MISSISSIPPI
MEDICAL NEGLECT STATUTES
CIVIL MEDICAL NEGLECT STATUTE
A parent shall not be considered negligent solely for providing their child with spiritual treatment in accordance with the practices of a recognized religion.
Mississippi Civil Statute:
A parent who withholds medical treatment from any child who is under treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination by a duly accredited practitioner thereof shall not, for that reason alone, be considered to be neglectful under any provision of this chapter. . . .
Missisippi Code § 43-21-105(l)(i)
CRIMINAL MEDICAL NEGLECT STATUTE
There is a religious exemption to child neglect or manslaughter. If a parent deprives their child of lifesaving medical care, the prosecutor would have to charge neglect to prove manslaughter.
Mississippi Law Provides:
MISSISSIPPI defense to contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child and manslaughter Mississippi’s definition of contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child at Miss. Code § 97-5-39 uses the civil definition of neglect at § 43-21-105(l)(i), which includes a religious exemption.
Mississippi Code § 97-5-39
Mississippi’s definition of manslaughter at Miss. Code § 97-3-29 requires the prose-cutor to prove the defendant was engaged in the perpetration of a misdemeanor. When parents deprive a child of lifesaving medical care, the prosecutor would have to charge neglect to prove manslaughter.