Medicine and healthcare are based on the established observations and continuous innovations in science and technology. Many people have benefited from the major progress and development in the sphere of pharmacology, chemistry, and other scientific disciplines contributing to the patients’ treatment. These explorations have infuse physicians and healthcare professionals to apply the most appropriate medication in terms of cost and efficiency and less pain experience for the patient. However, there exist several repercussions on patients where traditions, beliefs, and religion really matter. Healthcare professionals have promoted the use of alternative methods of treatment and medication that would satisfy the patients’ needs without infringing the religious doctrines that they uphold. In these considerations, a new term and field of study has appeared which is commonly known as Christian Science.
Christian scientists, particularly researchers, physicians and healthcare professionals regard several teachings from the Bible as sacred so that they cannot override them in their medical practice. Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866, Christian Science established itself later as the Christian Science Church (CCS) (Powel, 1909). This science has influenced many people affiliated to different religious orientations. In particular, the members of a religious organization known as the Jehovah Witnesses have stronger teachings on medical treatment that will not compromise several biblical teachings. In the interview with Gerald Charier, the representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses expressed the common opinion of his religion explaining his rejection. Here is the part from our interview:
“What are the preconditions of rejecting blood transfusions?”
Charier: “God promises forgiveness and resurrection even if a person dies because of the blood exhauster. Certainly, there is always a temptation between choosing religion or life, especially if you are on the edge of death”.
“Are there any other prohibitions of medical procedures, which are based on biblical teachings? What about blood ingestions?”
Charier: “Well, blood ingestions is a very complicated matter, as it still closely related to blood transfusions. This, therefore, greatly contradicts our religious concepts and ways of life, as if a sickness or disease results in the emergence of negative emotions, such as fear or ignorance, it can be suppressed by the same means but not with the help of surgical knife”
Charier strongly believes that healing is possible with the help of bloodless surgery so that they think that the healthcare professionals should take this matter in closer consideration (Watchtower, 2004).
In response to Gerald’s answer, I also decided to interview a physician who experienced treating the Jehovah’s Witnesses many times. Dr. Richard Postings narrates his own biases occurring in treating religious people:
What measures did you take if you saw a patient rejecting to conduct the operation and who can die because of his/her prejudiced views?
Dr. Postings: I’ve seen many cases when I had to face directly the God. Perhaps, my profession also includes these eternal fights between divine and scientific sides. I also saw how many children died because of blood transfusion denial and blinded and heartless fidelity to chastised Jesus”. And I am still unable to witness these overt killings”.
Lately the United States has witnessed the recovery of interest in health and spirituality, including religious healing and a serious medical treatment. In this regard, CCS members prefer to indulge in this healing ability before diverting themselves to drugs, surgery and other medical treatment on procedures (Schoepflin 2003). They greatly adhere to the examples of Jesus Christ on how biblical diseases have been treated. The interview with Merry Coingate opens the basic reasons why Christian Science rejects surgical treatment:
Are there any scientific explanation for a religious healing if consider the field of Christian Science in direct sense?
Coingate: “It is known and scientifically acknowledged that a human illness is caused by a moral and physical misbalance within the organism. It is the result of our fear, anger, and negative perception of the world created by God. Therefore, the only treatment allowed here is healing of human consciousness, which is has a non-physical nature”.
What about the cases, which are not connected with inner moral illnesses, like car accident, or infection?
Coingate: I believe that health care can handle serious cases without imposing injections and surgical operation. Besides, with the advent of new methods of bloodless surgery techniques encouraged many doctors, this treatment does not contradicts moral and religious beliefs of a person.
The bloodless surgery is unevenly perceived by the doctors and members of healthcare organizations. In particular, Dr. Harry Backward showed his alternative view on this sophisticated issues:
Do you see any advantages of bloodless surgery?
Backward: “Of course. Apart from Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Scientists who reject blood transfusions on a religious basis, many religiously bind patients withdraw these procedure for other persuasive reasons, such fears about AIDS, hepatitis, or other dangerous blood infections”
So, you believe that bloodless surgery is an honorable substitution for a traditional surgery?
Backward: “By no means. These two kinds of treatment should exist separately, as their functions and methods greatly differ. I experienced the difficult situation with because of religious prejudices when it was necessary to search for some alternative methods”.
As it can be seen from the above interviews, the idea of having and encouraging bloodless surgery has been opened and respected by healthcare practitioners. However, problems remain as the organizations have led numerous cases of medical emergencies to death by not allowing medical blood transition to be conducted. This has been an ongoing issue for human survival such that the religious organization has been keen on adhering to God’s teachings even if it cost the physical survival of its members.
Reference
Powell, L. P. (1909). Christian science, the faith and its founder. New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s sons.
Schoepflin, R. B. (2003). Christian Science on trial: religious healing in America. US: JHU Press.
The Watchtower. (2004). The jehovah’s witnesses’ belief on blood. The Watchtower Tract and Bible Society.