MCA (medical care abuse) is absolutely child abuse. This woman is ignoring a doctor’s treatment plan and making her child’s chronic condition worse.  Parents do not have the right to sicken, abuse, or kill their children, at least in my country. Your child is a person and not just an extension of yourself; your child has rights themselves, which include freedom from assault or abuse. You are welcome to ignore a doctor’s orders or not follow treatment yourself. That’s your individual right. But you don’t have the right to make your child sicker - this is no different than ignoring the meal plan for Crohn’s disease and feeding your child tons of bread and pasta.