Man disowns son after blood transfusion

There is a delicate balance between personal free will, religious freedom, and medical necessity. This isn't it. A 5 year old has no say and relies on his parents to protect him; somehow I feel that 'spiritual protection' (as in, letting your son die because your religious beliefs don't allow blood transfusions) is not what a loving god would have in mind for their followers. When is the real issue here, anyway? I never understood the position re medical treatment vs religion: is it that the devil is directly responsible for any and all medical advancements? Why couldn't it be god? Is it that god only allows death, disease, and misery and the devil provides healing, relief and cures? Maybe we are focusing on the wrong supernatural being if that's the case.