I’d never heard of it. For those ignorant, http://www.todayinchildsafety.com/2012/05/zachery-swezeys-parents-acquitted-of-murder-manslaughter.html. 

I think that prayer and medical attention are the best way to treat illnesses, not one or the other. If God’s truly calling someone, they will go no matter what the treatment is. On the other hand, if God wants the person to be healed (as a sign or something, I don’t know. Do I look like the Big Guy?), then they will be healed no matter the prognosis. 

As for the rights of parents to use religious reasons to deny their children morally permissible medical treatments, from a civil standpoint there is no reason that they shouldn’t be able to unless their child is legally old enough to be responsible, which young Mr.Swezey was not (although at 17 he was almost certainly competent to decide for himself, legally he was not). From a moral standpoint, as I explained before, there’s no reason for valid medical treatment to be foregone but even if there was, there is still really no reason to prevent a young man of Zachary’s age from seeking it if he wishes. 

I have a sneaking suspicion that this will transition into a discussion of parental consent and birth control/abortion. If I am wrong about this, please accept my apologies and disregard this last bit. If I am right, please note that I reserve the right to ignore any further questions on this matter if I so choose, since I am really not in the mood for a long debate.