I recently received a letter from the FFRF about how I can help to repeal Wisconsin's Faith Exemption. If you recall, this push really began when Madeline Neumann died from untreated diabetes because her parents chose to pray rather than seek medical attention for her. In WI, parents can avoid criminal charges by praying for their child to get better, instead of seeking real medical treatment. The Friendly Atheist has a post on the subject as well- http://friendlyatheist.com/2009/07/02/eliminating-the-faith-healing-exemptions-in-wisconsin/. (Another interesting site on why this issue is important is http://www.childrenshealthcare.org/.) Rep. Teresa Berceau has drafted an act, known as Legislative Reference Bureau 2190 ( LRB2190) that would repeal this religious exemption. There is a different proposal being pushed by Sen. Lena Taylor (LRB1147), which the Christian Science church is promoting, which would not be a good thing to have pass. This proposal would make the courts look at the parents' intentions, and determine if praying was "reasonable" (as if it ever is). Here's what the letter from the FFRF recommended doing,
and I would encourage each of you to do the same: 1. Take a moment to contact Sen. Fred Risser, President of the Wisconsin Senate. Be sure to include you name and address. The proposal will go nowhere without his support. Tell him to support LRB2190.
Senator Fred Risser
State Capitol, Room 220 South, PO Box 7882 Madison, WI 53703 608-266-1627
Ask them to support Rep. Teresa Berceau's proposal, LRB2190. Ask them to introduce a companion act in the Senate. Urge them to reject the Christian Science lobby-approved proposal being promoted by Sen. Lena Taylor (LRB1147). It is touted as a "repeal", but it would create and unprecedented law requiring courts to determine whether a parent's prayers were "reasonable", which would privilege spiritual healers, and is calculated to avoid further prosecutions. Here are my quick samples (feel free to copy and past or modify for your own use). This first one is for your Representative (assemblyperson): "Honorable Representative______________, I am contacting you to request that you put your full support behind Rep. Teresa Berceau's proposal, LRB 2190, by signing on as a co sponsor. This proposal would remove the religious exemptions that allow a person to avoid the charge of physical abuse of a child if they claim to have used "spiritual treatment" in lieu of medical or surgical treatment of a child, and subsequent harm results as a result of that decision. The need for this reform was powerfully demonstrated in 2008 by the tragic death of 11-year old Madeline Kara Neumann of Weston, WI. Madeline died from untreated diabetes by her religiously-blinded parents. Doctors say her life could have been saved by a simple injection of insulin even up until minutes before her death. A strong message needs to be sent to parents and caregivers in this state that if you neglect to provide a child with necessary and effective medical treatments, and instead choose to provide them with ineffective and unproven means of "spiritual healing" or prayer, you will be prosecuted for child abuse. Withholding medical treatments that are proven to save or prolong a child's life is no different than withholding food or water from them. In 1990, the New York Times reported that the American Academy of Pediatrics was leading a campaign to overturn these "Faith Exemptions", which are present in many states. However, the principle impediment that doctors faced was the considerable lobbying power of the Christian Science church. Dr. Norman C. Fost of Madison, WI, put it best when he said, "We're interested not just in kids who die. What we're concerned about are the hundreds and hundreds more who suffer from inadequate medical treatment." Please don't let this disproportionately powerful lobby continue to shield those who would medically neglect children. I also urge you to reject the measure being proposed by Sen. Lena Taylor (LRB1147), as this would create an unprecedented law requiring courts to determine if parents' prayers were "reasonable". This proposal was drafted to privilege spiritual healers, and avoid future prosecutions. Please take a stand with Teresa Berceau, and protect the innocent children in the state of Wisconsin from those who would medically neglect them. Thank you in advance for your action in this important matter."
This one is for your Senator: "Honorable Senator ______________, I am contacting you to request that you put your full support behind Rep. Teresa Berceau's proposal (LRB 2190) by helping to introduce a companion act in the Senate. This proposal would remove the religious exemptions that allow a person to avoid the charge of physical abuse of a child if they claim to have used "spiritual treatment" in lieu of medical or surgical treatment of a child, and subsequent harm results as a result of that decision. The need for this reform was powerfully demonstrated in 2008 by the tragic death of 11-year old Madeline Kara Neumann of Weston, WI. Madeline died from untreated diabetes by her religiously-blinded parents. Doctors say her life could have been saved by a simple injection of insulin even up until minutes before her death. A strong message needs to be sent to parents and caregivers in this state that if you neglect to provide a child with necessary and effective medical treatments, and instead choose to provide them with ineffective and unproven means of "spiritual healing" or prayer, you will be prosecuted for child abuse. Withholding medical treatments that are proven to save or prolong a child's life is no different than withholding food or water from them. In 1990, the New York Times reported that the American Academy of Pediatrics was leading a campaign to overturn these "Faith Exemptions", which are present in many states. However, the principle impediment that doctors faced was the considerable lobbying power of the Christian Science church. Dr. Norman C. Fost of Madison, WI, put it best when he said, "We're interested not just in kids who die. What we're concerned about are the hundreds and hundreds more who suffer from inadequate medical treatment." Please don't let this disproportionately powerful lobby continue to shield those who would medically neglect children. I also urge you to reject the measure being proposed by Sen. Lena Taylor (LRB1147), as this would create an unprecedented law requiring courts to determine if parents' prayers were "reasonable". This proposal was drafted to privilege spiritual healers, and avoid future prosecutions. Please take a stand with Teresa Berceau, and protect the innocent children in the state of Wisconsin from those who would medically neglect them. Thank you in advance for your action in this important matter."
3. Send a note of thanks to State Rep. Teresa Berceau (or cc her in your e-mails). State Capitol, Room 208 North, PO Box 8952 Madison, WI 53708
|
