Parents Denied Medical Treatment of Child Due to Their Religious Beliefs // Now Their Daughter Wants Faith Healing Law Revoked & Her Parents Prosecuted

Here is an interesting news story to watch develop. A 20-year-old woman named Mariah Walton is pushing for legislation in Idaho that would require that parents seek medical treatment for their children if they are in imminent danger of dying.

Currently, Idaho protects parents from being prosecuted if they withhold medical treatment from their children if their religious beliefs support this type of inaction -- even if children end up dying from otherwise treatable illnesses.

Walton personifies the end result of such inaction. She suffered throughout her childhood from a congenital heart defect that could have been treated, but her parents had refused such treatment. As a result, she experienced nearly two decades of painful, labored breathing.

Now she is permanently disabled at the age of 20 and in need of a heart and lung transplant. She is quite angry with her parents for using their own religious beliefs to withhold medical treatment for her. In fact, she would like to see her parents punished for prolonging her pain. ("I think it's time to prosecute them.")

Of course, this is America. Where the religious liberties of those with power (i.e., corporations or parents) trump the lives and liberties of those who don't hold power (i.e., employees or children).

I'm really curious how this story unfolds!