Ouroboros

Parents pick prayer over docs; girl dies
By ROBERT IMRIE, Associated Press Writer Thu Mar 27, 9:14 PM ET

WESTON, Wis. - Police are investigating an 11-year-old girl's death from an undiagnosed, treatable form of diabetes after her parents chose to pray for her rather than take her to a doctor.

An autopsy showed Madeline Neumann died Sunday of diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that left too little insulin in her body, Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said.

She had probably been ill for about a month, suffering symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness, the chief said Wednesday, noting that he expects to complete the investigation by Friday and forward the results to the district attorney.

The girl's mother, Leilani Neumann, said that she and her family believe in the Bible and that healing comes from God, but that they do not belong to an organized religion or faith, are not fanatics and have nothing against doctors.

She insisted her youngest child, a wiry girl known to wear her straight brown hair in a ponytail, was in good health until recently.

"We just noticed a tiredness within the past two weeks," she said Wednesday. "And then just the day before and that day (she died), it suddenly just went to a more serious situation. We stayed fast in prayer then. We believed that she would recover. We saw signs that to us, it looked like she was recovering."

Her daughter — who hadn't seen a doctor since she got some shots as a 3-year-old, according to Vergin — had no fever and there was warmth in her body, she said.

The girl's father, Dale Neumann, a former police officer, said he started CPR "as soon as the breath of life left" his daughter's body.

Family members elsewhere called authorities to seek help for the girl.
"My sister-in-law, she's very religious, she believes in faith instead of doctors ...," the girl's aunt told a sheriff's dispatcher Sunday afternoon in a call from California. "And she called my mother-in-law today ... and she explained to us that she believes her daughter's in a coma now and she's relying on faith."

The dispatcher got more information from the caller and asked whether an ambulance should be sent.

"Please," the woman replied. "I mean, she's refusing. She's going to fight it. ... We've been trying to get her to take her to the hospital for a week, a few days now."

The aunt called back with more information on the family's location, emergency logs show. Family friends also made a 911 call from the home. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes and immediately called for an ambulance that took her to a hospital.

But less than an hour after authorities reached the home, Madeline — a bright student who left public school for home schooling this semester — was declared dead.

She is survived by her parents and three older siblings.

"We are remaining strong for our children," Leilani Neumann said. "Only our faith in God is giving us strength at this time."

The Neumanns said they moved from California to a modern, middle-class home in woodsy Weston, just outside Wassau in central Wisconsin, about two years ago to open a coffee shop and be closer to other relatives. A basketball hoop is set up in the driveway.

Leilani Neumann said she and her husband are not worried about the investigation because "our lives are in God's hands. We know we did not do anything criminal. We know we did the best for our daughter we knew how to do."

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The_Heretic

Okay, the parents should stay strong as they're sentenced to prison and their kids- as a group, should be adopted and deprogrammed.

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John McCain: "He's in Iraq... with a few centuries to kill."

Ouroboros

If they pray hard enough, god will keep them out of jail.

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ianmine

This statement irks me most, I think......they wouldn't seek medical help, trusting "in God" *rme* to cure their daughter......but have NO PROBLEM using medical tactics to revive the child after the Lord failed to 'come through for them"?!?!??!
There should be a license required to procreate...all idiots need not apply.

Kana

This strikes me as something akin to human sacrifice, which is not protected by the First Amendment. The parents basically wanted to test their faith in God by denying medical care to their daughter. They sacrificed her life as a part of their religious observance, to prove they trusted God more than doctors.

I think people should be able to do whatever they want to themselves as a part of their religious observance. Hell, they can douse themselves in gasoline and light themselves on fire for all I care. But they should not be allowed to force their children to do the same.

These bastards murdered this child as a tribute to their depraved religious vision. Throw the book at them.

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Groovyville

Ouroboros

I don't think religion should be forced on anyone, but it is. If god gave us free will, why do people drag their kids to church and make them believe in their faith. It's brainwashing.

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The_Heretic

"God sent down to us an attourney!"

"Ahh, no. I'm court appointed."

"We're fucked."

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John McCain: "He's in Iraq... with a few centuries to kill."

lrrp

Hey now...that's going to be too offensive for the e-tards of the world, you must use the Romney decoder ring... "Practice beghetted for entertainment purposes"

Ouroboros

There are no attorneys in heaven.

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Comicsartist

I read the first sentence and couldn't read anymore.

WHY THE FUCK DO THESE IDIOTS THINK THERE IS MEDICINE?

Same deal with the friggin' hardcore southern baptists. If you get bit by a rattlesnake and you decide to sit in pain, waiting for the Lord to save you, well, guess what? 911 is there for a reason.

Reminds me of a joke:

A lady prays to Jesus to win the lottery. She says, "Jesus, please. I need to win the lotto. My car payment is due, house payment. I really need to win. Please help me, Jesus."
She watches the numbers come and go. She loses.
Following week, same thing.
"Please, Jesus. I really really need to win. Please help me."
Again, she loses.
The next week, same thing.
"Jesus, I don't know why you haven't helped me, but I am about to lose my house and my car. Please help me, Jesus."
Suddenly, Jesus appears.
He looks at her and says, "Lady...Will you at LEAST by a lotto ticket?"

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