Health Care Debate

Over the course of time, there have been many debates dealing with religion and various laws. From the creation of the American government, it was agreed to have government and religion as separate entities. Recently there have been many debates on religion and whether or not its influence should present in current law making. Today, a recent debate topic revolves around whether or not religious beliefs should allow parents to refuse health care for their children. There are many various opinions on this topic ranging from a strong belief in the healing powers of God to a strong stance that the refusal of health care results in child abuse. The question still stands: should the religious belief of these parents give them the right to refuse …show more content…
Many parents strongly believe that they know what is best to raise their children. The self healing parents also have a very strong belief on how they raise their children according to their religion. Those who, like Howell, strongly believe in God’s healing powers for their family. Since these parents believe that health care is not a necessary thing for themselves, of course their children would not need health care either. However, in many of these communities where belief in God triumphs over modern medicine, there are many cases where these children are faced with sickness and death because of the beliefs of their parents. As stated earlier, there have been many cases of children’s death due to the parent’s decision of the denial of health care for the family. These children are born into a family of strong religious belief. These children “do not yet have their own informed voice,” and it’s “society has an obligation to stand up on behalf of children” (Feemster). These children and possible their families are unaware of the maltreatment that hangs over them. When these children need urgent medical assistance, their families, such as Howell’s family, relies solely on a prayer to restore their health. Parents are given the right to “deprive children of immunizations, health screenings and, in some states, medical care” (Swan). In states like Idaho where religious exemption for health care exists, no criminal charges can be made against these parents. Despite the fact that there is signs of neglect to the child to seeking medical attention. Children suffer the pain of different ailments from a measles to ruptured esophagus. Because of the religious sects in Idaho, “The Canyon County Coroner told the press she doesn’t even do autopsies when children die without medical care” (Swan). These cases cannot be proven to be child abuse because of the religious exemptions that