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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Focus: Idaho’s faith-healing deaths

The Guardian has published a lengthy story today about Idaho’s faith-healing exemption from prosecution for child deaths, an issue that’s come up repeatedly in the Idaho Legislature since 2014 but not received a hearing. Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, proposed legislation this year to change the law in the wake of the deaths of numerous children of members of the Followers of Christ group in southwestern Idaho from treatable conditions, including pneumonia and food poisoning; many children are buried at a cemetery overlooking the Snake River. The Guardian’s article, headlined “Letting them die: Parents refuse medical help for children in the name of Christ,” is online here. Senate Health & Welfare Committee Chairman Lee Heider, R-Twin Falls, earlier told Gannon his panel would hold a hearing on the bill this year, but he never scheduled one/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

DFO: It's one thing for parents to sentence their children to die by refusing to get medical treatment for them. It's premeditated insanity on the part of the Idaho Legislature. Shame on our legislators. Thoughts?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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