Little Girl not Christian Enough for Dr. Philistine
UPDATED: In light of the fact that there is a “disturbing number” of physicians out there “who are not, in fact, doing the right thing,” is there need of a national database of physicians who are committed to offering all treatment options and to making all the referrals necessary?
Would compling such a database be beneficial? Is it necessary?
Please feel free to comment on this, especially if you are part of the profession. This blog accepts anonymous comments.
Dr. Gary Merrill, do you have something to add?
SECOND UPDATE: Now a boy has died from an infected tooth because of lack of health care. This is yet another issue I have with American health care.
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This is beyond whack! A so-called “Christian” refuses treatment for a little girl with a sore ear because her mother has a tattoo.
The writing is on the wall—literally: “This is a private office. Appearance and behavior standards apply.”
For Dr. Gary Merrill of Christian Medical Services, that means no tattoos, body piercings, and a host of other requirements—all standards Merrill has set based upon his Christian faith.
“She had to go that entire night with her ear infection with no medicine because he has his policy,” Tasha Childress said.
Merrill won’t speak on camera, but said based on his values and beliefs, he has standards that he expects in his office.
He does that, he said, to ensure the patients he does accept have a more comfortable atmosphere.
According to the American Medical Association and other doctors, he reserves that right.
This is so wrong on so many levels. For shame. I've read the same book he did and I cannot imagine where he's getting this. (Does he think he's going to get a gold star in heaven for his "purity"?)
Hold it right there--before you tell me that he is a selfish ass who doesn't represent the majority of sensible believers, I know that. But that's the problem that I have with religious belief. It can be made to say anything. In and of itself, it's not a methodology. That's why I place my trust in the imperfect, but self-correcting, flawed and yes, human (unlike the inhuman rationalization of this twit) process of the scientific method and rational thinking. Whether we are religious believers or not, all ships need an anchor.
(And this doctor needs to walk the plank! I hope he slept well while that poor kid suffered.)
Shimmies to Pharyngula
Would compling such a database be beneficial? Is it necessary?
Please feel free to comment on this, especially if you are part of the profession. This blog accepts anonymous comments.
Dr. Gary Merrill, do you have something to add?
SECOND UPDATE: Now a boy has died from an infected tooth because of lack of health care. This is yet another issue I have with American health care.
---
This is beyond whack! A so-called “Christian” refuses treatment for a little girl with a sore ear because her mother has a tattoo.
The writing is on the wall—literally: “This is a private office. Appearance and behavior standards apply.”
For Dr. Gary Merrill of Christian Medical Services, that means no tattoos, body piercings, and a host of other requirements—all standards Merrill has set based upon his Christian faith.
“She had to go that entire night with her ear infection with no medicine because he has his policy,” Tasha Childress said.
Merrill won’t speak on camera, but said based on his values and beliefs, he has standards that he expects in his office.
He does that, he said, to ensure the patients he does accept have a more comfortable atmosphere.
According to the American Medical Association and other doctors, he reserves that right.
This is so wrong on so many levels. For shame. I've read the same book he did and I cannot imagine where he's getting this. (Does he think he's going to get a gold star in heaven for his "purity"?)
Hold it right there--before you tell me that he is a selfish ass who doesn't represent the majority of sensible believers, I know that. But that's the problem that I have with religious belief. It can be made to say anything. In and of itself, it's not a methodology. That's why I place my trust in the imperfect, but self-correcting, flawed and yes, human (unlike the inhuman rationalization of this twit) process of the scientific method and rational thinking. Whether we are religious believers or not, all ships need an anchor.
(And this doctor needs to walk the plank! I hope he slept well while that poor kid suffered.)
Shimmies to Pharyngula
Labels: injustice, pseuoscience, religion
posted by Kristine | Tuesday, February 27, 2007
17 Comments:
Total Tard. I don't even think DaveScot would be this much of an asshat. I do believe that someone needs to get some of them bushbaby huntin' chimps to pay him a little visit...
Well, I can't believe anybody at UD would condone this doctor's actions (I give them so much more credit than they'll give me!), but that's the point! When are they going to start speaking up about this shit? Or do they prize their big tent that much?
I couldn't nail Dembski down on how he feels about Wells' HIV-AIDS denial, as you'll recall. Denyse O'Leary complains that we never criticize Muslims (not true!) but has she said one thing about the Tripoli Six?
Why does the gang at UD hate nontheists? Why are the differences between old-earth theists and YECs "acceptable" to Dembski, but common ground that we possibly share here isn't okay by him? (The only reason I know about these people at all is that there on a mission to make the country turn to Christ by ruining science education. Why not go on a mission to have everyone look at life without preconceived ideas first, and then get into the religious arguments?)
I've spoken out against loonies on the left: 9/11 conspiracy theories, PETA, man-hating feminists, etc.
People know where I stand. Where do they draw at least one line?
I noticed that you said on Pharyngula that "... a doctor, instead of treating me for an injury when I was 14, ordered pregnancy test after pregnancy test in an effort to "prove" that I was pregnant (I guess he believed in virgin birth all right)."
I am so interested in this story. Could you please tell the rest of it with detail? Please? I love stories about people behaving like jerks and this seems like a prime example. Maybe you could point me to a previous post in your blog where you tell the story in it's entirety.
Thanks
Helen
I'm sorry, but that is all I'm going to say about that episode. Let me just add that the "injury" for which I should have been treated immediately was the result of my being severely bullied in middle school.*
It really happened, be assured of that. This doctor really did that.
The doctor in question was not my regular doctor, but he was among the regulars at the medical clinic in my home town.
He was a total jerk--likely to everyone--and now he's probably dead. So I guess I should forgive him, but he was an asshole and I hope you understand that that's all I'm going to share about this.
*Yes, I did survive my 20-year high school reunion. The bullies didn't show. Too bad, because I e-mailed one of them to taunt him. (He's a cop now, fer chrissakes.)
That's OK, you of course don't have to say anything you don't feel comfortable saying. I'm sorry that this horrible thing happened to you. My worst doctor experience was nowhere near as bad this one sounds like, but being betrayed by a Doctor is somehow worst than being betrayed by a Normal person.
Thanks for understanding. Yeah, it’s pretty bad, but that was nearly 30 years (gasp!) ago.
My regular doctor was a real sweet guy and it’s too bad he was out of town or something then. I never went to see Dr. Ass again, and if confronted he’d probably only find some excuse, anyway.
I think Dr. Ass was trying to solve what he thought was the world’s problems on my time. And that’s so ironic, because I was such a goody two-shoes then—can you believe it? Not really—but I was very focused then on what I had to do to get outta dodge, and getting preggers with pimply hooligan dropouts wasn’t on the agenda.
And I was too busy sighing over Carl Sagan—and my 7th grade English teacher! ;-) (And when I read Lolita, hoo boy! I wanted Humbert Humbert to kidnap me and carry me off, and make me discuss French poetry while dragging me around the West looking for comfy cabins to hole up in.)
As for my classmates—once I learned not to care what they thought, ironically I got more respect. I didn’t have the greatest social skills so I’m pretty forgiving of dorks.
But not dorks who run ID blogs and want to convert every single person to Christianity but cannot articulate why, or why they have to destroy science in the process.
This dingbat "doctor" was violating the Hippocratic Oath, the gist of which is "Do no harm." By not treating her in a timely fashion, he harmed the little girl. By this infraction, he committed sin by the only criterion Lazarus Long figured constituted sin- "Sin lies only in hurting other people unnecessarily. All other 'sins' are invented nonsense. (Hurting yourself is not sinful-just stupid.)
LL (Robert A. Heinlein)
If there is divine justice in this Universe, there is an unpleasant, uncomfortable corner of purgatory reserved for this "doctor" to teach him the error of his ways. There is no guarantee of that, but a fellow can hope.
Scotius
This dingbat "doctor" was violating the Hippocratic Oath, the gist of which is "Do no harm."
I thought of that immediately.
Unfortunately I don't think there is divine justice in this universe. If there was, nothing bad would happen to children. But it does--all the time.
This just illustrates the fact that when you are sick, don't go to a witch doctor.
There is nothing worse than an arrogant physician - all docs make mistakes and/or fail to come up with answers, but the good ones are not afraid to own up to it. There is no room for arrogance OR superstition in the medical field.
Here is the orginal oath - see if you can find any parallels:
"I SWEAR by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!"
This just illustrates the fact that when you are sick, don't go to a witch doctor.
Well, good luck in America then.
There is no room for arrogance OR superstition in the medical field.
I agree. And I don't care for the original oath if it includes a pledge against abortion.
I wonder if MN Atheists could partner with other organizations to build a database of atheist/humanist/sane religious doctors?
pes·sa·ry
1. a device worn in the vagina to support a displaced uterus.
2. a vaginal suppository.
3. diaphragm (def. 4).
Hmm - I wonder what we are talking abou there?
Does this rule out conventional forms of abortion?
I can imagine that the ancient form of a pessary would include some kind of animal dung. Seems they used to use excrement and urine for everything.
Clearly the oath is archaic and obsolete. I understand the AMA does not endorse any oath as such.
"I wonder if MN Atheists could partner with other organizations to build a database of atheist/humanist/sane religious doctors? "
Certainly if thou seeth the mark of the fish, do not go within.
So who's your doctor, Bark?
I need to find one. I'd like to find one who won't withhold info or treatment. They don't have to be atheists/agnostics.
I had a Hindu doc once who was a total riot.
I really do think that compliling a database would 1) make doctors who will treat anyone for anything available to the public, and 2) be a public service that would send a positive message about us (beyond blood drives, etc.).
Well, this is wierd - but my doc is a rather attractive woman that I swear treated me in a rather provocative fashion - let's just say I am mildy familiar with 2 of her primary sexual charachteristics and I do not think that was unintentional.
I only had a physical exam with her (ha!) but HELL I"M GOING BACK TO HER NEXT TIME!
I can give your her name privately if you like.
You crack me up. Sure, if she’s someone I could get to conveniently, give me her name.
It’s about time I found a primary care physician.
I am serious about the database, though. It would be a really good project in and of itself, and also to highlight the issue. I mean, geez, I can’t believe people have to ask a doctor if his/her religious beliefs would prevent him/her from dispensing proper care.
i am aware that syncophant
and necromant come to similar ends
however,
you are singular & spectacular
it shows through in your writing
(i hesitate to speculate about
A 'PLURAL KRISTINE')
all i can say is that
i know you won't be offended
that i pray for you . . .
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