Idaho faith-healing exemption linked to 15 preventable child deaths

A ProPublica investigation has revealed that at least 15 children belonging to the Followers of Christ sect in Idaho died from treatable medical conditions between 2015 and 2025. Experts who reviewed death records from coroners and police in five counties concluded that illnesses such as pneumonia, sepsis, and intestinal blockages could have been cured with standard interventions like antibiotics or surgery. The findings suggest the current death toll is likely an undercount, as six additional deaths could not be evaluated due to incomplete records.

The deaths occurred under Idaho’s long-standing legal framework, established in the 1970s, which allows parents in specific faith-healing groups to forgo medical care in favour of prayer. The Followers of Christ, who arrived in Idaho in 1899, maintain an insular community structure through family intermarriage and interpret biblical verses, such as those in the Book of James, to justify anointing the sick with oil rather than seeking hospital treatment.

Records indicate that at least five sets of parents lost multiple children to treatable conditions. In one case, newborns Malachi and Liam both died of pneumonia, a condition that is rare in developed countries. In another, a 16-year-old named Maicy died from a benign pituitary tumor that doctors said would have been obvious earlier in childhood and treatable with surgery. The investigation noted that in many instances, the deaths occurred in the presence of a large congregation, with police reporting a lack of standard medical response such as ambulance calls or 911 usage.

Idaho lawmakers have repeatedly rejected efforts to dial back the exemption since 2014, often prioritising broader parental rights over medical intervention. The state has codified parental consent as a prerequisite for minor medical care and banned vaccine requirements in schools. In contrast, neighbouring Oregon removed its similar faith-healing exception to child abuse laws nearly 30 years ago, a move that prosecutors say led more parents to seek medical care for their children.

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, who has sent deputies to follow up on the deaths of at least 10 Followers’ children since taking office in 2013, described the situation as "needless." Retired Idaho pediatrician David Peterman, who reviewed 18 of the deaths, stated that the vast majority were the result of neglect and "unequivocally preventable." He noted that the state’s refusal to change the law was "beyond comprehension."

Nathan Kangas, a patriarch in the sect’s Caldwell church, defended the doctrine during an interview, stating that parents must keep children away from doctors to set an example. He quoted the Book of Psalms, saying, "Precious in the eyes of the Lord are the death of His saints," and argued that life on Earth is a "preparing ground." While some parents declined to comment, the investigation highlighted that the sect’s growth relies on existing families, meaning the possibility of losing a child is not foreign to members who have often witnessed siblings or cousins die.