There are two words that, too often, mean the difference between life and death:  Religious.  Exemption.  Individuals and families who reject necessary medical care in favor of prayer and adherence to strict church restrictions often pay with their lives, or the lives of their children.  

Rita Swan is the director of CHILD, INC, and she has firsthand experience with this.  Rita has since dedicated her life to child advocacy and the fight to protect children from (often well-meaning) parents who keep them far from hospital care, and far from the health solutions they desperately need.

It's a difficult subject, but a necessary discussion about faith, parental responsibility, and the need for real-world solutions to real-world problems.


This is part one of a two-part show on this subject.  Part two features Dr. Paul Offit, author of the book, "Bad Faith: When Religious Belief Undermines Modern Medicine," which airs February 2, 2016.

CHILD, INC LINKS:
http://www.childrenshealthcare.org
http://www.idahochildren.org