Religiously motivated medical neglect

{{religion}}
A minority of [[Christian]] denominations teach that [[prayer]] is not only helpful for those with illness but that it should be used instead of conventional medical care. Of course, this leads to many deaths from common but preventable illnesses and conditions. Of particular concern are children of religious parents that do not seek medical support and are often not publicly reported. A study in 1998 looked into religiously motivated medical neglect deaths of 172 children and concluded that most deaths were probably preventable.<ref>http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/101/4/625</ref> However, the scale of the problem is difficult to estimate because of the secrecy surrounding these fatalities.

Most Christian denominations do not oppose medical care or do so only for specific treatments.

In many areas of the [[United States]], there are laws that protect parents who rely on prayer or [[faith healing]] alone from prosecution.<ref name="young"/><ref name="followers"/> If the same actions were motivated by other reasons, they would be considered [[child abuse]]. This is another harm caused by the so-called freedom of conscience.

==Examples in Christianity==
* [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] refuse blood transfusions.<ref>http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/jehovahs-witnesses-why-no-blood-transfusions/</ref>
* [[Christian Science]] adherents often rely on [[prayer]] rather than medical assistance, even for serious illness.
* Some Christians [[Anti-vaccination movement|oppose vaccines]] from [[STD]]s, such as [[HPV vaccine|HPV]].<ref>http://www.salon.com/2007/03/02/hpv_7/</ref>
* In the United States, [[Christian nationalism]] has been linked as one of the strongest predictors of [[COVID-19 vaccine]] hesitancy.<ref>Corcoran KE, Scheitle CP, DiGregorio BD. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8489517/ Christian nationalism and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and uptake.] Vaccine. 2021 Oct 29;39(45):6614-6621. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.09.074. Epub 2021 Oct 2. PMID: 34629205; PMCID: PMC8489517.</ref>
* In 2008, Kara Neumann died of treatable diabetes after her parents, who were followers of the Unleavened Bread Ministries, did not get medical help.<ref>http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1877352,00.html</ref>
* Followers of Christ Church often use prayer rather than medicine, such as in the case of Alex Morris in 1989.<ref name="young">http://www.jstor.org/stable/466070</ref> The sect has a high child mortality rate because they do not seek appropriate care. <ref name="followers"/>
* Some [[Fundamentalist Mormonism|fundamentalist Mormons]] refuse conventional medical care. <ref name="followers">http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/13/followers-of-christ-idaho-religious-sect-child-mortality-refusing-medical-help</ref>
* [[Prosperity gospel]] preachers claiming "[[Jesus]] is my flu vaccination".<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/feb/07/evangelical-flu-shot-pray-donald-trump-gloria-copeland</ref>

===Catholicism===
* Many [[Christian]] denominations, notably the [[Catholic Church]], oppose [[contraception]] even though it helps prevents the spread of STDs such as [[HIV]].
* Doctors in [[Ireland]] performed highly risky [[symphysiotomy]] births for decades. Repeated Caesarean section births (at the time) had progressively greater risk, requiring eventual sterilization and this was considered a form of indirect [[contraception]].
* In 2012, Savita Halappanavar died of a miscarriage because she was refused an [[abortion]] to save her life, due to [[Catholic]] policies in [[Ireland]].<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/11/savita-halappavanar-abortion-ireland-medical-team-disciplined</ref>
* A [[German]] woman seeking a medical examination after being [[rape]]d was turned away from two Catholic affiliated hospitals, so they could avoid the possibility they would need to provide advice about abortion, 2013.<ref>http://www.thelocal.de/20130118/47417</ref>
* Catholic hospital denies [[Michigan]] woman a tubal ligation on religious grounds, 2015.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/15/catholic-hospital-denies-michigan-woman-treatment-on-religious-grounds Catholic hospital denies Michigan woman treatment on religious grounds]</ref>
* US woman turned away by Catholic administered hospital after her [[contraception|IUD]] became dislodged, causing bleeding, 2016.<ref>http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/catholic-hospital-turns-away-woman-bleeding-dislodged-iud-because-church-opposes</ref>

==Scientology==

[[Scientology]] opposes conventional mental health care.<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/14/louis-theroux-my-scientology-movie-i-felt-like-id-been-blooded</ref>

==See also==
* [[Abortion]]
* [[Exorcism]]
* [[Stem cell research]]
* [[Alternative medicine]]

==External links==
* [http://childrenshealthcare.org Children's Healthcare is a Legal Duty], charity campaigning against religious and cult medical neglect.
* [http://www.protectidahokids.com/ Protect Idaho Kids]

==References==
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{{En-IC attribution notice}}
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Medicine]]

Categories: Religion, Medicine