There are multiple examples of these instances.
As Nick said, the State has an obligation to all
it's citizens. If parents are not acting
responsibly and in the child's best interests then
they are negating their responsibilities and thus
the State needs to intervene.
Unless, of course, the State is Theocratic or
otherwise beholden to something other than it's
citizens.
In one instance a family refused to allow their
child to have a tumour removed from this leg. The
hospital called in child protection. It took two
days for the parents to change their minds and
accept that maybe God was suggesting they make a
decision in their child's best interests and that
THIS was the test, rather than seeing whether the
tumour would:
a. shorten the growth of his leg (he wanted to
play soccer professionally, so that wouldn't help)
b. make the removal of his leg necessary (see a.)
c. kill him (see a.)
I was one of the persons who helped convince them
that there was the possibility of a test 'other'
than the initial one they perceived, thus
obviating the need for a court order.
Nice people. Nice boy. Good outcome...but it was
driven by a focus on his needs and potential.
Patrick
Nick Andrew <[email protected]>
Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:50:57 +1000
This is an easy one. There is absolutely no evidence that the JW's
notions about blood transfusions are in any way true, however there is
well established evidence that death will occur in certain situations
when a blood transfusion is refused. Children are not the property of
their parents, and it is not a parent's prerogative to put a child's life
at risk for their illogical and unevidenced beliefs. Young children are
not competent to make their own decision on such matters; therefore it
is the responsibility of the state in its role to protect the general
well-being of its citizens, to step in and protect the child from its
own parents.
This is established law. NSW baby Gloria Thomas died in agony from an easily
treated eczema condition as her parents treated her using homeopathy
against doctors' advice. Parents Thomas Sam and Manju Sam have been
jailed for manslaughter by gross criminal negligence.
In USA baby Alayna Wyland suffered an abnormal growth around her left
eye which the parents tried to treat with prayer - and nothing else.
The parents have now been convicted of felony criminal mistreatment.
There may be many ways in which AU is a nanny state; you chose a
particularly poor example to rest your case.
Nick.
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