Couple Must pay Hospital Bill despite religious beliefs
Couple must pay hospital despite religious beliefs
Charles Wilson, Associated Press
August 15, 2005 NEWBORN0815
INDIANAPOLIS -- A couple convicted of reckless homicide in one daughter's death must pay the hospital bill for another daughter despite their religious objections, a court ruled.
Dewayne and Maleta Schmidt face a medical bill of nearly $172,000 for 5-year-old Makalynn, along with a work-release sentence after their convictions in the 2003 death of their other daughter, Rhianna. The Schmidts are members of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which advocates prayer and faith healing over medical intervention.
A three-judge panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled last week that the Schmidts' objections to medical treatment did not negate their parental duty to pay for their child's health care. Authorities went to the couple's home in 1999 after an anonymous 911 call. Officials called for an ambulance for Maleta Schmidt, who was seven months' pregnant, even though her husband said he would not pay for medical services.
The hospital did not charge the Schmidts for Maleta's care, but it did bill them nearly $172,000 for Makalynn's delivery and 75-day stay, and went to court to collect when the couple refused to pay. The judge ruled in favor of the hospital. The Schmidts appealed, arguing that they were not obligated to pay because they repeatedly told medical personnel about their objections.
The couple's other daughter, Rhianna Rose Schmidt, died from an infection less than two days after she was born at home in August 2003. The Schmidts were convicted in May of reckless homicide charges in Rhianna's death and were sentenced Friday to staggered one-year sessions of work release.
Charles Wilson, Associated Press
August 15, 2005 NEWBORN0815
INDIANAPOLIS -- A couple convicted of reckless homicide in one daughter's death must pay the hospital bill for another daughter despite their religious objections, a court ruled.
Dewayne and Maleta Schmidt face a medical bill of nearly $172,000 for 5-year-old Makalynn, along with a work-release sentence after their convictions in the 2003 death of their other daughter, Rhianna. The Schmidts are members of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which advocates prayer and faith healing over medical intervention.
A three-judge panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled last week that the Schmidts' objections to medical treatment did not negate their parental duty to pay for their child's health care. Authorities went to the couple's home in 1999 after an anonymous 911 call. Officials called for an ambulance for Maleta Schmidt, who was seven months' pregnant, even though her husband said he would not pay for medical services.
The hospital did not charge the Schmidts for Maleta's care, but it did bill them nearly $172,000 for Makalynn's delivery and 75-day stay, and went to court to collect when the couple refused to pay. The judge ruled in favor of the hospital. The Schmidts appealed, arguing that they were not obligated to pay because they repeatedly told medical personnel about their objections.
The couple's other daughter, Rhianna Rose Schmidt, died from an infection less than two days after she was born at home in August 2003. The Schmidts were convicted in May of reckless homicide charges in Rhianna's death and were sentenced Friday to staggered one-year sessions of work release.
posted by Lorilei at 7:22 PM
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