Twitchell RobynKayne

American news figure whose death at the age of two brought about a change in medical laws concerning the rights of people to refuse medical treatment for their kids due to religious beliefs. Robyn was the son of David and Ginger Stevens Twitchell, devout Christian Science practitioners. When the boy became violently ill, his parents refused medical assistance, relying instead on prayer and spiritual healing for five days treatment. Struggling in pain and morbid illness, their baby died on 4/08/1986 of bowel obstruction. The Twitchells were arraigned two days later on charges of manslaughter. With court battles dragging on, in 1992 they were convicted of involuntary manslaughter, which was overturned the following year. They are, however, now required by law to get medical treatment for their other children. Read less