"Faith Healers" Convicted in Oregon.

Jeff and Marci Beagley were convicted today in an Oregon court for their failure to seek medical care for their 16 year old son, Neil, who died of a urinary tract blockage in 2008. The Beagley's are members of the Followers of Christ Church which prohibits medical treatment for ailments in lieu of prayer.

The case of medical neglect is not the first in the family. The Examiner reports:

The Beagleys are also the parents of Raylene Worthington, whose 15-month-old daughter, Ava Worthington, the Beagleys' granddaughter, died in 2008 of pneumonia and a blood infection that would have been easily treatable. Ava's father, Carl Worthington, was convicted of second-degree criminal mistreatment, yet spent less than two months in jail for her death.

The Beagley's defense in the case of Neil's death was based on his right as a 16 year old to deny care. Yet, the courts found that Neil was unable to make such a decision.

An unusually high number of childhood deaths among members of Followers of Christ Church recently caused Oregon to pass a law that restricts "negligent" parents from using faith healing as a defense against such deaths.