Pediatrics. 2013 Nov;132(5):962-5. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-2716. Epub 2013 Oct 28.
Although respect for parents' decision-making authority is an important principle, pediatricians should report suspected cases of medical neglect, and the state should, at times, intervene to require medical treatment of children. Some parents' reasons for refusing medical treatment are based on their religious or spiritual beliefs. In cases in which treatment is likely to prevent death or serious disability or relieve severe pain, children's health and future autonomy should be protected. Because religious exemptions to child abuse and neglect laws do not equally protect all children and may harm some children by causing confusion about the duty to provide medical treatment, these exemptions should be repealed. Furthermore, public health care funds should not cover alternative unproven religious or spiritual healing practices. Such payments may inappropriately legitimize these practices as appropriate medical treatment.
尽管尊重父母的决策权威是一个重要原则，但儿科医生应该报告疑似医疗忽视的案例，国家有时也应该进行干预，要求对儿童进行治疗。一些父母拒绝治疗的原因是基于他们的宗教或精神信仰。在治疗很可能预防死亡、严重残疾或缓解严重疼痛的情况下，应该保护儿童的健康和未来的自主权。因为儿童虐待和忽视法的宗教豁免并没有平等地保护所有儿童，并且可能通过对提供治疗的责任造成混淆而伤害一些儿童，所以这些豁免应该被废除。此外，公共医疗保健基金不应支付替代未经证实的宗教或精神治疗方法。这种支付可能不适当地使这些做法合法化，认为它们是适当的医疗。
