A bill introduced today in the state legislature addresses the gulf of injustice that families currently face when caring for their ailing adult using the fool-proof healing of Christian Science.
According to the religion, many non-traumatic ailments—cancer, arthritis, and other old-people diseases—are best treated, not through heretical medicine, but through prayer. However, leaving granny to moan in pain while Jesus works his juju could summon the fuzz. To address the problem, House Bill 1925 would amend the vulnerable-adult chapter of the Revised Code of Washington to read: “A vulnerable adult who is being furnished Christian Science treatment by a duly accredited Christian Science practitioner shall not be considered, for that reason alone, a neglected or abused vulnerable adult…” (This leaves the door open for other abuse charges.)
And what sort of training does an “accredited Christian Science practitioner” have? Christianscience.org is at your service: “Training for the public practice of Christian Science involves deep, private study of the Bible and of the textbook of Christian Science.” Well, that’s a comfort, I’m sure.
Calls to the bill’s prime and co-sponsors—Cody, Ericksen, and Conway, respectively—have not been returned. I think it’s safe to guess this bill’s chances cannot be speculated by Satanical whip and tally; it’s in His hands now.
If the vulnerable adult is a Christian Scientist, believes that Christian Science treatment works and wants to receive only that treatment for their illness…well, they’re obviously stupid but it should still be their choice. My fiance had a great-grandparent that believed in Christian Science and died of a goiter. Was that person stupid to deny themselves REAL medical care? Yes, but adults should be able to make their own decisions.
If it’s a kid, that’s a different story.
#1, that’s why the word “vulnerable” is in there — it has to do with kids, some elderly, mentally handicapped, and other people who can’t make their own decisions.
Why do I feel like its OK to make fun of Mars Hill freaks as much as you want but this is kind of mean-spirited? Dunno but I do. And #1, people die after getting “real” medical care too. Its their choice to make just like it was your gran-gramp’s. Hell, my grandpappy had amazing ‘modern’ healthcare and still died, at 80-something after a life of meat, potatoes and many, many other non-vegan choices. Shit, the bill was like $120K but I digress…
Well, it does provide an easy out for those who want to be done with pops. Simply find a Christian Science practitioner to *treat* them. It’s even and allowable expenditure for a flexible medical spending account, so you can be done with the old man quickly and for a modest tax-deductible fee, you’d have an iron-clad legal justification for your negligence.
Technically, I think that a “vulnerable adult” is an older adult that is incapacitated and unable to make decisions for themselves. Thus, they CAN’T chose healing via the Christian Science method (or any other method). Someone else is making that choice for them.
The current law is designed to protect these incapacitated “vulnerable adults” from criminally stupid choices by others. Even under current law, I would guess it would be legal if they chose Christian Science treatment before they became incapacitated.
You can’t and should not be able to keep a child or adult from medical care. If you want to be stupid and do it to yourself, fine.
I agree with #1.
@ 5 – I think there are a lot of people who fall under the category of “vulnerable adults” that are quite capable of making an informed choice. Would you consider Stephen Hawking, the physicist, to be a “vulnerable adult” because of his physical disability? I would.
The Christians have, of late, been accusing us non-Christians of “intolerance.” To be aghast at legislation like this only serves to give credence to this ridiculous assertion.
My family practices Christian Science (I decided it wasn’t for me when I was about 17) and this post felt really.. well. Pretty insensitive.
This is a really complicated issue, but the bottom line is that regardless of how “stupid” you think Christian Scientists are, you have to allow for their religious beliefs.
@7, I totally agree that responding with such huge eye-rolling and judgement only gives Christians more reason to accuse us non-Christian/less religious people of being intolerant.
My hard-core Christian Science grandmother died last year after a long downward spiral. At the end, sure, she thought I was one of her college roommates and that my aunt was trying to poison her, but she would NOT let anyone give her any medical attention. She even bit a nurse.
@1, I definitely agree that there should be an exception for children.