Today's Modern Medicine Vs. Ancient, Spiritual & Faith of God Practices?

Question

Should people be allowed to govern their own family health healing practices & implimentation over Modern medicine of today?

For children who are terminal or on artifical life support? who should make the desicion which way to go?

Should the parents/family have the final say?

Answer 1

Freedom of choice should mean that people of an adult age are able to follow whatever method of healing they wish.

I do not believe that this should be the same for their children, however, as those unable to make choices for themselves should be protected by society to have the best available and accepted treatment, until they are of an age to make their own minds up.

Although I do not deny the effectiveness of some faith healing and "ancient medicines", there can be no doubting that modern medicine general has the highest recovery rate of all treatments.

**EDIT** For children with a terminal illness or on life support the final decision to switch off should be the parents, but only with the best advice available to them from their doctors.

Answer 2

How old is the child?

I firmly believe part of human development is allowing yourself to make choices. At any age where a person can talk, I would think giving them the opportunity to mature, and savior life's quick movements ... well, they should be part of the decision making process. One of the most liberating moments I remember, is when I was able to make a well thought out argument with my Dad, and won him over.

Since this child's life is looking to be shorter than the rest ... If I were such child, I'd want every opportunity to mature, gain knowledge, and wisdom. Plus, there is a spiritual process in dying. This child has to handle the spiritual process on there own; same as they have to die alone ...

Parents also get the satisfaction of teaching their child to fly ... Isn't that a parents job once the child leaves the womb? Teach the child to be independent. This is very spiritually fulfilling to the parent. So the opportunity for the parent to give this child the number one life lesson ... "Life is short" ... well, it's priceless ... painful ... but priceless.

In most situation, yes, the parents will have to make the decision. However, if the child can talk and reason, the parents should listen to the childs wishes and learn to make a selfless decision together.

Answer 3

Under what conditions might the "state" intervene in the lives of individuals-- even to the extent of qualifying or negating a civil liberty? Are children merely extensions of their parent's will until they reach maturity-- and if so, what constitutes their maturity? Looking at your question this way clarifies the issues somewhat better, as the issue is not medical science versus religion-- it is really the relationship of the individual and the social construct of the family to the state. In this regard, law and custom are utilized to make prudential judgement based on particular cases. One of these judgements is usually that the state can, in limited instances, intervene in decisions made by parents in regards to their children, even contradicting the parent's religious and cultural standards. The reason given for this is not the primacy of the secular over the religious, or the state over the particular practices of the religion, but that the state has a vested interest in protecting the health and safety of those citizens who cannot, on their own, make decisions in regards to their own health and well-being.

Answer 4

People should have the ability to make their own medical decisions, unless a minor is involved. If a minor's parents are making decisions against the best health of the child, then officials should get involved.

Answer 5

Earlier people with spiritual faith used to face death with peace and harmony.

Now with Modern medicine & surgeries people die of their hospital bills.

Answer 6

If someone wants to pray to some invisible man in the sky while their body rots, that is their right. However, it is not their right to force that upon their children.