Do you think a parent should be prosecuted if their child drowns while they are watching them?

Question

Do you think a parent should be prosecuted if their child drowns while they are watching them?

Answer 1

It depends on whether on not they could have saved them and it depends on if they drowned as a result of the parents wreckless endangerment or by some other form of neglect or abuse .

barring the above then no.

Answer 2

Yes, in most cases. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part it is neglect, and improper safety precautions being used. It is the #1 most preventable cause of death in kids. 80% of it occurs at home in home pools! Theres no excuse for that, and the parents should be held responsible legally.

Answer 3

if there was truly negligence on the part of the parent then yes.  But a child can aspirate liquid into the lungs and drown even if they are safe in your arms and you are watching them like a hawk, even a few tablespoons of liquid in the lungs can block oxygen receptors and the child can dry drown (this is where the child aspirates liquid, but does not have any symptoms of "drowning" until they slowly asphyxiate hours later, a very scary thing), so a drowning does not in and of itself doesn't indicate negligence.  But if you leave a little toddler in a swimming pool alone and go in the house to get a beer, by all means you should be prosecuted.

Answer 4

no because what is a greater punishment then noing that you killed your own child? i would only say yes if they were on drugs or alchol.

Answer 5

Depends on the circumstances and it is ALWAYS investigated.

Many child drownings occur when adults are around, but not aware that there is a child in danger.

Answer 6

Yes.

*edited* Hahaha, thumbs down, for stating my opinion, which was asked for... Nice! Well, the question *was* if they drowned 'while they are watching them'... If the parents are really watching, then there's no excuse... Bring on the thumbs down; I'm sticking by what I typed! :)

Answer 7

if your child died, particularly through your own negligence, would you even care if you were prosecuted or not?

i wouldn't.

Answer 8

Yes.  If they were truly watching them then their child shouldn't have drowned.  If they do it is obvious the parent was neglectful.

Answer 9

If a parent is actually watching their child then the child wouldn't drown so what you just described is murder.

Answer 10

I would say yes if they were under the influence of any drugs or alcohol.

Basing on talking to neighbors, friends and family if they were good parents then no because I agree with the person that said knowing you killed your child would be the ultimate punishment

Answer 11

yes i think that if a parent is around it is their responsibility to make sure there children are safe..for instance where i stay i was outraged because a 10 yr old shot a 5 yr old in the face while playing with a gun...where was the mom? In the bed asleep and she should have been charged but WAS NOT. If that is the case ppl can do things to hurt their child and cover it up as an accident and the law says it is so that...an accident.

People need to take responsibility for their kids ...if something happened to one of my kids while i was SUPPOSED to be watchimg them I would want to go to jail because it would be my fault...if my negligence was the cause of harm to my child then its only fair