a reason and cannot understand how people can use prayer as an excuse for not doing what is right.
JennyP Apr 30, 2008, 6:37 AM
LOL! So many people think that that saying is from the Bible, Cougarnurse. It was really first written by Ben Franklin in "Poor Richards' Almanac" back in the 18th century.

When I was writing my previous post, I almost wrote that quote myself but then thought against it.
katyv May 2, 2008, 5:11 PM
Jenny..I agree with you and have used that logic with patients.:)
It is a sad situation. Unfortuneately, we see these kind of things periodically. Last one that I remember here in this area was about a couple who didn't talk their infant to the doctor, even though she had treatable pneumonia.
Dillon1 Jun 11, 2008, 1:11 AM
As a parent I don't know how you could not do everything possible for your child to be well? Ok prayer is good I don't argue with that but not getting your child medical care because you think prayer will take care of it..um no. I have to say I agree that they should be held with neglect. That poor little girl. She didn't have to die.