Faith-Healing Sects and the Legal Battle for Child Medical Care
Oregon authorities intervene to save a newborn after a sect's refusal of medical treatment.
1Tragic Newborn Death
On March 5, 2017, Eric Tonsfeldt, a deputy medical examiner, discovered a deceased newborn in an Oregon City home. The infant, Ginnifer Mitchell, died four hours after birth. Her parents, members of the Followers of Christ sect, refused medical care, relying solely on prayer and olive oil anointing during the delivery process.
2Discovery of the Twin
While investigating Ginnifer’s death, Tonsfeldt found a second, living newborn named Evelyn in a bathroom. The infant was severely underweight and struggling to breathe. Despite resistance from the family, authorities issued an ultimatum, forcing the parents to transport the child to a Portland hospital for life-saving neonatal intensive care treatment.
3Legal Consequences Follow
The Mitchells faced charges of murder by neglect and criminal mistreatment for failing to provide medical care to their children. An autopsy confirmed that both twins suffered from respiratory distress syndrome, a common condition in premature infants. This legal action highlighted the state's ongoing struggle to enforce medical standards within religious communities.
4The Role of Marshall Phillips
Marshall Phillips, a long-time sect member, was initially suggested as a temporary guardian for Evelyn. However, Phillips had previously broken sect doctrine by taking his own ill son to a hospital. This choice initiated a personal transformation, eventually leading him to leave the sect entirely and raise Evelyn outside the community.
5Historical Legal Precedent
Since 1901, American courts have consistently ruled that while adults may reject medical care for themselves, they cannot be compelled to deny it to their children. States have been granted the authority to determine how to balance religious freedom with the state's interest in protecting the lives of minors from preventable deaths.
6Oregon Legislative Reform
Between 1989 and 1999, eighteen children within the sect died, prompting significant public outcry. In 1999, Oregon lawmakers removed spiritual treatment as a legal defense for manslaughter. By 2011, the legislature further eliminated the spiritual defense for any crime, ensuring that parents could be held criminally liable for withholding necessary medical care.
7Sect Membership Decline
The Followers of Christ, once numbering up to 2,000 members, have seen a decline in influence and membership. The sect lacks a formal pastor, relying instead on internal pressure and communal norms. This insular structure historically discouraged members from seeking external help, viewing modern medicine as a betrayal of their religious faith.
8The Doctrine of Healing
The sect’s beliefs are rooted in a literal interpretation of the Book of James, emphasizing that faith-based prayer heals the sick. Members traditionally avoid doctors, vaccinations, and hospitals, viewing these as worldly concerns. This doctrine created a closed environment where preventable illnesses often resulted in fatalities among the group's youngest and most vulnerable.
9Marshall’s Personal Journey
Raised within the sect, Marshall Phillips followed strict gender roles and social isolation. He married at 18 and worked as a consultant. His eventual departure from the group was triggered by the medical crisis of his son, Nick, whose survival required modern intervention, directly contradicting the sect's core teachings on faith-based healing.
10Comparison with Idaho
While Oregon has tightened laws to prevent faith-based child neglect, neighboring Idaho maintains laws that protect parents relying solely on faith healing. Reporting indicates that at least 11 children in Idaho’s Followers of Christ community have died from treatable conditions in recent years, highlighting the stark contrast in state-level enforcement and legal protections.
11The Limits of Intervention
The case of Evelyn Mitchell demonstrates the effectiveness of state intervention when authorities act decisively. By mandating hospital care, police saved the infant's life despite the parents' religious objections. This case remains a focal point in the ongoing debate regarding the extent of parental rights versus the state's duty to protect children.
12Ongoing Cultural Shift
The death of Ginnifer Mitchell serves as a somber reminder of the dangers posed by entrenched religious doctrines that reject medical science. While legal changes have reduced preventable deaths, the case illustrates that the tension between religious autonomy and child welfare remains a complex, unresolved issue within specific, isolated communities across the country.
Original article: ProPublica — Faith-Healing Sects and the Legal Battle for Child Medical Care