Case Report: Child Mortality and the Intersection of Law, Religion, and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report details the legal case of Taylor and Blair Edwards, who were sentenced in Clackamas County, Oregon, following the death of their newborn son, Hayden Edwards, in June 2023. The case highlights a critical conflict between religious practices that reject modern medicine and the legal and ethical obligations to provide healthcare to children. This incident directly relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), by examining failures in ensuring child health and the role of judicial systems in protecting vulnerable populations.

Case Summary and Legal Outcome

Incident Details

• Subject: Hayden Edwards, deceased at two days old on June 26, 2023.
• Circumstances: The parents, members of the Followers of Christ Church, failed to seek medical care for the infant, who developed symptoms including an inability to eat, cyanosis, and respiratory distress.
• Parental Response: The family gathered to pray and anoint the infant with oil instead of seeking professional medical intervention.
• Medical Cause of Death: A medical examiner determined the cause was acute bilirubin encephalopathy, a severe neurological condition resulting from high bilirubin levels, commonly associated with jaundice.

Judicial Proceedings

• Defendants: Taylor and Blair Edwards.
• Plea: The couple pleaded guilty to criminal mistreatment.
• Sentence: Clackamas County Circuit Court sentenced the couple to 30 days in jail and five years of probation.
• Sentencing Rationale: Prosecutors were unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that medical intervention would have guaranteed the child’s survival, which precluded a harsher sentence.

Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The case represents a significant failure to uphold the principles of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Target 3.2: End Preventable Newborn and Child Deaths

• The death of Hayden Edwards from a treatable condition is a direct contravention of the global goal to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five.
• The reliance on faith healing over evidence-based medical science demonstrates a critical barrier to achieving Target 3.2 within specific communities.
• The incident underscores the necessity of universal access to neonatal care and health education to prevent such tragedies.

Probationary Measures as a Framework for SDG 3 Compliance

The court’s stringent probation terms for the Edwards’ four surviving children function as an enforcement mechanism for SDG 3. These legally mandated requirements are designed to ensure the children’s right to health is protected.

1. The couple must maintain health insurance for their children.
2. A “well child protocol” must be established, including regular checkups with a pediatrician.
3. The probation officer must be notified of all medical appointments, illnesses, or injuries.
4. The couple must provide authorities with access to the children’s medical records.
5. Should the couple have another child, they must notify their probation officer and have the child seen by a physician within 72 hours.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This case is a clear application of SDG 16, which promotes just, peaceful, and inclusive societies and calls for effective, accountable institutions at all levels.

Target 16.2: End Abuse, Exploitation, Trafficking and All Forms of Violence Against and Torture of Children

• The charge of criminal mistreatment legally defines the failure to provide necessary medical care as a form of neglect and abuse, directly addressing the aims of Target 16.2.
• The judicial intervention demonstrates the role of strong institutions in upholding laws that protect the fundamental rights of children, particularly their right to life and health.

Institutional Response to Systemic Issues

• This is not an isolated event. Prosecutors noted a history of at least 21 child deaths and seven prosecutions since 2008 related to the Followers of Christ Church’s practice of medical neglect.
• The District Attorney’s office affirmed its commitment to prosecuting any individual who fails to provide necessary medical care for a child, reinforcing the state’s institutional responsibility to protect its most vulnerable citizens in alignment with SDG 16.
• The legal pressure appears to have influenced community perspectives, as evidenced by Blair Edwards’ courtroom statement encouraging other church members to seek medical care when necessary.

Conclusion

The death of Hayden Edwards is a preventable tragedy that serves as a stark case study on the conflict between certain cultural-religious practices and the universal right to health as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals. The legal response, while limited in its punitive scope, establishes a robust framework through probation to enforce compliance with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) for the surviving children. Furthermore, the actions of the justice system exemplify the function of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) in protecting children’s rights and holding caregivers accountable for their well-being.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses issues related to two Sustainable Development Goals:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The central theme of the article is the death of a newborn, Hayden Edwards, due to the failure of his parents to seek medical care. This directly relates to child health, preventable deaths, and access to healthcare services, which are core components of SDG 3. The article details the medical condition (acute bilirubin encephalopathy) and the prosecutor’s belief that medical intervention could have saved the child’s life.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article focuses on the legal and justice system’s response to the infant’s death. It describes the prosecution of the parents, their guilty plea to “criminal mistreatment,” the sentencing by a judge, and the probation terms imposed. This highlights the role of institutions in upholding laws designed to protect vulnerable populations, specifically children, and ensuring accountability. The District Attorney’s statement about continuing to “prosecute members of this church or any other person who fails to seek necessary medical treatment for a child” reinforces this connection.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 3.2: “By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.” The death of the two-day-old infant, Hayden Edwards, from a condition that prosecutors believe was treatable, is a direct example of a preventable newborn death that this target aims to eliminate. The prosecutor’s statement that “at least 21 children have died as a result of members of the church not seeking medical care” further underscores the relevance of this target to the community discussed.
   • Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The parents’ failure to provide necessary medical care was legally defined as “criminal mistreatment.” This falls under the broader category of child neglect, which is a form of abuse. The legal proceedings and the probation requirements, which mandate medical care for the couple’s other children, are institutional measures aimed at ending this specific form of harm against children.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article mentions or implies indicators that can measure progress:

   • Indicator for Target 3.2 (Implied): The official indicator is 3.2.2 Neonatal mortality rate. The article provides a specific instance of a neonatal death (Hayden Edwards). Furthermore, the prosecutor’s statement about “at least 21 children” having died over three decades within this specific community provides a localized, historical measure of this problem. A reduction in such deaths within this community would indicate progress toward Target 3.2.
   • Indicator for Target 16.2 (Implied): While not a formal UN indicator, the article provides data that functions as a localized indicator for measuring the justice system’s response to child neglect. The text states that prosecutors “have brought charges against church members seven times since 2008 for failing to seek medical care for children.” This number of prosecutions serves as a direct measure of the institution’s efforts to enforce laws protecting children (Target 16.2) and hold caregivers accountable. The ongoing commitment to “continue to prosecute” acts as a forward-looking measure of the institution’s strength and resolve.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.	Implied Indicator (related to 3.2.2 Neonatal mortality rate): The specific death of the newborn, Hayden Edwards, and the historical data mentioned of “at least 21 children” dying in the community from lack of medical care.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.	Implied Indicator: The number of legal actions taken against caregivers for child neglect (“criminal mistreatment”). The article specifies that prosecutors have brought charges “seven times since 2008” against church members for this issue.

Source: opb.org