Mother defends choice in Ore. faith-healing case

OREGON CITY (RNS) Marci Beagley acknowledged Thursday (Jan. 28) that her son took a serious downturn about 12 hours before he died, and defended her family’s decision to “wait it out” rather than seek medical treatment. Nearly two weeks of testimony ended Thursday in the trial of Jeffrey and Marci Beagley, who are charged with […]

OREGON CITY (RNS) Marci Beagley acknowledged Thursday (Jan. 28) that her son took a serious downturn about 12 hours before he died, and defended her family’s decision to “wait it out” rather than seek medical treatment.

Nearly two weeks of testimony ended Thursday in the trial of Jeffrey and Marci Beagley, who are charged with criminally negligent homicide for failing to provide medical care to their 16-year-old son, Neil Beagley, who died in June 2008 of complications from a congenital urinary blockage.

After closing arguments on Friday, the case will go to a jury.


The family belongs to the Followers of Christ, an Oregon City church that relies on faith healing rather than medical care.

Prosecutor Steven Mygrant pressed Marci Beagley about the day her son died. He repeatedly challenged her to explain her and her husband’s thoughts and actions as their son grew weak and eventually stopped breathing.

It was “a combination of things,” she answered, including her son’s wishes, her personal faith and consulting with her husband.

“We decided to wait it out,” she said. “We decided not to take him.”

Marci Beagley said she let Neil know he could see a doctor if he chose.

“I reminded him it was an option. But in Neil’s mind that was not an option,” Marci Beagley said. “I suppose we could have forced him to go.”

The Beagleys said they were respecting Neil’s wishes — he told them he put his faith in God to heal him — and cited a state law that gives children 15 and older the right to independently seek medical care.

The law does not say whether children have the right to refuse care. Under Oregon law, parents also have a legal responsibility to provide adequate medical care for their juvenile children.


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