" They need to be sent to prison for at least 20 years! Jessica's Law has mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abusers - what about those who intentionally murder them?? Just sick! "

" Another article on here sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for dealing drugs. Someone who abuses a kid will be out in a year. Makes no sense. "

" I have a little more knowledge about this couple's situation and they should have received a much longer sentence. Why does it seem that when someone tries to kill a child, in this case they were doing this to all their children they just happened only to be caught on with the baby, that their life is of such little value? Not to mention that this couple is also currently pregnant again?! What has been going on with this baby enutero? Disgusting! "

" What this story fails to note was that the parents were unhooking the feeding tube because they wanted to breastfeed. While this may not have been the best way to approach the problem, "withholding food" may be a stretch. Perhaps before comments are posted, it should be ensured we have all the approrpiate information to "judge" the parents. "

" Things aren't always what they seem. This was a wrongful suit and this poor couple has had thier kids taken away and thier lives destryoed for wanting to take care of thier child. The courts have totally twisted the story. It's not fair. If they were caught physically beating thier child this sentencing would make more sense. They were doing what they thought was right for thier child. It has little to do with a feeding tube. Don't be so quick to judge - this story has been totally twisted and taken out of context. You DON'T know them. "

" they wanted to breast feed and they didn't think to ask the doctors if this was an option. Apparently the feeding tube was in place for a reason why mess with medicine. I think losing a child is the worst form of punishment but it brought on themselves they certainly deserve punishment. Poor Baby "

" Negligent journalism - do you seriously think a judge would have sentenced the couple to 2-3 years in prison if the child was not being intentionally harmed by the parents? The baby wasn't thriving - thus mom wasn't breastfeeding. "

" Wheather the couple wanted to breast-feed, or not, if the child was on a feeding tube obviousally there was a reason for it, and just FYI, they can put milk in the feeding tubes... I know because I pumped milk while my son was on a feeding tube, and they put it in his feeding tube. If the parents truly had concerns, they should have addressed them with the staff at the hospital. "

" Other wire reports indicated that the tube was removed for breastfeeding - that there was a disagreement between the family and doctors as to how the baby should be fed. If that was the case, and this family simply had poor legal representation, I'm afraid for the precedent that this sets for where a family's wishes stand in relation to an unrelated medical professional. "

" I know this couple, and I understand that there are problems, but is prison really the answer? Does putting a couple in jail for something like this, when the story does not have all the facts, really solve the problem. Judgement should be reserved until all the facts are in, and we should not judge them at all. That is not our job. The couple has had my support up til now and will continue to do so as long as they need it. "

" Even know they said the reason was to breastfeed. Don't you think they might have checked with the doctor's before putting there child in danger. So the comment posted by Negligent journalism, we do have the right to post our comments. Come on, your telling me that shouldn't have asked before putting the child in danger. If they didn't trust the hospital. My question then is, why did they even bring the child to the hospital if they didn't think the doctor's were right? But I'm only a good parent. So I guess I don't understand. "

" I mean the guy that got caught with marijuana got the same amount of time, he didn't hurt anyone, especially not his own child. Our court systems are a mess! These people can't be trusted around their OWN children, what makes you think the won't harm yours??? Where's the justice? "

" This isn't about bad journalism--the paper is only reporting the most basic facts. If anybody thinks they know more than the experts at the Omaha hospital, and it's all a simple matter of what they wanted (and thought they knew better than the medical staff) you're completely naive. There has to be some significant extensive evidence for people to be found guilty of a crime like this, and the evidence was overwhelming. If you're really going to believe what a couple of people who had the NERVE to remove medical equipment from a tiny infant have to say, but were obviously PROVEN to have some malice, fine. But these people have an EXTENSIVE history, and if it's as simple as they try to make it, then I guess the state just likes to take babies away. Now it's proven to me. (note, that was sarcasm) "

" Their act directly led to the death of their child. 'Nuff said. A long prison term is necessary. "

" This baby did not die!! This baby is in Foster care with three other children the couple had. After they serve their time, they will probably try, and most likely succeed in getting all these children back in their "care". "

" If the parents did not like what the physician(s) were telling them then why did they not seek a second opinion? Also...it's the health of a loved one, if you don't understand what the medical staff is tell you, then you have a responsibility to ask them again and again and again until you do get it! "

" What will happen to these children in 2 - 3 years?? Will they go home?? They will be attached to whereever they are now. It is no wonder our children of today's society have psychological and social problems. They have detachment disorder. We have been foster parents for a few years and have seen detachment in children. It is a lifelong journey for these children. If these parents are unable to care for their children then place them in a permanent home. I just wish parents would be responsible for their actions and children. It would make the HHS system happy and moreso the children. What really is important here anyway?? "

" i think they should be held much longer in prison.... "

" Nice. Love to see the excuse makers for child abusers. Child abusers, should get one thing, a life sentence in forced labor camps in North Korea. "

" I agree with the comment about placing kids in a permanent home. Kids deserve a safe and stable home, they have no choice about it. It's up to the adults around them to make those choices, be it parents, judges, social workers etc. Kid ARE our future. They should be kept together also. "

" I have known many children, family and friends, that have needed feeding tubes. It's a measure taken because the child either can not get food down, keep food down, or have digestion problems. In my mind, if they unhooked the tube to breast feed, they were doing it for their own selfish needs (meaning they thought it would give them some kind of parenting experience completely ignoring the welfare of the child). The fact there was a tube in place means that they were advised by doctors and knew it was dangerous to take out the tube. They were told the dangers. They were probably told NOT TO UNHOOK IT. Where then is the problem with following doctor's orders and doing what's right to keep the child alive? It wasn't ignorance. That's leaves three other options: stupidity, selfishness, or desire to harm the child. All three are great reasons to put the child in someone else's care.
People should have to get licenses to have children. "

" Disagreeing with medical professionals, while not wise and maybe not in the best interest of the child, is not the same as deliberate abuse or conscious neglect. Jail time may results in feelings of remorse for this couple but will it truly serve the purpose of making them better parents who could care for their existing children or future children in an appropriate way? That is doubtful. Instead, all three children are impacted and tramatized by their parents' jail time. Removal, even when the situation is terribly abusive (which this situation is much different than), is never easy and always scars. If you have spent any amount of time with a child who has been removed from their home, you would not be so quick to jump on the "Remove the child!" wagon. Is removal necessary? Yes. Does the government mess it up and keep kids in homes that they shouldn't be in? Yes. But it is a delicate balance and while I'm all for erroring on the side of caution, no other instances of carelessness, neglect, or abuse were reported in the two versions of this story I read. Children make things their fault. Children wonder if they can trust adults. Children yearn for their parents and cry themselves to sleep at night. Every night. As a former foster parent and current adoptive parent, I am not sure that it is in the childrens' best interests to spend 2-3 years away from their parents in this instance. It seems like people want to see punishment but shouldn't punishment be reserved for actions that are deliberately and unequivocally criminal? Was this deliberate? Yes. Was it criminal? Debatable. Was is foolish? Probably. Perhaps a focus on education, positive parenting, and regular support from a quality case worker could be combined supervised probation and comunity service which focused on medically fragile children and appropriate parenting choices would have been a more fitting choice than jail time. Even a short jail time might be appropriate but even doing a year with early release seems excessive. "