GameTavern - View Single Post

Xantar · 01-31-2002, 11:01 PM

I'm taking a bioethics course this semester, and I decided this would be another good topic to get some intelligent discussion. And yes, there are doubloons at stake, so if you don't want to discuss issues out of the goodness of your own heart, think about that custom rank you are working towards.

Anyway, you may be aware that there are segments of American society which practice faith-based healing. These include but are not limited to Christian Scientists. Faith based healing involves getting the community to gather round and pray for the patient's well-being.

That's all very well and nice, but a lot of these people also reject conventional medicine. There is one case of a boy who contracted a rare disease which is easily treatable with drugs. His parents refused to allow doctors to give him that medicine because it went against their beliefs (I don't remember exactly what religion they belonged to). They used faith based healing instead. The boy died.

A lot of these cases rise up every year, and it's perfectly understandable if you think the parents were being foolish. But consider the following:

1. The parents believed they were doing what was best for their son.

2. So did the boy. He had no regrets in his final hours, in fact.

Consider also that we as a society value autonomy. For example, we allow smokers to continue smoking even though the evidence is overwhelming that they are slowly killing themselves. They're allowed to destroy their own bodies, runs the belief. A similar standard applies to parents and their children. They can't make their children smoke since it's illegal below a certain age, but parents are allowed to feed their children whatever food they want. Even if their method of raising children is considered harmful to the children, the parents are allowed to raise their own children as they see fit.

I haven't even gotten into the religious aspect.

So here's the question: should the parents be punished? Can they be charged with criminal negligence or manslaughter for their religious beliefs?

What if the treatment only had a success rate of 20%? If the parents withhold treatment for religious reasons and the child dies, can blame be laid on them? What if the success rate of the treatment is 40%? 75%? 90%?

01-31-2002, 11:01 PM	#1
Xantar Retired ********* Xantar is offline Location: Swarthmore, PA Now Playing: Posts: 1,826	Bioethics issue I'm taking a bioethics course this semester, and I decided this would be another good topic to get some intelligent discussion. And yes, there are doubloons at stake, so if you don't want to discuss issues out of the goodness of your own heart, think about that custom rank you are working towards. Anyway, you may be aware that there are segments of American society which practice faith-based healing. These include but are not limited to Christian Scientists. Faith based healing involves getting the community to gather round and pray for the patient's well-being. That's all very well and nice, but a lot of these people also reject conventional medicine. There is one case of a boy who contracted a rare disease which is easily treatable with drugs. His parents refused to allow doctors to give him that medicine because it went against their beliefs (I don't remember exactly what religion they belonged to). They used faith based healing instead. The boy died. A lot of these cases rise up every year, and it's perfectly understandable if you think the parents were being foolish. But consider the following: 1. The parents believed they were doing what was best for their son. 2. So did the boy. He had no regrets in his final hours, in fact. Consider also that we as a society value autonomy. For example, we allow smokers to continue smoking even though the evidence is overwhelming that they are slowly killing themselves. They're allowed to destroy their own bodies, runs the belief. A similar standard applies to parents and their children. They can't make their children smoke since it's illegal below a certain age, but parents are allowed to feed their children whatever food they want. Even if their method of raising children is considered harmful to the children, the parents are allowed to raise their own children as they see fit. I haven't even gotten into the religious aspect. So here's the question: should the parents be punished? Can they be charged with criminal negligence or manslaughter for their religious beliefs? What if the treatment only had a success rate of 20%? If the parents withhold treatment for religious reasons and the child dies, can blame be laid on them? What if the success rate of the treatment is 40%? 75%? 90%? __________________ My blog - videogames, movies, TV shows and the law. Currently: Toy Story 3 reviewed