Michael Colognori

Science vs Religion

I was reading today a news report from Oregon about a 15-month-old girl who died after her parents chose not to allow her medical treatment but instead only prayed for her. Apparently, the girl’s life could have been easily saved through the use of antibiotics. The parents have been charged with manslaughter.

I have no doubt that the parents of the girl who died did not want their daughter to die. I believe that they think that they did the right thing and according to their beliefs, they did. I think they were wrong. But who am I to say that they are wrong? Do I have that right?

I’m not a religious person but I respect those who are and I am of the belief, along with many other people, that religious faith and science are not mutually exclusive and that prayer should be used alongside modern medicine. This idea reminded me of the story of the flood; you’ll probably know this one…

A flood threatens a town, forcing everyone to evacuate.
But Joe thinks, “I’m a devout man, God will save me,” and stays put.
As the waters rise, Joe’s neighbour comes by and says, “Joe come with me, we’ve got to go.”
Joe declines, “I’m a devout man, God will save me.”
The waters keep rising. Joe scrambles to his second floor. A fire-fighter in a rowboat comes by. “Get in the boat or you’ll drown,” he says.
Joe again declines, saying, “I’m a devout man, God will save me.”
Finally, the flood waters force Joe to his roof. A police helicopter comes by and throws down a rope. “Climb up or you’ll drown,” the policeman yells.
“No, I’m a devout man, God will save me,” Joe replies.
Soon, Joe drowns. He arrives in heaven and challenges God. “Why didn’t you help me?”
“What do you mean?” God says. “I did help. I sent your neighbour, a fire-fighter and a helicopter.”

People have the right to refuse medical treatment and if people have a belief system that doesn’t allow medical treatment then that is fair enough. However, when it comes to their children, I don’t know if parents should have the right to withhold medical treatment. I understand a parent’s right to raise their child in their faith? Who has the right to tell someone else how to raise their child?

It’s fair enough saying that this case proves that parent’s who refuse treatment for their children should be overruled. But where do you draw the line?  Should doctors or the government be able to overrule parents when it comes to the well being of their children? What if someone else was trying to impose their beliefs on your child? Is it ok to say that certain people’s beliefs are just wrong? Are we heading for a religious fascism where only the beliefs of those in power are right?

Today, MPs have voted to allow the creation of hybrid human animal embryos for medical research. The research has the potential to develop cures for serious illnesses that affect many people today. Despite the good that could come from this, the research is controversial and I would bet that many of those who disapproved of the parents’ actions will also oppose this research.

So just as some believe that any medical treatment is wrong, some believe that only some degrees of medicine is acceptable. Where do you draw the line? Who is right and who is wrong? I would say those who oppose advancing scientific research are just as guilty as the parents who refused treatment for their children.