*starts handing out doubloons*
This is good. Keep it up, guys.
I'm going to clarify a few points. Let's say the kid is 8 years old. In other words, he can understand basic ideas of health and is able to communicate his intentions. However, he's not old enough to make any decisions for himself.
Also, what would happen if the kid had died of tuberculosis? I may be wrong, but I believe tuberculosis is generally fatal but also 100% curable by simple antibiotics. So now the decision is much starker. Give him medicine and he definitely lives. Withhold medicine and he definitely dies. Should the parents still have to the right to withhold medicine from their own child?
LoudHoward raised an interesting point. The child obviously didn't have a choice in forming his own religious beliefs. However, we recognize that there are always certain restrictions on what we end up believing. Given most of our upbringings, it is highly unlikely that we can force ourselves to espouse the views of Hitler. So a child doesn't have control over his own beliefs, but on the other hand, neither do grown ups.
fingersman, that was a good post. Now, if only you could spell...
j/k
P.S. Chapter 3 is starting to shape up, but I honestly can't tell you when it'll be posted. It could be tomorrow, it could be next week. It all depends on my schedule.