ADK_Forever
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Found guilty of reckless homicide for letting sick daughter die
(Updated 6:13 p.m. ET, Fri., May 22, 2009)
See: Mother convicted in prayer-death trial - Crime & courts- msnbc.com
So, all you people that think the decision to medically treat a child should lay in the power of the parents... was this mother right? Her decision to "pray her daughter back to health" killed her. Should someone have stepped in to force insulin into this little girl's veins... to save her life?
(Updated 6:13 p.m. ET, Fri., May 22, 2009)
WAUSAU, Wis. - A mother accused of praying instead of seeking medical help for her dying 11-year-old daughter was found guilty Friday of second-degree reckless homicide.
A Marathon County jury deliberated for about four hours before convicting Leilani Neumann, 41, of rural Weston, of second-degree reckless homicide. The crime is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. No sentencing date was set and Neumann remained free on bond.
Her daughter, Madeline Neumann, died of untreated diabetes March 23, 2008, surrounded by people praying for her. When she suddenly stopped breathing, her parents' business and Bible study partners finally called 911.
Prosecutors said a reasonable parent would have known something was wrong with Madeline. They said her mother recklessly killed her by ignoring obvious symptoms, such as her inability to walk or talk.
During closing arguments, Falstad described Neumann as a religious zealot who let her daughter, called Kara by her parents, die as a test of faith.
"Basic medical care would have saved Kara's life — fluids and insulin," Falstad said. "There was plenty of time to save Kara's life."
Linehan said Neumann didn't realize her daughter was so ill and did all she could do to help, in line with the family's belief in faith-healing.
He said Neumann was a devout Christian who prays about everything and took good care of her four children.
Neumann's stepfather, Brian Gordon, said his stepdaughter did nothing wrong in trusting in God to heal her daughter.
"We should have that right in this country," he said.
See: Mother convicted in prayer-death trial - Crime & courts- msnbc.com
So, all you people that think the decision to medically treat a child should lay in the power of the parents... was this mother right? Her decision to "pray her daughter back to health" killed her. Should someone have stepped in to force insulin into this little girl's veins... to save her life?