Is mom a criminal for not allowing surgery on her son?

Byline: Carol M. Ostrom

SEATTLE _ When Tina Marie Carlsen smuggled her 9-month-old son, Riley Rogers, out of Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center hours before his scheduled kidney surgery last week, it was the culmination of a long and intense battle with doctors over how to treat her child.

Carlsen wanted to explore alternative treatments. But hospital officials, who believed they were running out of time, finally went to court to have Riley taken from her custody.

Monday, after an Amber Alert and police manhunts, Riley was back in the hospital and Carlsen was in custody, charged with second-degree kidnapping.

It's a situation that sends chills through many parents _ and doctors alike. How can a parent who objects to medical treatment of her child become a criminal?

Even though going to court to take custody away …