Baby Dies After Couple Refuses to Get Medical Help
A couple in Michigan has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after allegedly refusing to get medical treatment for their newborn daughter, who later died.
According to police testimony, Joshua Barry Piland, 36, and wife, Rachel Joy Piland, 30, ignored advice from their midwife to seek medical treatment for their newborn daughter.
“Rachel declined to seek any medical treatment for Abigail, stating, ‘God makes no mistakes,’ ” Lansing police detective Peter Scaccia testified, according to The Lansing State Journal. “She indicated to the midwife that the baby was fine.”
Rachel also allegedly cancelled a follow-up appointment with the midwife, and did not listen to advice from her mother to seek medical help for Abigail.
The little girl was found dead later that morning in her bouncy seat.
“They then brought Abigail upstairs to pray for her,” Scaccia said in his testimony. “Joshua continued to massage Abigail, attempting to get her good air. Both Josh and [Rachel] reached out to friends and fellow church members to come to their home and pray for Abigail’s resurrection but never called the police.”
Police learned of the death when Rachel's brother called them from California.
When they arrived, police “went upstairs and found a baby that had passed away and three other people praying for it,” Scaccia said in his testimony.
According to USA Today, it was later determined by autopsy that Abigail died from unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus, which are closely related to o jaundice. Usually these conditions clear up on their own, but need to be monitored by doctors.
The couple was released from jail after posting $75,000 bond, and their next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 5.
You Might Also Like
