Vegan couple sentenced to life over baby's death

[Marilyn. 340]

ok maybe I am misunderstanding something here but if they didn't feed the baby cow's milk, (which a baby shouldn't be drinking that young anyways) and maybe she couldn't breastfeed.... wouldn't soy milk be the next option.??

[Caladan 19]

Soy formula would. Soy milk doesn't have enough nutrients for a baby.

The parents, assuming they weren't moral monsters, probably weren't just listening to the baby scream with hunger. They probably filled the bottle up with soy milk or apple juice, and the baby drank it and seemed fine, except for not gaining weight. That's a warning sign, but I could see how well-meaning but clueless parents wouldn't recognize that that was a problem until it was too late.

[sereia 0]

i wonder if the prison will feed them vegan meals?

[Marilyn. 340]

I really don't think they did it at purpose.... they were just misinformed or something....

i wonder if the prison will feed them vegan meals?

probably... I worked in a kitchen in a prison before (back in Canada), and the guys got what ever special diets they wanted.... vegan, vegetarian, religious diets, you name it....

[sereia 0]

see, if i opened a prison i would have one meal, everyone gets the same thing, or don't eat. period. why should they get special treatment ? murderers, rapists, etc? their victims have NO choices!

Edited May 10, 2007 by abdounjen

[Marilyn. 340]

see, if i opened a prison i would have one meal, everyone gets the same thing, or don't eat. period. why should they get special treatment ? murderers, rapists, etc? their victims have NO choices!

I worked in a maximum security prison, and a lot of the guys were murderers and rapists etc...

I understand for health reasons that someone might need a special diet while in prison but not for personal reasons....

Edited May 10, 2007 by MarilynP

[Alex+R 0]

I'm guessing the reason the baby died had less to do with what they fed it and more to do with the fact that they seemed to have something against medical care that was independent of their vegan choices. Any fool wouldn't wait a week when their baby started rapidly losing weight. These people are morons if they didn't think anything was wrong with a 3.5-lb. baby until moments before its death.

[Robor007 0]

So now we get to pay for their imprisonment for the rest of their lives? I say feed 'em to the woodchipper. Because their crime is probably one of ignorance rather than malice I'll be nice and say head first.

[Nizzy 1]

There is no excuse for their behavior. Just the slightest sign of anything wrong is enough to get me to take my son to his pediatrician or to at least give the doctor a call. The only 3 pound babies I have ever known of were premature so common sense should have told them that there was something wrong. They should have let some medical professional know that they are vegans and asked about options for feeding their baby. There are unlimited resources they could have used to figure out what to do. Personally, I would do whatever it takes to ensure my baby's health regardless of my own beliefs.

[Leney 0]

I don't see how this could happen. I don't know how it is elsewhere, but in Pennsylvania when you have a child, they make you see breast feeding coaches, the people from WIC come in and talk to you regardless of what sort of money you make, even if you don't ask for them, they still bug the poo out of you. I know they made my husband and I sit through hours of videos even though we already had two other children before they would release us from the hospital, and since we're mid-20's, professional, and stable I am guessing they do this to everyone. I just fail to see how this could happen when so much help and information is available. I think when I left the hospital with our youngest I had 3 bags full of free formula, diapers, coupons, numerous packets of information, emergency and help numbers.

[MissStacey 1]

That is so sad.

We had a case here several years ago of a mother who was giving her baby coffeemate mixed with water.

[Caladan 19]

Probably thinking "it's cream, that's like milk."

[Peikko 1,575]

Very, very sad situation.

However, I am not sure why some people feel it's necessary to advocate torturing this couple when they have already received a punitive sentence. Does it make you feel warm and fuzzy to think that a wrong can be made right by inflicting another wrong? Very, very strange in my opinion.

[eau_xplain 2]

I don't see how this could happen. I don't know how it is elsewhere, but in Pennsylvania when you have a child, they make you see breast feeding coaches, the people from WIC come in and talk to you regardless of what sort of money you make, even if you don't ask for them, they still bug the poo out of you. I know they made my husband and I sit through hours of videos even though we already had two other children before they would release us from the hospital, and since we're mid-20's, professional, and stable I am guessing they do this to everyone. I just fail to see how this could happen when so much help and information is available. I think when I left the hospital with our youngest I had 3 bags full of free formula, diapers, coupons, numerous packets of information, emergency and help numbers.

The child was born at home. Perhaps whoever assisted the delivery should have encouraged the couple to take their child to a doctor for regular visits and get educated about taking care of a baby.

Edited May 10, 2007 by eau_xplain

[almaty 19]

see, if i opened a prison i would have one meal, everyone gets the same thing, or don't eat. period. why should they get special treatment ? murderers, rapists, etc? their victims have NO choices!

I worked in a maximum security prison, and a lot of the guys were murderers and rapists etc...

I understand for health reasons that someone might need a special diet while in prison but not for personal reasons....

i did not know that sister marilyn. i have worked in 3 prisons and there is always a non pork dish..for the jewish/muslim prisoners....for the vegans, they would be shitty out of luck, since it is not affiliated with a dept of correction sanctioned religion....