Crazy Faith-healers ordered to surrender child for medical care
OREGON CITY, Ore. — An Oregon couple who belong to a faith healing church have been ordered to surrender their child for medical treatment, according to the Oregonian.
Clackamas County Circuit Judge Douglas Van Dyk Thursday gave the state of Oregon temporary custody of the child of Timothy Wyland and Rebecca Wyland, according to an article on the Oregonian Web site.
The Wylands are members of the Followers of Christ church, which relies on faith-healing rituals to treat illness. The age and specific medical condition of the couple’s child was not disclosed.
Last April, Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote pledged to work with church members to try and change their policies regarding doctor visits. He also said he would prosecute parents for failing to give their children medical care if necessary.
Oregon law requires parents to protect children
In 2008, the parents were prosecuted after two children died in separate incidents while their parents followed the “faith healing” concept.
Jeff and Marci Beagley were convicted last February of criminally negligent homicide in the death of their 16-year-old son, Neil.
The Beagleys, also members of the Followers of Christ Church, said they prayed for their son to heal, instead of seeking medical care. And during the trial, they also testified that they did not realize their son’s illness was life-threatening.
Neil died in June 2008 of complications from a congenital urinary tract blockage he had since birth that doctors said could have been corrected and treated.
Background: Beagley faith-healing case
Earlier that same year, 15-month-old Ava Worthington died from pneumonia and a blood infection after her parents refused to bring her to a doctor and instead tried to heal her with prayer.
During that manslaughter trial for Carl Brent Worthington and his wife, Raylene, several doctors testified that their daughter, Ava could have been saved with antibiotics right up to the day before she died from pneumonia and a blood infection.
kgw.com
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