Medicine vs. prayer: the case of Kara Neumann.

Religious beliefs and the use of complementary and alternative medicine can help or hinder health care and the well being of children, who are often unable to make informed decisions for themselves, but instead, depend on their parents or caregivers to make health care decisions for them. Tragically, this can sometimes result in prolonged suffering and death when parents or caregivers refuse treatment due to their own personal beliefs. This two-part article explores the case of Kara Neumann, an 11-year-old girl who died after her parents denied her medical care in lieu of prayer to cure her "spiritual attack," and the role pediatric nurses can play in educating patients and their families.