True, but they were either psychotic or mentaly challenged. The law cant let neglect like this pass just because the offenders isnt mentaly capable of understanding the crime. There has to me some minimum level of mental ability required by the law. And if you go under it you will get help.
RUDE, that should not be said.

Now there is a book almost entirely about this. It is called i fall and the spirit catches me. In the book a young Hmong girl is diagnosed with severe epilepsy. Her parents lose faith in the hospital authorities and turn to their animist religion (which states that shamans suffering from the "shaking" disease are future religious leaders). The state seizes the child and tries to care for her. In the end she dies because of improper medical treatment and her life was questionably worse as a result (the medicine she was given caused pain and physical atrophy).

Now i think these parents were foolish to do as they did. I believe there should be a legal limit to where your freedom of religion should end. as was stated earlier with the row to shore analogy i absolutely agree. These parents were testing god and god punished them. There is no reason you can't pray AND take shots of insulin. I think even Amish allow modern medical care (i saw them in the orthopedic clinic when i broke my leg at least.)

However, i would like people to avoid from comments like the one i quoted at the beginning. They are rude and very thoughtless. As such, they reflect badly on what is meant to be a polite and informative debate.