Ethics: Should the government step in...

This is some background info on a soon-to-be Supreme Court case:In Clackamas county, Oregon, a Christian scientist couple had two dying children. The state government found out about the disease (it turns out that it was early Polio, since the kids weren't vaccinated), and tried to intervene by giving the kids care. The couple refused, saying that it goes against their religious beliefs. Then the federal government tried to step in, but again the couple refused, claiming to the Constitutional right of freedom of religion.The kids died. Now there is a lawsuit charging the parents of passive manslaughter, and will indelibely go to the Supreme Court.What do you guys think? Does the state or federal government have a right to intervene in one's private affairs when it coes down to a matter of life and death?I think in the most serious (read: life and death) cases, yes. Since those freedoms don't matter if you are dead. :?Ethics: Should the government step in...
I think in a case such as this, they should have. The children could've easily been saved.Ethics: Should the government step in...
Yes, definitely.
the parents knew of a way to save their children and choose not to do so, they are responsible for their deaths
[QUOTE=''indian_playa'']the parents knew of a way to save their children and choose not to do so, they are responsible for their deaths[/QUOTE]Actually not. The parents were Christian scientists, and that religion specificallt believes that scientific medical treatment is not in 'God's will.' In law terms, that means that they didn't 'know' a way to save their children due to their beliefs.
[QUOTE=''Lord__Darkstorn''][QUOTE=''indian_playa'']the parents knew of a way to save their children and choose not to do so, they are responsible for their deaths[/QUOTE]Actually not. The parents were Christian scientists, and that religion specificallt believes that scientific medical treatment is not in 'God's will.' In law terms, that means that they didn't 'know' a way to save their children due to their beliefs.[/QUOTE]Fine they don't have to get themselves treated or vaccinated.But they shouldn't force their beliefs on their kids.
That is a rough one.
Depends. Would such a ruling allow the government to intervene against the wishes of the person dying, who would prefer to keep to his religious beliefs? Or would it give the government authority to interfere with any religious activity or belief? If so, then no, not even if it gives them the potential to gain that kind of authority.Otherwise, I'd be open to it.
That's the dilemma: The kids can't speak for themselves. The parents are coming to these conclusions (the kids were 4 and 7 by the way, so they couldn't really speak for themselves).
If the kid was for not getting help then the state and federal government should have done nothing..but if the kid couldn't decide for himself and the parents were the ones deciding then the state government should somehow send them to jail for attempted man slaughter (or something like that) then send the kid to the hospital to get help (but only if there was concrete evidence that he was actually sick and dieing).
Those are SCIENTISTS??? :?Anyway, yes, the state should intervene, but only in life and death situations, and this couple should definitely get jail time.
[QUOTE=''Lord__Darkstorn'']That's the dilemma: The kids can't speak for themselves. The parents are coming to these conclusions (the kids were 4 and 7 by the way, so they couldn't really speak for themselves).[/QUOTE]In that event, I think the best interests of the child should be considered. But again, if this kind of ruling would give the government any significant authority over religious practices that aren't insane (such as baptism) or if it would give the government the ability to override the wishes of someone who can speak for themselves, then this is something to be absolutely opposed.
[QUOTE=''black_cat19'']Those are SCIENTISTS??? :? [/QUOTE]No. Christian Science is a small, pseudo-Christian religion, not unlike Mormonism, and actually has little to do with mainstream science.
[QUOTE=''black_cat19'']Those are SCIENTISTS??? :?Anyway, yes, the state should intervene, but only in life and death situations, and this couple should definitely get jail time. [/QUOTE] The name implies that they are scientists as much as the name ''Scientology'' implies that the religion is based on science.
[QUOTE=''Theokhoth'']Depends. Would such a ruling allow the government to intervene against the wishes of the person dying, who would prefer to keep to his religious beliefs? Or would it give the government authority to interfere with any religious activity or belief? If so, then no, not even if it gives them the potential to gain that kind of authority.Otherwise, I'd be open to it. [/QUOTE]But in this case it wasn't the kid's wish to die, the parents shouldn't be allowed to make that kind of desicion, no one should be...
I would say yes, absolutely.  The parents can believe what they want without government interference, but only if those beliefs don't endanger other innocent lives.In this case I don't think the government should have to acquiesce to the stated desire of the kids, either, because quite frankly I wouldn't consider someone ages 4 or 7 to have a mature enough mind to actually be able to fully understand the situation.
[QUOTE=''Theokhoth''][QUOTE=''black_cat19''] Those are SCIENTISTS??? :? [/QUOTE] No. Christian Science is a small, pseudo-Christian religion, not unlike Mormonism, and actually has little to do with mainstream science. [/QUOTE][QUOTE=''thepwninator''][QUOTE=''black_cat19'']Those are SCIENTISTS??? :?Anyway, yes, the state should intervene, but only in life and death situations, and this couple should definitely get jail time. [/QUOTE] The name implies that they are scientists as much as the name ''Scientology'' implies that the religion is based on science.[/QUOTE]Oh, I didn't know such a thing existed, thanks for clearing that up.
[QUOTE=''Lord__Darkstorn''][QUOTE=''indian_playa'']the parents knew of a way to save their children and choose not to do so, they are responsible for their deaths[/QUOTE]Actually not. The parents were Christian scientists, and that religion specificallt believes that scientific medical treatment is not in 'God's will.' In law terms, that means that they didn't 'know' a way to save their children due to their beliefs.[/QUOTE]yes, but they must have taken the kids to a doctor who determined the illness and told them how to fix it. They refused which started all of this, etc. but they were told that there was a chance to save their kids. 
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[QUOTE=''GabuEx'']I would say yes, absolutely.  The parents can believe what they want without government interference, but only if those beliefs don't endanger other innocent lives.In this case I don't think the government should have to acquiesce to the stated desire of the kids, either, because quite frankly I wouldn't consider someone ages 4 or 7 to have a mature enough mind to actually be able to fully understand the situation. [/QUOTE]Yeah. They're also very much affected by indoctrination that their parents may have put upon them.