Idaho Law Protects Faith Healers. It Wasn’t Always That Way.

The article details how current Idaho law protects members of the faith-healing sect Followers of Christ who refuse lifesaving medical care for their children based on religious belief. Historically, however, statutes dating back to the 1880s made it illegal for parents in Idaho to forgo necessary medical attendance for a child. ProPublica reported that between 2015 and 2025, the sect experienced 15 preventable deaths of children.