Wisconsin "faith-healer" found guilty of killing daughter

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8180116.stm

Praying man let his daughter die

A US jury has found a man guilty of killing his sick 11-year-old daughter by praying for her recovery rather than seeking medical care.

The man, Dale Neumann, told a court in the state of Wisconsin he believed God could heal his daughter.

She died of a treatable disease - undiagnosed diabetes - at home in rural Wisconsin in March last year, as people surrounded her and prayed.

Neumann's wife, Leilani Neumann, was convicted earlier this year.

The couple, who were both convicted of second-degree reckless homicide, face up to 25 years in prison when they are sentenced in October.

A lawyer representing Dale Neumann said he would appeal.

'Faith healing'

During the trial, medical experts told the court that Neumann's daughter could have survived if she had received treatment, including insulin and fluids, before she stopped breathing.

On Thursday Neumann, who is 47 and studied in the past to be a Pentecostal minister, said he thought God would heal his daughter.

"If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God," he said. "I am not believing what he said he would do."

Neumann is a chop#### who apparently does not understand that the other man may be called/appointed by God to be (and serve Him as) physician

He also said he thought his daughter had had flu or a fever, and that he had not realised how ill she was.

Neumann's lawyer said he had been convinced that his "faith healing" was working, and that he had committed no crime.

The prosecution argued that Neumann had minimised his daughter's illness and that he had allowed her to die as a selfish act of faith.

They said the girl should have been taken to hospital because she was unable to walk, talk, eat or drink.

Instead, an ambulance was only called once the girl had stopped breathing.

[NickD 203]

Hearing a lot about this case since I am in Wisconsin, really a touchy subject that can lead into a discussion that would last for an eternity without any satisfactory answers, all opinions, no cold hard facts.

A close friend was checked out by a clinical doctor and was told he was okay, but his church had one of those mobile trucks come around and found that both of his cordial arteries where 90% blocked, that saved his life. So what can you say. The clinic that did the erroneous testing did the surgery so he is still well and kicking.

Could have gone that way with that young girl having some doctor just say, she has the flu and she would be dead anyway, health insurance companies don't like to pay for all those tests.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Chopfvck. I truly, truly hope he gets gang banged and beaten up to a pulp in prison... then left in the open fields for him to pray his way back to health. Ignorant #######.

[Niels Bohr 72]

It's not fair.

Lets put this into a little perspective. Suppose if the guy couldn't afford health care, will he also be found guilty for not bringing his daughter to the hospital? Such a double standard. You're doomed to have it, and you're doomed not the have it.

Edited August 3, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[Chica Yeyé 41]

It's not fair.

Lets put this into a little perspective. Suppose if the guy couldn't afford health care, will he also be found guilty for not bringing his daughter to the hospital? Such a double standard. You're doomed to have it, and you're doomed not the have it.

Brother.... if I had an hypothetical child, and said child was sick, I would gladly go bankrupt, sell my azz or whatever it takes to get the child the care needed. Praying over this is plain moronic. But I see your point

[Peikko 1,575]

He's a liar if he said he daughter seemed to be getting better - it's one thing thinking a child has a cold or flu, quite another seeing one wracked with pain and bed ridden. Not calling in the experts at that point is cold, very , very cold. He did wrong, and he has been found guilty, that's man's law.

Edited August 3, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Welshcookie 17]

My eldest child almost died of undiagnosed diabetes....the difference being was that he was just 6 months old and couldn't communicate 'how' he was feeling....but I can tell you that he was ill for many weeks before it became a life threatening issue, and then it was happening QUICKLY and I knew it was no virus that the GP had been constantly telling me. My son lapsed into a coma, but even then the hospital said he may have survived another 24 hours at the most without medical intervention. There is no excuse for not getting that poor girl to a hospital.

Edited August 3, 2009 by Welshcookie

[Niels Bohr 72]

That is a tough decision to make. Some may not think rationally. Many people do not think rationally. Or, is it rationally to not think people are rational?

[kayandnigel 0]

Hearing a lot about this case since I am in Wisconsin, really a touchy subject that can lead into a discussion that would last for an eternity without any satisfactory answers, all opinions, no cold hard facts.

A close friend was checked out by a clinical doctor and was told he was okay, but his church had one of those mobile trucks come around and found that both of his cordial arteries where 90% blocked, that saved his life. So what can you say. The clinic that did the erroneous testing did the surgery so he is still well and kicking.

Could have gone that way with that young girl having some doctor just say, she has the flu and she would be dead anyway, health insurance companies don't like to pay for all those tests.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Wisconsin...FTW.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Several of you missed the following quote by Neumann (from original article).

"If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God. I am not believing what He said He would do."

It seems like Neumann has not actually read his Bible thoroughly--ergo, I'll go with that he is a chop.

[Marina-Del 10]

A religious man is on top of a roof during a great flood. A man comes by in a boat and says "get in, get in!" The religous man replies, " no I have faith in God, he will grant me a miracle."

Later the water is up to his waist and another boat comes by and the guy tells him to get in again. He responds that he has faith in god and god will give him a miracle. With the water at about chest high, another boat comes to rescue him, but he turns down the offer again cause "God will grant him a miracle."

With the water at chin high, a helicopter throws down a ladder and they tell him to get in, mumbling with the water in his mouth, he again turns down the request for help for the faith of God. He arrives at the gates of heaven with broken faith and says to Peter, I thought God would grant me a miracle and I have been let down." St. Peter chuckles and responds, "I don't know what you're complaining about, we sent you three boats and a helicopter."

[Niels Bohr 72]

[chri'stina 190]

Several of you missed the following quote by Neumann (from original article).

"If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God. I am not believing what He said He would do."

It seems like Neumann has not actually read his Bible thoroughly--ergo, I'll go with that he is a chop.

Especially since one of the bible writers, Luke, was a doctor. The whole thing is just sad. I am sure they did not want to lose their daughter. A big horrible handling of the situation by the parents. I do believe in praying for God to heal things and believe He can, but the DRs have knowledge for a reason as well. Once the doctors can do nothing else to help you, is when prayer is really needed imo.