Green Appeal

292 A.2d 387, 448 Pa. 338, 52 A.L.R. 3d 1106, 1972 Pa. LEXIS 466

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: June 28, 1972
• Docket: Appeal, No. 315
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Jones,

The Director of the State Hospital for Crippled Children at Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, filed a “petition to initiate juvenile proceedings” under The Juvenile Court Law, Act of June 2, 1933, P. L. 1433, §1 et seq., as amended, 11 P.S. §243 et seq., which sought a judicial declaration that Ricky Ricardo Green (hereinafter “Ricky”) was a “neglected child” within the meaning of the Act and the appointment of a guardian. After an evidentiary hearing, the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division, Juvenile Branch, of Philadelphia, dismissed the petition. On appeal, the Superior Court unanimously reversed and remanded the matter for the appointment of a guardian. Green Case, 220 Pa. Superior Ct. 191, 286 A. 2d 681 (1971). We granted allocatur.

Ricky was born on September 10, 1955, to Nathaniel and Ruth Green. He lives with his mother as his parents are separated and the father pays support pursuant to a court order. Ricky has had two attacks of poliomyelitis which have generated problems of obesity and, in addition, Ricky now suffers from paralytic scoliosis (94% curvature of the spine).

Due to this curvature of the spine Ricky is presently a “sitter”, unable to stand or ambulate due to the collapse of his spine; if nothing is done, Ricky could become a bed patient. Doctors have recommended a “spinal fusion” to relieve Ricky’s bent position, which would involve moving bone from Ricky’s pelvis to his spine. Although an orthopedic specialist testified, “there is no question that there is danger in this type of operation”, the mother did consent conditionally to the surgery. The condition is that, since the mother is a Jehovah’s Witness who believes that the Bible proscribes any blood transfusions which would be necessary for this surgery,¹ she would not consent to any blood transfusions. Initially, we must recognize that, while the operation would be beneficial, there is no evidence that Ricky’s life is in danger or that the operation must be performed immediately. Accordingly, we are faced with the situation of a parent who will not consent to a dangerous operation on her minor son requiring blood transfusions solely because of her religious beliefs.

By statute, a “neglected child”—“a child whose parent . . . neglects or refuses to provide proper or necessary medical or surgical care”²—may be committed “to the care, guidance and control of some respectable citizen of good moral character. . . ,”³ appointed by the court. The guardian appointed by the court may, with the court’s approval, commit the child to a “crippled children’s home or orthopaedic hospital or other institution” for treatment.⁴ Thus, it has been held that a child whose parent views smallpox vaccination as “harmful and injurious” may be considered a “neglected child”. Marsh’s Case, 140 Pa. Superior Ct. 472, 14 A. 2d 368 (1940). Cf., In re Rinker, 180 Pa. Superior Ct. 143, 117 A. 2d 780 (1955). On the other hand, In re Tuttendario, 21 Pa. Dist. 561. (Q.S. Phila. .1912), held that surgery on a seven-year-old male to cure rachitis would not be ordered over the parents’ refusal due to fear of the operation. While these statutes could be construed to cover the facts of this appeal, we cannot accept the Commonwealth’s construction if it abridges the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment.

Almost a century ago, the United States Supreme Court enunciated the twofold concept of the Free Exercise clause: “Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinions, they may with practices.” Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 166 (1878). Accord, Braunfeld v. Brown, 366 U.S. 599 (1961); Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296, 303-04 (1940); Davis v. Beason, 133 U.S. 333 (1890). Thus, it was stated in Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 166-67 (1944) : “But the family itself is not beyond regulation in the public interest, as against a claim of religious liberty. Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145; Davis v. Beason, 133 U.S. 333. And neither rights of religion nor rights of parenthood are beyond limitation. Acting to guard the general interest in youth’s well being, the state as parens patriae may restrict the parent’s control by requiring school attendance [footnote omitted], regulating or prohibiting the child’s labor [footnote omitted] and in many other ways [footnote omitted]. Its authority is not nullified merely because the parent grounds his claim to control the child’s course of conduct on religion or conscience. Thus, he cannot claim freedom from compulsory vaccination for the child more than for himself on religious grounds [footnote omitted]. The right to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the community or the child to communicable disease or the latter to ill health or death. People v. Pierson, 176 N.Y. 201, 68 N.E. 243 [footnote omitted]. The catalogue need not be lengthened. It is sufficient to show what indeed appellant hardly disputes, that the state has a wide range of power for limiting parental freedom and authority in things affecting the child’s welfare; and that this includes, to some extent, matters of conscience and religious conviction.” On the other hand, the United States Supreme Court recently stated, “to agree that religiously grounded conduct must often be subject to the broad police power of the State is not to deny that there are areas of conduct protected by the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and thus beyond the power of the State to control, even under regulations of general applicability.” Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205, 220 (1972) “The conduct or actions so regulated have invariably posed some substantial threat to public safety, peace or order.” Sherbert v. Verner, 374 U.S. 398, 403 (1963). Without appearing callous, Ricky’s unfortunate condition, unlike polygamy, vaccination, child labor and the like, does not pose a sub stantial threat to society; in this fashion, Pierce and its progeny are readily distinguishable.

When dealing with adults requiring medical attention who voice religious objections, other jurisdictions have come to varying conclusions depending, in large measure, upon the facts of each case. See, generally, Annot., 9 A.L.R. 3d 1391 (1966). Some courts have found medical treatment to be properly ordei'ed by the public authority despite the adult’s religious beliefs when his or her life hangs in the balance. Thus, it was held in Application of President & Directors of Georgetown College, Inc., 331 F. 2d 1000 (C.A.D.C. 1964), rehearing denied, 331 F. 2d 1010, cert. denied, 377 U.S. 978 (1964), that a blood transfusion could be ordered for an adult Jehovah’s Witness whose life was immediately endangered. While a similar result was reached in United States v. George, 239 F. Supp. 752 (D.C. Conn. 1965), that court dissolved the order several days later when the patient was no longer in ewtremis and could decide whether to allow further necessary transfusions. The Supreme Court of New Jersey likewise ordered blood transfusions for a pregnant Jehovah’s Witness in order to save the life of the mother and unborn child. Raleigh Fithin-Paul Morgan Memorial Hospital v. Anderson, 42 N.J. 421, 201 A. 2d 537, cert. denied, 377 U.S. 985 (1964). Cf., Collins v. Davis, 44 Misc. 2d 622, 254 N.Y.S. 2d 666 (1964). On the other hand, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed an ordered blood transfusion where the emergency patient had no children and notified the doctor beforehand that blood transfusions violated her religious beliefs. In re Brooks’ Estate, 32 Ill. 2d 361, 205 N.E. 2d 435 (1965). See, also, Nemser Petition, 51 Misc. 2d 616, 273 N.Y.S. 2d 624 (1966); Erickson v. Dilgard, 44 Misc. 2d 27, 252 N.Y.S. 2d 705 (1962).

Turning to the situation where an adult refuses to consent to blood transfusions necessary to save the life of his infant son or daughter, other jurisdictions have uniformly held that the state can order such blood transfusions over the parents’ religious objections. People ex rel. Wallace v. Labrenz, 411 Ill. 618, 104 N.E. 2d 769 (1952); Morrison v. State, 252 S.W. 2d 97 (C. A. Kansas City, Mo., 1952); State v. Perricone, 37 N.J. 463, 181 A. 2d 751 (1962); Hoener v. Bertinato, 67 N.J. Super. 517, 171 A. 2d 140 (1961); Santos v. Goldstein, 16 A.D. 2d 755, 227 N.Y.S. 2d 450 (1962), appeal dismissed, 232 N.Y.S. 2d 1026 (1962); Application of Brooklyn Hospital, 45 Misc. 2d 914, 258 N.Y.S. 2d 621 (1965); In re Clark, 21 Ohio Op. 2d 86, 185 N.E. 2d 128 (C.P. Lucas 1962). Cf., Mitchell v. Davis, 205 S.W. 2d 812 (Texas C.C.A. 1947). See, generally, Annot., 30 A.L.R. 2d 1138 (1953). The fact that the child was over twenty-one made no difference to the New Jersey Supreme Court in John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital v. Heston, 58 N.J. 576, 279 A. 2d 670 (1971), which ignored the mother’s religious objections.

In a somewhat different posture, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington entertained a class action brought on behalf of all Jehovah’s Witnesses in the State against certain physicians and hospitals in that State. The relief requested was a declaration that a “dependent child” statute similar to our own was unconstitutionally applied to sustain blood transfusions for children of Jehovah’s Witnesses where the blood transfusion “was or would be vital to save the life of the patient.” Jehovah’s Witnesses in State of Washington v. King County Hospital, 278 F. Supp. 488, 503 n.10 (W.D. Wash. 1967). Relying on Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158 (1944), that court held that the statute in question was constitutionally valid. On appeal, the United States Supreme Court, citing the Prince opinion, affirmed per curiam, 390 U.S. 598 (1968). Because the Washington case directly contested the constitutional application of the state statute in the situation where the children’s lives were in imminent danger, we do not consider this Con rt to be bound by the Supreme Court’s per curiam affirmance under the factual posture in the case at bar.

In our view, the penultimate question presented by this appeal is whether the state may interfere with a parent’s control over his or her child in order to enhance the child’s physical well-being when the child’s life is in no immediate danger and when the state’s intrusion conflicts with the parent’s religious beliefs. Stated differently, does the State have an interest of sufficient magnitude to warrant the abridgment of a parent’s right to freely practice his or her religion when those beliefs preclude medical treatment of a son or daughter whose life is not in immediate danger? We are not confronted with a life or death situation as in the cases cited earlier in this opinion. Nor is there any question in the case at bar of a parent’s omission or neglect for non-religious reasons. Compare, Heinemann’s Appeal, 96 Pa. 112 (1880), with, In re Hudson, 13 Wash. 2d 673, 126 P. 2d 765 (1942).

In the very recent Yoder decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Free Exercise clause barred the application of a compulsory education statute to members of the Amish sect. While skirting the precise issue before this Court, the Supreme Court did state, “[t]o be sure, tbe power of tbe parent, even when linked to a free exercise claim, may be subject to limitation under Prince if it appears that parental decisions will jeopardize the health or safety of the child, or have a potential for significant social burdens.” U.S. at 233-34 (emphasis added). Although the use of the word “may” arguably supports the Commonwealth’s position in this case, the only analogous case cited by both Mr. Chief Justice Burger, 406 U.S. at 230 n.20, and Mr. Justice Stewart, 406 U.S. at 239 n.t (concurring opinion), in support of this proposition is the Georgetown College case,⁵ which is readily distinguished as a life or death situation involving an adult. For this reason, the Commonwealth is not aided by the Yoder opinion. Indeed, the broad holding of Yoder that the State’s interest in the education of its children must fall before a parent’s religious beliefs lend support to the mother’s position.

Our research discloses only two opinions on point; both are from the New York Court of Appeals but the results differ. In Matter of Seiferth, 309 N.Y. 80, 127 N.E. 2d 820 (1955), the State of New York sought the appointment of a guardian for a “neglected child,” a fourteen-year-old boy with a cleft palate and harelip. The father’s purely personal philosophy, “not classified as religion,” precluded any and all surgery as he believed in mental healing.; moreover, the father had “inculcated a distrust and dread of surgery in the boy since childhood.” 309 N.Y. at 84, 127 N.E. 2d at 822. The boy was medically advised and the Children’s Court judge interviewed both the boy and his father in chambers. Tbe trial judge concluded that tbe operation should not be performed until the boy agreed. After reversal by the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, the Court of Appeals, by a four-to-three vote, reinstated the order of the Children’s Court. The primary thrust of the opinion was the child’s antagonism to the operation and the need for the boy’s cooperation for treatment; since the Children’s Court judge saw and heard the parties involved and was aware of this aspect, the Court of Appeals decided that the discretion of the Children’s Court judge should be affirmed.

On facts virtually identical to this appeal, the Family Court of Ulster County ordered a blood transfusion in In re Sampson, 65 Misc. 2d 658, 317 N.Y.S. 2d 641 (1970). Kevin Sampson, fifteen years old, suffered from Von Eecldinghauson’s disease which caused a massive disfigurement of the right side of his face and neclc. While the incurable disease posed no immediate threat to his life, the dangerous surgery requiring blood transfusions would improve “not only the function but the appearance” of his face and neck. It should also be noted that all physicians involved counselled deiay until the boy was old enough to decide since the surgical risk would decrease as the boy grew older. The Family Court judge ruled in an extensive opinion that the State’s interest in the child’s health was paramount to the mother’s religious beliefs. That court further decided not to place this difficult decision on the boy and to order an immediate operation, thereby preventing psychological problems. On appeal, the Appellate Division, Third Department, unanimously affirmed the order in a memorandum decision. In re Sampson, 37 A.D. 2d 688, 323 N.Y.S. 2d 253 (1971). That court rejected the argument that “State intervention is permitted only where the life of the child is in danger by a failure to act ... [as] a much too restricted approach.” 37 A.D. 2d at 669, 323 N.Y.S. 2d at 255. When the matter reached the Court of Appeals, In re Sampson, 29 N.Y. 2d 900, 278 N.E. 2d 918 (1972), that Court affirmed per curiam the opinion of the Family Court but added two observations: (1) the Seiferth opinion turned upon the question of a court’s discretion and not the existence of its power to order surgery in a non-fatal case, and (2) religious objections to blood transfusions do not “present a bar at least where the transfusion is necessary to the success of the required surgery,” 29 N.Y. 2d at 901, 278 N.E. 2d at 919.

With all deference to the New York Court of Appeals, we disagree with the second observation in a nonfatal situation and express no view of the propriety of that statement in a life or death situation. If we were to describe this surgery as “required”, like the Court of Appeals, our decision would conflict with the mother’s religious beliefs. Aside from religious considerations, one can also question the use of that adjective on medical grounds since an orthopedic specialist testified that the operation itself was dangerous. Indeed, one can question who, other than the Creator, has the right to term certain surgery as “required”. This fatal/ non-fatal distinction also steers the courts of this Commonwealth away from a medical and philosophical morass: if spinal surgery can be ordered, what about a hernia or gall bladder operation or a hysterectomy? The problems created by Sampson are endless. We are of the opinion that as between a parent and the state, the state does not have an interest of sufficient magnitude outweighing a parent’s religious beliefs when the child’s life is not immediately imperiled by his physical condition.

Unlike Yoder and Sampson, our inquiry does not end at this point since we believe the wishes of this sixteen-year-old boy should be ascertained; the ultimate question, in our view, is whether a parent’s religious beliefs are paramount to the possibly adverse decision of the child. In Yoder, Mr. Justice Douglas, dissenting in part, wanted to remand the matter in order to determine whether the Amish children wished to continue their education in spite of their parents’ beliefs: “if an Amish child desires to attend high school, and is mature enough to have that desire respected, the State may well be able to override the parents’ religiously motivated objections.” 406 U.S. at 242. The majority opinion as well as the concurring opinion of Mr. Justice Stewart did not think it wise to reach this point for two principal reasons: (1) it was the parents, not the children, who were criminally prosecuted for their religious beliefs; and (2) the record did not indicate a parent-child conflict as the testimony of the lone child witness coincided with her parents’ religious beliefs. While the record before us gives no indication of Ricky’s thinking, it is the child rather than the parent in this appeal who is directly involved which thereby distinguishes Yoder’s decision not to discuss the beliefs of the parents vis-a-vis the children. In Sampson, the Family Court judge decided not to “evade the responsibility for a decision now by the simple expedient of foisting upon this boy the responsibility for making a decision at some later date. . . .” 65 Misc. 2d at 672, 317 N.Y.S. 2d at 655. While we are cognizant of the realistic problems of this approach enunciated by Judge (now Chief Judge) Fuld in his Seiferth dissent, we believe that Ricky should be heard.

It would be most anomalous to ignore Ricky in this situation when we consider the preference of an intelligent child of sufficient maturity in determining custody. E.g., Snellgrose Adoption Case, 432 Pa. 158, 247 A. 2d 596 (1968). Moreover, we have held that a child of the same age can waive constitutional rights and receive a life sentence. E.g., Com. v. Moses, 446 Pa. , 287 A. 2d 131 (1971). Indeed, minors can now bring a personal injury action in Pennsylvania against their parents. Falco v. Pados, 444 Pa. 372, 282 A. 2d 351 (1971). We need not extend this litany of the rights of children any further to support the proposition that Ricky should be heard. The record before us does not even note whether Ricky is a Jehovah’s Witness or plans to become one. We shall, therefore, reserve any decision regarding a possible parent-child conflict and remand the matter for an evidentiary hearing similar to the one conducted in Seiferth in order to determine Ricky’s wishes.

The order of the Superior Court is reversed and the matter remanded to the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, Family Court Division, Juvenile Branch, for proceedings consistent with the views expressed in this opinion. In the meantime, awaiting the evidentiary hearing and result thereof, we will retain our jurisdiction in this matter.

1 The mother also rejected the suggestion that Ricky’s own blood, obtained by periodic bleeding, be employed.

2 The Juvenile Court Law, Act of June 2, 1933, P. L. 1433, §1(5) (c), as amended, 11 P.S. §243(5) (e).

3 The Juvenile Court Law, Act of June 2, 1933, P. L. 1433, §8(b), as amended, 11 P.S. §250(b).

4 Act of June 7, 1923, P. L. 677, §1, 11 P.S. §871.

5 The other cited opinions clearly involved substantial threats to society: Cleveland v. United States, 329 U.S. 14 (1946) (polygamy); Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158 (1944) (child labor laws); Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11 (1905) (compulsory vaccination); Wright v. DeWitt School District, 238 Ark. 906, 385 S.W. 2d 644 (1965) (compulsory vaccination).