Governor responds to faith-healing interest

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter released a letter Thursday addressed to legislative leaders concerning medical neglect of children under 18 in Idaho.

Otter's concern is with Idaho statute 18-1501, which contains an exemption that protects practitioners of faith-healing and preventing criminal prosecution of parents who, for religious reasons, refuse to seek medical attention for their child.

"I understand it is a challenge to balance the desire to protect children while still being supportive of religious freedom, but I believe we must give this issue a thorough examination," Otter wrote in his letter, which he addressed to House Speaker Scott Bedke and Senate President Pro Tempore Brent Hill.

In 2012, the Idaho Child Fatality Review Team was formed under the Governor's Task Force on Children at Risk. The purpose of the team is to review deaths of children under the age of 18 and "identify common links or circumstances in these deaths in order to provide recommendations that may help prevent similar tragedies."

In April of 2015, the review team released a report, part of which focused on two child deaths that occurred in 2012.

The report states: "The team determined that both of these deaths may have been prevented with proper and timely medical treatment. Idaho civil and criminal codes provide religious exemptions on child abuse and neglect which may prevent authorities from investigating and monitoring neglect cases and discourage reporting of these incidents."

In his letter, Otter wrote that over the past few months, interest in the issue of faith-healing has grown and further review may be needed.

He wrote: "I am therefore asking that you consider convening a legislative workgroup to assess the Child Fatality Review Team's report along with other sources of research and testimony regarding this policy issue."