GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - The death of a girl whose diabetes was left untreated after her parents refused medical treatment on religious grounds has been classified a homicide. "The death of Amanda Bates occurred as a direct consequence of withholding medical care in a life-endangering condition," Mesa County Coroner Robert Kurtzman said Monday. Janet Prell, a spokeswoman for the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, said the death was still being investigated and no decision had been made on whether to file charges against Amanda's parents. Amanda, 13, died Feb. 5 of an infection related to her diabetes. Her parents, Colleen and Randy Bates, belong to the General Assembly Church of the First Born. Some members of the church have said they will not accept medical help under any circumstances. Withheld medical treatment has been blamed in eight previous stillbirths and children's deaths in Colorado families belonging to the church.
I hope prosecuters have more to do than waste time going after these people.The Amish shun modern medical treatment,and you don`t see anyone charging them with anything.What makes these people any different?
> GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - The death of a girl whose diabetes was left > untreated after her parents refused medical treatment on religious > grounds has been classified a homicide. "The death of Amanda Bates > occurred as a direct consequence of withholding medical care in a > life-endangering condition," Mesa County Coroner Robert Kurtzman said > Monday. Janet Prell, a spokeswoman for the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, > said the death was still being investigated and no decision had been > made on whether to file charges against Amanda's parents. Amanda, 13, > died Feb. 5 of an infection related to her diabetes. Her parents, > Colleen and Randy Bates, belong to the General Assembly Church of the > First Born. Some members of the church have said they will not accept > medical help under any circumstances. Withheld medical treatment has > been blamed in eight previous stillbirths and children's deaths in > Colorado families belonging to the church.
Plop wrote: > I hope prosecuters have more to do than waste time going after > these people.The Amish shun modern medical treatment,and you > don`t see anyone charging them with anything.What makes these > people any different?
Shun and refuse are different things. I may be mistaken, but if an Amish child were dreadfully ill, would the parents not allow help from outside?
> > I hope prosecuters have more to do than waste time going after > > these people.The Amish shun modern medical treatment,and you > > don`t see anyone charging them with anything.What makes these > > people any different?
> Shun and refuse are different things. I may be mistaken, but if an > Amish child were dreadfully ill, would the parents not allow help > from outside?
There's a misapprehension here. The Amish don't routinely refuse modern medical treatment. Amish also feel free to ask their non-Amish neighbors to phone for an ambulance when the need arises.
It does seem a little bit of a cheat, but the handful of Amish I've known (none of them well) were good people, and not stupid about this kind of thing. FWIW, there are individual Amish who don't object to modern devices that are battery-powered -- e.g. flashlights, tiny TVs, radios, and other things that don't have to be plugged into the wall.
