Dec. 8, 2010
Parents' trial begins in death of Rhawnhurst toddler who did not receive medical care
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
A Philadelphia forensic pathologist told a Common Pleas Court jury Tuesday that a 2-year-old Rhawnhurst boy would almost certainly be alive had he received routine medical care before he died last year of pneumonia.
"This type of pneumonia, this type of bacteria, is preventable through vaccination and treatable with antibiotics," testified Assistant Medical Examiner Edwin Lieberman, referring to the disease that killed Kent Schaible in January 2009.
Lieberman defended his decision to classify the death as a homicide as a prosecutor began her involuntary manslaughter case against the boy's parents, Herbert and Catherine Schaible.
There is no mandatory prison term for involuntary manslaughter, but the Schaibles each could face up to 24 years in prison if convicted.
The Schaibles are members of a church that preaches forgoing medical care in favor of prayer and faith healing. Authorities allege that when their son became ill with fever, cough, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, the Schaibles cared for him at home for almost two weeks, praying for him to get well as he died.
It's a case in which the jury must discern the boundaries of parental responsibility, religion, and the law.
"A 2-year-old doesn't have the wherewithal to say, 'Mommy, Daddy, I'm sick. I need to go to a doctor,' " Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said in her opening statement.
"A simple visit to the doctor, a prescription, and that little boy could have been with us today," Pescatore said.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/loca...d_not_receive_medical_care.html#ixzz17hqY40Mw
Parents' trial begins in death of Rhawnhurst toddler who did not receive medical care
By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
A Philadelphia forensic pathologist told a Common Pleas Court jury Tuesday that a 2-year-old Rhawnhurst boy would almost certainly be alive had he received routine medical care before he died last year of pneumonia.
"This type of pneumonia, this type of bacteria, is preventable through vaccination and treatable with antibiotics," testified Assistant Medical Examiner Edwin Lieberman, referring to the disease that killed Kent Schaible in January 2009.
Lieberman defended his decision to classify the death as a homicide as a prosecutor began her involuntary manslaughter case against the boy's parents, Herbert and Catherine Schaible.
There is no mandatory prison term for involuntary manslaughter, but the Schaibles each could face up to 24 years in prison if convicted.
The Schaibles are members of a church that preaches forgoing medical care in favor of prayer and faith healing. Authorities allege that when their son became ill with fever, cough, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, the Schaibles cared for him at home for almost two weeks, praying for him to get well as he died.
It's a case in which the jury must discern the boundaries of parental responsibility, religion, and the law.
"A 2-year-old doesn't have the wherewithal to say, 'Mommy, Daddy, I'm sick. I need to go to a doctor,' " Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said in her opening statement.
"A simple visit to the doctor, a prescription, and that little boy could have been with us today," Pescatore said.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/loca...d_not_receive_medical_care.html#ixzz17hqY40Mw
