Church of Christ, Scientist Ordered to Pay $9 Million in Wrongful Death Case

The Church of Christ, Scientist, has been ordered to pay $9 million in punitive damages in a wrongful death civil lawsuit. The case stems from the death of 11-year-old Ian McKown in 1989 while he was in a diabetic coma. A Hennepin County District Court jury in Minnesota found Kathy McKown, who was the mother of Ian, negligent in his death. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, one of seven defendants, was also ordered to pay $520,000 in actual damages. The suit was filed by Ian’s father, Douglas Lundman, who divorced McKown in 1984. McKown testified that she relied on spiritual healing, claiming prayer had cured Ian’s impetigo and her own deafness at age 2.

McKown’s attorney, Terrence Fleming, stated that she could only do what her religious faith dictated when Ian was in dire need. Victor Westberg, manager of the Christian Science committees on publications, expressed concern over the ruling, calling it a “chilling effect on religion.” The church has announced its intention to appeal the decision. Religious-liberties organizations have also voiced strong reactions, with Steve K. Green of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State describing the ruling as troubling. He warned that it places a church’s teaching into question by a judicial authority and makes it subject to liability because a private individual chooses to follow those tenets.

John Whitehead, founder of the Rutherford Institute, added that punishing the church for a belief system sets a bad precedent. He noted that while this may be an anomaly now, it could become a future issue for those seeking to hold large institutions accountable. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Supreme Court recently overturned the involuntary manslaughter conviction of Christian Science parents David and Ginger Twitchell. Their two-year-old son, Robyn, died in 1986 from a bowel obstruction. The court ruled in an 6-to-1 decision that the jury should have been instructed that the Twitchells “reasonably believed” they could rely on spiritual treatment without fear of prosecution.

The case highlights the tension between religious freedom and the legal system’s role in addressing harm. The Christian Science Church’s teachings emphasize spiritual healing over medical treatment, a stance that has led to legal challenges in the past. The Minnesota ruling represents a significant moment for the denomination, as it is the first time the church has been ordered to pay damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. The decision raises questions about the limits of religious belief in a legal context and the potential consequences for religious institutions that advocate for non-medical interventions.

The Massachusetts ruling, by contrast, underscores the complexity of applying legal standards to religious practices. The court’s decision to overturn the conviction reflects a recognition of the parents’ belief in spiritual healing, even as it acknowledges the tragic outcome. These cases illustrate the broader debate over the intersection of faith, law, and personal responsibility. As the Christian Science Church moves forward with its appeal, the legal and ethical implications of its teachings will continue to be scrutinized. The outcomes of these cases may shape future discussions about the role of religious institutions in public health and legal accountability.

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