This seems to me to be a slippery slope sort of situation. Where do we allow this to apply and where does it not apply?
Should we then dictate that certain career or lifestyle choices should be avoided because they are more dangerous?
The rules on this are made murky by the impact such choices have on others. If the choice made causes injury or harm to another being, then it should be allowed as a matter of regulation. If it harms no other being, then the choice should be solely the responsibility and choice of the subject(s) involved.
This of course leaves the matter of choices being made for those no longer capable of making them for themselves. What of the unborn child, the Alzheimer's patient, or the brain dead person in a coma? The only solution is to hammer out a set of guidelines that dictates what can be done and when, and then live with the choices.
In the case of this woman, she should have the right to die by refusing medical aid, in my opinion, unless this could kill the children, in which case, every effort should be made to save the lives of the children. In my opinion, if the choice results in the death of or injury to the children, the full weight of the law should be brought to bear of the person(s) involved, including those that should aid or abet such situations. A sub-culture that does not agree with a societies rules should not be exempted from them simply because they want to be.
Serial killer's should not be. Radical fringe religious groups should not be. Hate groups should not be. If you break the law, you must deal with the consequences of it. If you don't like the law, you should seek to change it. If you cannot change it, and the force of social opinion is against you, then you will have to a) adapt, b) move on, or c) die out.
As to the refusal to seek medical attention to save a life, as in the case of the parent's that tried to save their child(ren) through prayer, my answer must be the same. Were I a parent, I would seek any and all means that are within my power to save the life of my child. If my religious beliefs resulted in the death of that child, I would be seriously considering a change in faith. I would also expect society to exact a price if my beliefs caused such a situation. I would expect to come up on charges and face the consequences of the failure to perform my duty as a parent and a human being.
Wow, I do go on....
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