Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2151
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03 (2026)

Neglected child defined - failure to provide medical or surgical care for religious reasons

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Effective:
August 3, 2006
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 17 - 126th General Assembly
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(A) As used in this chapter, "neglected child" includes any child:

(1) Who is abandoned by the child's parents, guardian, or custodian;

(2) Who lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of the child's parents, guardian, or custodian;

(3) Whose parents, guardian, or custodian neglects the child or refuses to provide proper or necessary subsistence, education, medical or surgical care or treatment, or other care necessary for the child's health, morals, or well being;

(4) Whose parents, guardian, or custodian neglects the child or refuses to provide the special care made necessary by the child's mental condition;

(5) Whose parents, legal guardian, or custodian have placed or attempted to place the child in violation of sections 5103.16 and 5103.17 of the Revised Code;

(6) Who, because of the omission of the child's parents, guardian, or custodian, suffers physical or mental injury that harms or threatens to harm the child's health or welfare;

(7) Who is subjected to out-of-home care child neglect.

(B) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as subjecting a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child to criminal liability when, solely in the practice of religious beliefs, the parent, guardian, or custodian fails to provide adequate medical or surgical care or treatment for the child. This division does not abrogate or limit any person's responsibility under section 2151.421 of the Revised Code to report child abuse that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred, child neglect that is known or reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred, and children who are known to face or are reasonably suspected or believed to be facing a threat of suffering abuse or neglect and does not preclude any exercise of the authority of the state, any political subdivision, or any court to ensure that medical or surgical care or treatment is provided to a child when the child's health requires the provision of medical or surgical care or treatment.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 320 cases (128 in the last 5 years), 1954–2026 · leading case: In re William S., 661 N.E.2d 738 (Ohio 1996).
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In re William S., 661 N.E.2d 738 (Ohio 1996). · cites it 8× “031 of the Revised Code against the child, caused the child to suffer any neglect as described in section 2151.03 of the Revised Code, or allowed the child to suffer any neglect as described in section 2151.”
In re Riddle, 680 N.E.2d 1227 (Ohio 1997). · cites it 10× “was a neglected child under former R.C. 2151.03(A)(2), the trial court was required to find that the essential statutory elements were proven by clear and convincing evidence.”
In re C.T., 2018-Ohio-3823. · cites it 9× “{¶ 54} In this case, the trial court found that JFS proved two of the allegations of neglect and dependency in its complaint.”
In re William S., 75 Ohio St. 3d 95 (1996). · cites it 8× “031 of the Revised Code against the child, caused the child to suffer any neglect as described in section 2151.03 of the Revised Code, or allowed the child to suffer any neglect as described in section 2151.”
In re Alexander C., 843 N.E.2d 211 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 2005). · cites it 6× “That the juvenile court erred in that the evidence lacked the clear and convincing standard that the children are neglected and dependent children pursuant to O.R.C. 2151.03 and 2151.04 [sic]. {¶ 5} “II.”
In re A.J., 2016-Ohio-8196, 69 N.E.3d 733. · cites it 4× “was a neglected child pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2) because of Brittany’s incarceration.”
In re C.S., 2012-Ohio-2884. · cites it 9× “031(B), (C), and (D), neglected pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2) and (3), and dependent pursuant to R.”
In re Riddle, 79 Ohio St. 3d 259 (1997). · cites it 12× “___________________ Charles E. McKnight, for appellant.”
In re S.D., 2020-Ohio-3379. · cites it 6× “414(E)(3), the juvenile court considered whether either parent had committed any abuse against a child, or caused or allowed a child to suffer neglect as defined in R.C. 2151.03, between the date that the original 16 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS complaint alleging abuse…”
In re L.W., 861 N.E.2d 546 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 2006). · cites it 4× “R.C. 2151.03 defines a "neglected child” as one "[w]ho lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of the child’s parents, guardian, or custodian,” R.”
In re K.R., 2019-Ohio-2192. · cites it 4× “031(D), neglected child pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2), and dependent child pursuant to R.”
In re W.M., 2022-Ohio-1978. · cites it 4× “04(B), and neglected under R.C. 2151.03(A)(2). Further, the court found that the children could not be placed with mother within a reasonable time or should not be placed with mother under R.”
Show all 320 citing cases →
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A): 20 cases
In re S.D., 2020-Ohio-3379. “414(E)(3), the juvenile court considered whether either parent had committed any abuse against a child, or caused or allowed a child to suffer neglect as defined in R.C. 2151.03, between the date that the original 16 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS complaint alleging abuse…”
In re Alexander C., 843 N.E.2d 211 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 2005). “That the juvenile court erred in that the evidence lacked the clear and convincing standard that the children are neglected and dependent children pursuant to O.R.C. 2151.03 and 2151.04 [sic]. {¶ 5} “II.”
In re Eric Patterson, 730 N.E.2d 439 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 1999).
In re Meyer, 648 N.E.2d 52 (Ohio Ct. App. 3d Dist. 1994).
In re L.R., 2019-Ohio-1152.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(1): 9 cases
Gonzalez v. Rodriguez, 2018-Ohio-2410, 115 N.E.3d 718.
Hernandez Caballero v. Hernandez Caballero, 2023-Ohio-1006.
In re Tikyra A., 659 N.E.2d 867 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1995).
In re Blake, 786 N.E.2d 78 (Ohio Ct. App. 2d Dist. 2003).
In re K.S., 2023-Ohio-1721.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(2): 132 cases
In re Riddle, 680 N.E.2d 1227 (Ohio 1997). “was a neglected child under former R.C. 2151.03(A)(2), the trial court was required to find that the essential statutory elements were proven by clear and convincing evidence.”
In re A.J., 2016-Ohio-8196, 69 N.E.3d 733. “was a neglected child pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2) because of Brittany’s incarceration.”
In re C.T., 2018-Ohio-3823. “{¶ 54} In this case, the trial court found that JFS proved two of the allegations of neglect and dependency in its complaint.”
In re C.S., 2012-Ohio-2884. “031(B), (C), and (D), neglected pursuant to R.C. 2151.03(A)(2) and (3), and dependent pursuant to R.”
In re Riddle, 79 Ohio St. 3d 259 (1997). “___________________ Charles E. McKnight, for appellant.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(2)(4): 1 case
In re K.C., 2025-Ohio-1110.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(3): 33 cases
In re C.O., 2013-Ohio-5239.
In re L.W., 2019-Ohio-1343.
In re T.C., 2018-Ohio-4369.
In re C.G., 2019-Ohio-2102.
In re R.S., 2022-Ohio-4387.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(4): 1 case
Quehl v. Roberts, 2025-Ohio-4742.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(5): 1 case
In re Proposed Adoption of a Child by Michael S., 722 N.E.2d 574 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1998).
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(A)(6): 6 cases
In re C.T., 2018-Ohio-3823. “{¶ 54} In this case, the trial court found that JFS proved two of the allegations of neglect and dependency in its complaint.”
In re L.W., 861 N.E.2d 546 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 2006). “R.C. 2151.03 defines a "neglected child” as one "[w]ho lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of the child’s parents, guardian, or custodian,” R.”
In re M.T., 2020-Ohio-5493.
In re L.K., 2025-Ohio-5331.
In re I.S., 2022-Ohio-3923, 199 N.E.3d 1130.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(B): 15 cases
In re Reese, 446 N.E.2d 482 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 1982).
In re Burchfield, 555 N.E.2d 325 (Ohio Ct. App. 4th Dist. 1988).
In re Sims, 468 N.E.2d 111 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1983).
In re Schuerman, 599 N.E.2d 728 (Ohio Ct. App. 3d Dist. 1991).
In re C.G., 2019-Ohio-2102.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(B)(C): 2 cases
In re Fleming, 600 N.E.2d 1112 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1991).
In re B.R., 2021-Ohio-3150.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(D): 5 cases
In re S.L., 2016-Ohio-5000.
In re J.R., 2018-Ohio-1474.
In re H.S., 2022-Ohio-506.
State ex rel. T.B. v. Brown, 2025-Ohio-4484.
M.H. v. B.S., 2026-Ohio-1281.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(F): 1 case
In re R.W., 2024-Ohio-2223.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(b): 4 cases
In re J.H., 2019-Ohio-5184.
In re K.M., 2011-Ohio-3632.
In re D.E., 2022-Ohio-1150.
In re J.H., 2019-Ohio-5185.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(b)(c): 1 case
In re D.M., 2009-Ohio-4112.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.03(c): 1 case
In re W.H., 2022-Ohio-121.
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