Woman dies after home birth, because her beliefs didn't entail medical help

[Egolita]

mods please move or delete if this has been discussed, i did a search with the keywords in the article but couldn't find a similar post.

This woman belonged to a 'church' led by her brother-in-law. they didn't believe in medical intervention. the baby died a stillborn most likey because it was breach for the five or so days she was in labor and couldn't come out. the husband finally cut her perenium with dirty scissors (no medical intervention eh?), the baby came out dead, the placenta was left inside, and all these factors gave her sepsis and she died a couple or so weeks later. the father was a cop. but both he and the mom didn't believe in medical help, only in faith healing i guess. i'm really pissed off at this situation. it's kind of old... but i still think about it and wanted to share opinions on this whole mess.

Friend: Religion Led To Woman's Death, Stillbirth - News

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. -- A friend of a former police dispatcher who died after childbirth said her friend was caught up in a cult-like religion that contributed to her death and the stillbirth of her child, KMBC's Dan Weinbaum reported.Misty Horner died on Jan. 9, apparently of septic shock. The month before, she had delivered a stillborn child in her Lee's Summit home.Tina Moore, a close friend of Misty Horner, said her death and the death of the baby is a direct result of the religious beliefs of Caleb Horner, Misty's husband and a Lee's Summit police officer. Moore said she knows this because she was there.
Moore said her friend wanted to find a way to be closer to God, and she found Caleb Horner."She met Caleb and thought he was strong in his faith, and she was misled and brainwashed into believing what they believe," Moore said.As part of the faith, Horner and his family don't believe in medical intervention. So when it was time for his wife to give birth to her first child, it was done at home without a doctor, a nurse or a midwife.Moore said her friend went into labor in late November."Misty had contractions from Saturday all the way through to Friday," Moore said. "A whole week."At the end of that week, on Friday, Dec. 1, the baby came out breach and was hanging out backward, caught at the neck, Moore said."(Caleb) didn't know what the heck he's doing -- he has no medical training, he's not a doctor, he doesn't know what he's doing. He takes the scissors and cuts her and performs an episiotomy. The baby finally comes out, and the baby's dead," Moore said.She described the situation as "horrific." After that, Moore said her friend became ill suffering from septic shock."The medical examiner told Caleb, 'Caleb I understand your beliefs. All it will take is an antibiotic and Misty will be OK,' and Caleb said no," Moore said.A month later, Misty Horner died.Caleb Horner is on bereavement leave from the Lee's Summit Police Department.A Lee's Summit Police representative said they are grieving with the family, and that Horner's personal religious beliefs have not interfered with his officer duties. The police representative said Horner has been an exemplary employee.Moore disagrees."For him to be allowed to protect and serve the community is a serious issue in my eyes," she said.

'He Wanted To Change Her Whole Life'

Misty mother, Gail Mansfield, said when her daughter met Caleb Horner, there was a deep love between them both."I know in my heart he loved her, but I don't understand how he could love her so much that he could just let her lay there for 30 days and swell up with infection and die," Mansfield said.She said she got weeded out of her daughter's life when she married Caleb Horner and got caught up in his religion."She's got a temper, and she's outspoken. He wanted to change her whole life and get her submissive, and he did," Mansfield said.She said Horner's religion is a strict form of Christianity."I asked Caleb where he got his teachings, he said, 'My brother John,'" Mansfield said.She said her daughter seemed to believe in the Horner way, which involved obeying her husband."The last words she said to me was she must be submissive to her husband," Mansfield said."This was Misty's choice, was it not?" Weinbaum asked."I don't think so. I don't think so," Mansfield said.Weinbaum reported that there are accusations against John Horner of leading a cult-like religion.There is no ongoing criminal investigation, but family attorney Durant Abernathy is pressing for the district attorney's office to look into the case.KMBC has been unable to reach Caleb Horner and John Horner for comment.

[DeadDwarf]

It's sad, but if people don't want medical intervention then I guess they don't care enough to live and we have to let them die. If you refuse cancer treatment, a blood transfusion, etc. and you die, then I hope you were right in your beliefs because it's a stupid way to die in my opinion. Personally, I think it's ridiculous to rely on "faith healing" and it's foolish, but if other people want to die for their religious medical beliefs then go for it. She and the baby could have lived, but it was her choice to kill them both. So in reality this was her decision and her fault. She could have called 911 to come help her, but she apparently wanted to please her husband more than save her own life. She brought it on herself. I highly doubt he will be charged with anything, and really if she refused medical help on her own, should he even be charged? I don't think so. She exercised free will.

[Aella]

I don't feel inclined to feel sorry for that woman, or any religious idiot who's ready to die for the sake of their beliefs. You want to die, by all means, go crazy.

I feel bad for the baby though.

[sputnik]

^^^
i think the baby's better off dead than growing up with these psyhos for parents.

[Mariesoleil]

That's horrible. I can't believe some people.

[xoxo]

^^^
i think the baby's better off dead than growing up with these psyhos for parents.

i somewhat agree..i mean we are in 2007 now..what is wrong with this lady and people like her..?

[twitchy]

What do people who believe in faith healing feel when something like this happens? Was their faith not strong enough?

[Soth]

Its probably a good thing that she is now out of the gene pool,even if you want to believe that your " God" is a giant spagetti monster....thats fine, belief in whatever you choose if that makes you a better person, and doesnt hurt anyone else, but if you are obviously in need of medical assistance, go and get it FFS. If not for your self - for your family and friends

[sputnik]

i bet all these retards that refuse medical assistance based on religious beliefs still have tv and cable and microwave ovens, and drive cars, which also weren't around in biblical times.

[A*O]

A surfer was attacked by a shark a few weeks ago and nearly lost a leg. He was in a critical condition due to blood loss and his devout JW parents told the docs he couldn't have a blood transfusion. By some miracle he survived (thus 'proving' to the parents that God's will was fulfilled no doubt).

[Grimmlok]

Stupid woman. Its better she died, so she'd stop polluting the gene pool with her idiocy.

The human race needs a big time enema.

[A*O]

I see life in the Caribbean has mellowed you Grimm.

[Honey]

A surfer was attacked by a shark a few weeks ago and nearly lost a leg. He was in a critical condition due to blood loss and his devout JW parents told the docs he couldn't have a blood transfusion. By some miracle he survived (thus 'proving' to the parents that God's will was fulfilled no doubt).

Crazy Crazy, it's all Crazy!

Your own kid...surely you'd do ANYTHING to save them?? This woman was just selfish.

[Grimmlok]

I see life in the Caribbean has mellowed you Grimm.

Not when Im battling cockroaches the size of a mans thumb WITHOUT the legs or antennae, i might add.

[xoxo]

Stupid woman. Its better she died, so she'd stop polluting the gene pool with her idiocy.

I see life in the Caribbean has mellowed you Grimm.

you guys rock..the conversations i love that happen at gr