Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

When faith and medicine collide
Reuters-(yahoo) ^ | 24 Dec 06 | Micheal Conlon

Posted on 12/25/2006 10:18:38 AM PST by rellimpank

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Any nurse can walk into a bad situation. The one Luanne Linnard-Palmer can't forget came as she readied a little boy for a blood transfusion only to be told by his mother "You know you're damning his soul to hell!"

The child's mother was a Jehovah's Witness, a faith that rejects blood transfusions. Her son had sickle cell anemia and had become extremely weak.

"It blew me away," Linnard-Palmer recalls years later. "I worried not only about my own reaction but what was going to happen to this child with a lifelong disease."

The incident planted the seeds for a newly published book by the California nurse, "When Parents Say No: Religious and Cultural Influences on Pediatric Healthcare Treatment," published by Sigma Theta Tau

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-77 next last

1 posted on 12/25/2006 10:18:39 AM PST by rellimpank
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rellimpank

I recall having a female patient who had suffered massive blood loss and was unconscious. Her husband was asked to give permission for a transfusion. He, being a Jehovah's Witness, refused. I argued with him until I felt my anger surge and then I stopped. She died two days' later.


2 posted on 12/25/2006 10:39:22 AM PST by Rudder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rudder
Then there's the other side of the story...

My wide and I were told by several very good doctors that she had miscarried - that there was "no chance" that our baby was alive. They insisted, and put some pressure on us to have a D&C. They told her she was at risk of a hemorrhage because they thought she had a huge blood clot. We resisted because we didn't feel right about the procedure - we felt they were pushing for the D&C too quick.

One weeks later they found the baby's heartbeat in the ultrasound.

We have a beautiful, happy baby now.
3 posted on 12/25/2006 10:55:08 AM PST by PetroniusMaximus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank
When I was about six months pregnant with my twins, my husband turned to me and said, "I just want you to know that if you die during childbirth, I'm giving the babies up for adoption." When, after giving birth, I lost too much blood and required a blood transfusion, I took the transfusion. If God wants to send me to hell for that, fine. My babies were not going up for adoption like some unwanted puppies.

Oh, btw, we're divorced now.

4 posted on 12/25/2006 11:00:43 AM PST by Excellence (Vote Dhimmocrat; Submit for Peace! (Bacon bits make great confetti.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank

bump


5 posted on 12/25/2006 11:01:05 AM PST by VOA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank

It can be a tough business with people like Jehovah's Witnesses. But what's the alternative? Force everyone to have medical procedures whether they like it or not? Then, instead of having a few tough situations, you'd have a multitude of tough situations.

It seems to me that all a doctor or nurse can do in such cases is to explain very clearly what the alternatives are. But it would lead to far worse trouble if they could override the wishes of patients, spouses, or parents.


6 posted on 12/25/2006 11:01:24 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PetroniusMaximus

Thank God, what a wonderful story. Never stop telling it.


7 posted on 12/25/2006 11:06:05 AM PST by thiscouldbemoreconfusing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank

Yeah. Use the rare case to justify ever more medical imperialism.

I've got news. My family has never been healthier since we started seeing a Chinese herbalist. My wife's stomach aches that for years the pillpuhers were prescribing ever heavier antacids for went away after 30 days of herbal treatment. My gallbladder was acting up and the doctors wanted to take it out.. .without even sugggesting any other treatment. I went to the herbalist and the probelm was solved in about 90 days and has been gone for years. My daughter got a remedy that all but eliminates her pms problems... this after the regular butchers wanted to diagnose her with that phony psychiatric PMS disorder.

Medical doctors are great for many types of problems. But for many others they are worse than nothing. Their claims that everyone but medical doctors are quacks is quackery itself. I've learned. I go to the allopaths last.


8 posted on 12/25/2006 11:19:09 AM PST by Seruzawa (Marx's Das Kapital never could compete with the Sears catalog.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank
"You know you're damning his soul to hell!"

The actions of one can not condemn another to Hell, any more than actions of another can give one salvation.

This also makes void the Word of God a second way, in that it denies repentance, mercy, Grace, and forgiveness.

This is the error of legalism.

9 posted on 12/25/2006 11:21:11 AM PST by ApplegateRanch (Islam: a Satanically Transmitted Disease, spread by unprotected intimate contact with the Koranus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank

If they refuse treatment, don't treat them. If they die, so be it. If their children die, charge them with manslaughter.

Religion, the gift that just keeps on giving.


10 posted on 12/25/2006 11:29:37 AM PST by tickmeister (tickmeister)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rudder

You can't do anything about people who misinterpret God's word and endanger their own lives and families lives- Yuo did everything you could and that's all you could do. God will judge them for their error. http://sacredscoop.com


11 posted on 12/25/2006 11:33:27 AM PST by CottShop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tickmeister
Religion, the gift that just keeps on giving.

Surely you're not ridiculing all "religion"?

12 posted on 12/25/2006 11:33:44 AM PST by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ApplegateRanch
This is the error of legalism.

Well, that and the fact that JWs do not share traditional Christian beliefs and scriptures.

13 posted on 12/25/2006 11:40:59 AM PST by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank; theothercheek; kiriath_jearim; Gadfly-At-Large; pryncessraych; aroostook war; ...

+

If you want on (or off) this Catholic and Pro-Life ping list, let me know!



14 posted on 12/25/2006 11:44:31 AM PST by narses (St Thomas says "lex injusta non obligat.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ApplegateRanch
The said "legalism" is from Acts that says we shouldn't partake of animal blood. The practice was forbidden because pagans drank blood in some ceremonies. It has nothing to do with taking a transfusion, but has been passed down through ignorance of the true meaning in the Bible. Just like their mis reading of the 144,000 and they won't vote, and they won't celebrate Christmas( yes, I know Jesus wasn't born on 12/25 and a tree is pagan)

The biggest error, however, is their interpretation of the Trinity. They don't believe God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one God. Jesus Himself said "I and the Father are One." and "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father." They believe worshiping the Father, they are pleasing God. All power and GLORY has been given to Jesus. The Holy Spirit wants no recognition other than to point to Jesus. The whole Bible is about Jesus, for Jesus, and the Revelation of Jesus. Our Faith comes from The Holy Spirit sent by the Father, but it must be in Jesus for Salvation. Jesus owns the keys to Heaven and Hell and is our only chance for salvation. The Father DEMANDS that we worship His Son.(BTW, that excludes Mary and other dead people) The Son has earned His position and the Father places the importance of Jesus above all else.

Everything form Genesis to Revelation was the idea of Jesus. If Jesus was the Word, and the Word was with us from the beginning, and the Word was made Flesh, Jesus IS GOD!

Taking a transfusion may get you HIV, but it isn't forbidden by the Scriptures.

15 posted on 12/25/2006 11:48:10 AM PST by chuckles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Cicero

Doctors are prone to expedients. Like most professionals they like to do the "usual" thing.


16 posted on 12/25/2006 11:49:47 AM PST by RobbyS ( CHI)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: chuckles

Mary and the saints are not dead. That's the prime meaning of Christian. But if you are going to defend the Trinity remember that you are simply repeating the teaching of the Catholic Church about the Scriptures you quote.


17 posted on 12/25/2006 11:53:18 AM PST by RobbyS ( CHI)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank

No one can be damned, nor saved, by the actions of another.

Neither is healing often the product of medical intervention.

James,
5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

.


18 posted on 12/25/2006 11:54:45 AM PST by editor-surveyor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

Your experience is typical of those that turn to proper food, rather than deadly prescriptions and over the counter gambles.


19 posted on 12/25/2006 11:57:04 AM PST by editor-surveyor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: CottShop
"You can't do anything about people who misinterpret God's word and endanger their own lives and families lives"

Not to be endorsing the Jehova's witnesses, but can you give us a specific scripture that would in any way counter their aversion to humanist intervention?

20 posted on 12/25/2006 12:03:33 PM PST by editor-surveyor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-77 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson