PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS) Gov. John Kitzhaber has signed a new law that
removes the remnants of Oregon's legal protection for parents who rely
solely on faith healing instead of traditional medical care for their
children.
Kitzhaber signed the bill without comment on June 9, two days after
jurors found Timothy and Rebecca Wyland guilty of criminal mistreatment
for not seeking medical treatment for a massive growth that left their
infant daughter nearly blind.
The Wylands are members of the Followers of Christ, an Oregon City
church with a long history of children dying from treatable medical
conditions. They are the third couple from the church to face
prosecution in the last two years.
