Parents of new born with jaundice who refuse treatment saying ‘God makes no mistakes’ face man-slaughter charges

A mother ignored a midwife’s warning their newborn baby could die of jaundice on religious grounds and refused to seek treatment for her child.

Rachel Joy Piland, from Michigan, told the midwife “God makes no mistakes”, according to a police detective who testified in court last week.

Detective Peter Scaccia said: "Rachel declined to seek any medical treatment for Abigail, stating God makes no mistakes. She indicated to the midwife that the baby was fine."

Two days later on 9 February her daughter died from unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus, according to an autopsy by a medical examiner. Both of these conditions are linked to jaundice – a common condition in newborn babies that can resolve itself on its own but requires a doctor to monitor.

"He [the medical examiner] said if treated, most likely she would've been alive," Mr Scaccia said.

Ms Piland, 30, and her husband, Joshua Barry Piland, 36, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter - a charge that carries up to 15 years in prison.

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