Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Natarajan Shanker on January 2, 2011 at 2:23am

I would phrase it slightly differently. I would say, it should be illegal for parents to deny actual medical care to their children, on the basis of religion or any means of "alternative medicine" like homeopathy, ayurveda, unani etc (or on any other basis for that matter, except if they cannot afford it).

 

In addition to real medical care, the parents can go to temples and break as many coconuts as they want. It doesn't hurt anyone, and helps the coconut merchants.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben on January 2, 2011 at 3:00am

Just piling on now. As long as the parents don't act irresponsibly and avoid medical care.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ava Wilson on January 2, 2011 at 3:02am

Absolutely not. It should be considered a form of abuse.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jason D. Johnson on January 2, 2011 at 7:06am

For a person to deny proper medical care to a child is a crime.  There is no middle ground.  Prayer or no prayer.  The mother who denies her child good, proper medical care for ANY reason, is solely responsible for the death of her own child.  As far as I'm concerned it's the same as murder.  This is not an issue that should be graced with even the slightest room for exceptions.  There are none.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Malcolm on January 2, 2011 at 11:29am

The fact that they are using prayer should be irrelevant, since it is not a form of medical treatment. Basically, the question should be, did they seek appropriate medical care for their child? What they do outside of this (such as prayer) is not relevant.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dustin on January 3, 2011 at 12:56am

I like this comment - I never thought about it like this before!  

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jon Heim on January 2, 2011 at 3:09pm

if prayer is the only course of action you are taking, you are literally doing nothing and should be charged with medical neglect.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Shine on January 2, 2011 at 4:39pm

If prayer is to be a legally condoned method to treat illness, then it should also be a legally condoned method of paying the mortgage.  After all, if the premise is that wishful thinking and divine supplication will solve a problem, why limit the condoned methodology to medical problems?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Malcolm on January 3, 2011 at 12:10am

Th problem with this line of reasoning is that with a mortgage, all that matters is whether the payment was made, not whether it was attempted, whereas with medical treatment, since outcomes cannot be assured, one can only insist that it is tried.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Shine on January 3, 2011 at 11:53am

Ah, good point, Malcolm.  Maybe the parallel would work better if I were to suggest that prayers be used as an actual form of currency...still, it doesn't sound right.  I guess I was just trying to apply the concept of directed thoughts as effective actions to other areas.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Thomas on January 2, 2011 at 4:48pm

As long as it is used as well as conventional medicine I see no harm in it.

 

But if mumbojumbo (including silly remedies like homoeopathy, exorcism, sacrificing a pig etc) is used INSTEAD of conventional medicine then the person that caused this should be held responsible for the outcome based on the local legislation for child neglect / murder.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Shawna on January 2, 2011 at 6:53pm

No. No. No. NO. No. HELL NO!

 

If you want to pray, that's fine and dandy, but for the love of Basement Cat, get the kid proper medical attention!

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page