State-sanctioned child abuse: a response to Sean Faircloth's interview with Liz Heywood

I was shocked into making my first ever piece to camera by Sean Faircloth's interview with Liz Heywood (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOY1ME19dLk).

Ms Heywood calmly gives a graphic description of her parents' refusal to seek medical treatment over an extended period of excruciating pain from osteomyelitis of the leg. Their refusal was based on their faith as Christian Scientists, and the effect was that Ms Heywood was at one point close to death, and in later life had her leg amputated.

I have seen and heard such stories before, so I was naturally horrified but not overly surprised. What I found most shocking, and what prompted me to make this little video, was the fact that in the majority of US states it is *legal* to neglect your child in this way if you claim that you are providing 'faith healing' instead.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Liz Heywood
• faith healing
• Richard Dawkins
• Christian Science
• Sean Faircloth

[isisdron]

yes, they can watch their children die...because it's god's will. and really about the UK...what are they doing about all the FGM? I'm curious what the actual practice of law enforcement is?

[ianchard]

@isisdron FGM is a big problem in many Western countries, including the US and the UK. In both, it is illegal; the UK law is the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, under which it is also illegal to take someone abroad for that purpose. The CPS has specific guidance on building a strong case using that legislation.

[151riley]

ianchard - I appreciate the heartfelt response. I'm glad the dialogue about childhood faith-based medical neglect continues to make people consider what kind of world they want to live in. My parents were indoctrinated and immunized by Christian Science. It is a cult that hides in plain sight, and especially dangerous as it teaches members to disassociate the same way trauma victims do. If you wonder about a child's treatment, ask. A well-adjusted parent won't mind. Liz Heywood

[ianchard]

@151riley Hi Liz, and thanks so much for your comment. You're absolutely right in that it is the responsibility of us all to keep children -- and indeed everyone -- safe.

[sheasf]

Well said, Ian. Thomas Jefferson brought us the most useful solution to state sanctioned religion as the smoke cleared from bloody revolution. I'm not sure the same rights of protection from religion would be ratified today. And Jefferson would, not doubt, be fomenting another revolution to take back the rights we've ceded to organized Christianity, since then. However, I believe a sea change is coming, when faith will no longer trump science and rational thought based on evidence.

[isisdron]

the us doesnt want to disconnect from religion, they want believing and accepting masses, the better to manipulate them. The US loves religion!!

[josefantom156]

It is really shocking. I am amazed that US law allows such an act.

I am from India and though its a country full of superstition, at least Indian law is not.

Its unbelievable that still in 21st century we have to deal with such ancient superstitions.

[joelparthemore]

The US legal system is actually a worse mess on this point than you suggest. My impression is that the law in many areas is unclear and individuals cases have gone either way. While we're on the subject of state-sanctioned abuse though, I should mention the conversion therapy camps that sexually ambiguous children of conservative religious upbringings get sent off to.

I'm all for the rights of parents to believe this crap. But I'm also all for the responsibility of the state to intervene.