Health Savings Accounts: a tax-sheltered way to pay for quackery

[Major Nikon]

84. Not only that, these quacks claim their "treatment" is more effective...

if a person forgoes actual medical care.

Whenever you hear about a child dying because their parents decided to hire religious quacks to pray for them, rather than saving their life with effective medical care, think Christian Science.

Ian Lundman, age 11, died of diabetes in 1989 in suburban Minneapolis. His father had left Christian Science, but did not have custody. The boy lost weight and became lethargic. A school official noticed a fruity odor on Ian’s breath, a classic diabetes symptom, but did not recognize it as such nor did she know his mother and stepfather had religious beliefs against medical care.

They retained a Christian Science practitioner for spiritual treatment of Ian’s illness. The practitioner billed them $446 for his prayers over two days.

An unlicensed Christian Science nurse sat by Ian’s bedside for the last five hours of his life as he lay in a diabetic coma. She knew that he did not respond to anyone. She observed his vomiting, labored breathing, excessive urination, facial spasms, and clenched teeth. Nevertheless, her concept of care was to give him drops of water through a straw and to tie a sandwich bag and washcloth around his scrotum. She did not call for medical help or ask his mother to obtain it.

http://childrenshealthcare.org/?page_id=132