What are your views on refusing health treatment?

[Nienna_Lady_of_Tears]

Do you think a Christian has any business refusing health treatment for a condition that could kill them? Or would that be considered suicide, no matter the severity of the disease? Would your answers change if the patient was uninsured and having treatment would mean going into thousands of dollars in debt (or putting their family in debt if treatment is unsuccessful?)

State your case for the following scenario and levels of health: The patient has cancer.

First case: Patient has cancer and a good chance of recovery if they pursue treatment.

Second case: Patient has cancer, and a moderate chance of recovery if treatment is pursued.

Third case: Patient has cancer, has a slight chance of recovery with treatment:

Fourth case: Patient has cancer, has little to no chance of recovery; treatment would just ease the inevitable.



PS: Just in case you are wondering, this is purely hypothetical.

 

[Blooper]

I guess it depends on if anyone is dependent on them or not.

 

[LemonAidStand]

I guess it depends on if anyone is dependent on them or not.

Great answer "blooper"... And i concur... Blessings

 

[seeingeyes]

I don't think that anyone has any obligation to receive treatment for anything.

At no point does God tell us to hold onto our own lives as long as possible. Quite the contrary. Our lives are a gift and a sacrifice.

To equate refusing treatment for cancer at any stage with suicide is a doctrine of the Religion of Health, and nothing more.

Is it 'suicide' to not eat 7 servings of veggies a day? Is it 'suicide' if I refuse to go jogging? Is it 'suicide' if I choose to live near a highway with exhaust fumes pouring out all day?

God has not called us to avoid death. He has called us to live.

 

[BFine]

A former client of mine refused chemo for her cancer and she lived
to be 99 yrs. and six months... she stayed
active up until the last 3-4 months of her life.

She'd had cancer a long time before I had been employed by the family.

I believe a person has the right to decide if they want treatment for cancer or not.

 

[sculleywr]

Do you think a Christian has any business refusing health treatment for a condition that could kill them? Or would that be considered suicide, no matter the severity of the disease? Would your answers change if the patient was uninsured and having treatment would mean going into thousands of dollars in debt (or putting their family in debt if treatment is unsuccessful?)

State your case for the following scenario and levels of health: The patient has cancer.

First case: Patient has cancer and a good chance of recovery if they pursue treatment.

Second case: Patient has cancer, and a moderate chance of recovery if treatment is pursued.

Third case: Patient has cancer, has a slight chance of recovery with treatment:

Fourth case: Patient has cancer, has little to no chance of recovery; treatment would just ease the inevitable.

PS: Just in case you are wondering, this is purely hypothetical.

To all of the scenarios, do what your faith in God allows you to do. Do not condemn one who goes to the doctor, for God gave them those skills to heal.

 

[KimberlyAA]

1st Case : They should pursue treatment
2nd Case : They should pursue treatment
3rd Case : They should pursue treatment
4th Case : They should pray A LOT

 

[Girder of Loins]

We are to be stewards with what is given to us. If, in the end, it is better to use that money on other things, do that.

 

[Aijalon]

Do you think a Christian has any business refusing health treatment for a condition that could kill them? Or would that be considered suicide, no matter the severity of the disease? Would your answers change if the patient was uninsured and having treatment would mean going into thousands of dollars in debt (or putting their family in debt if treatment is unsuccessful?)

State your case for the following scenario and levels of health: The patient has cancer.

First case: Patient has cancer and a good chance of recovery if they pursue treatment.

Second case: Patient has cancer, and a moderate chance of recovery if treatment is pursued.

Third case: Patient has cancer, has a slight chance of recovery with treatment:

Fourth case: Patient has cancer, has little to no chance of recovery; treatment would just ease the inevitable.

It is perfectly acceptable for a christian to avoid medical treatment for cancer on any financial grounds they wish.

In all cases, a death by cancer is by natural causes. To suggest that skipping treatment is suicide is really sort of crazy.

To skip treatment based on some sort of personal analysis of risk versus financial harm to loved ones, is a personal decision that should not be judged by others. Again, the death is by natural causes. I object to the "suicide" context.

There might also be a number of other ethical reasons to avoid treatment.

#1 -- The treatment requires the use of stem cells
#2 -- The treatment requires the transplant of organs, tissue, or other material from a donor, against the personal beliefs of the patient.
#3 -- The treatment may prolong the pain and suffering of the patient and the family, and only extend the life expectency minimally - regardless of the financial cost (a few years cancer free before regression is considered successful).
#4 -- The company or hospital where treatment is offered may be involved in or support unethical and or immoral activity that violates the patients beliefs such as abortion.

 

[parsley]

I knew people who chose to decline treatment back when it had worse side effects and potential for remission. They wanted quality of life while they were still alive, and did not want to be sick from the chemo. They were very stoic, pursued natural remedies, stayed active, and died happy with their choices. They probably went through more pain than necessary, but never talked about it.

If you look at life expectancies in other countries, there are some that will seem appalling -- imagining this is still true after all these medical advances. But people die every day earlier than they need to.

People under duress sometimes have shifts in thinking processes, and I'll bet the brain adjusts to the inevitable in ways that make people more emotionally ready to go.

Look at Lamentations 3, Ecclesiastes, and the stories in scriptures of King Saul asking his sword-bearer to kill him, Jonah wanting to die, Samson being stoic and knocking down the building ... there are many biblical accounts of severe depression and willingness to die early. We end up in different mental states through the course of our lives.

It is very different, however, if a person makes that decision for another person. Or if a parent of young children decides to give up -- they probably need treatment for depression to give them the will to live. I wouldn't want someone prolonging my life if I made the choice not to.

 

[TAMUmpower]

It's probably for the best. Modern medicine is usually pretty pathetic when it comes to how they want to throw pills down ur throat rather than actually tell you ur diet is terrible and you dont drink any water.

People just want to turn off the annoying fire alarm instead of putting out the fire. I'd stay away from pills at all costs.

 

[znr]

I don't think that anyone has any obligation to receive treatment for anything.

At no point does God tell us to hold onto our own lives as long as possible. Quite the contrary. Our lives are a gift and a sacrifice.

To equate refusing treatment for cancer at any stage with suicide is a doctrine of the Religion of Health, and nothing more.

Is it 'suicide' to not eat 7 servings of veggies a day? Is it 'suicide' if I refuse to go jogging? Is it 'suicide' if I choose to live near a highway with exhaust fumes pouring out all day?

God has not called us to avoid death. He has called us to live.

This is true!

 

[Ariadne_GR]

Good to see a rabid prolifer hasn't shown up yet to argue about this.

In the first 3 scenarios, I'd say seek treatment, on the 4th, I'd say that was the person's decision. If it's only going to elongate the suffering, no reason to delay the inevitable.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Well I think it depends on why you are refusing treatment/help. I've met a few people who refuse to get help because they would rather pray for a miracle. Which is fine and great to do. But it doesn't mean the person you are praying for will be healed. Doctors exist for a reason. God is not a genie, we have the ability to help ourselves.

Example that I brought up a few weeks back was of a local couple whos child was very ill and dying. I forgot what she had, a tumor I think? ANyways after being told they could easily remove the tumor from the child (it was in the chest I think) they refused and said they would pray for it to be removed.

As a few days went by the doctors said they still would like to operate since the child would be fine after. It was a relatively easy procedure. Again the parents refused and said they would pray. TO make a long story short, eventually the doctor had the government get involved since they believed the parents were letting their child suffer (abuse). Before the courts made a decision the child died. When the parents were asked about it they said "I guess God wanted to take her home, that was his plan!". >.<

Sometimes God sends us help in ways of a doctor saying "Hey we can treat you for this!". Now if was something that is treatable but probably wouldn't work. Then its more of a personal choice. Our friend who is a christian has been undergoing chemo for years now. Shes in her mid 60s. Just recently she gave up on the Chemo and said shes ready to go to heaven.

 

[Zanting]

Not choosing medical treatment cannot be considered suicide in any stretch of the imagination because no one chooses to become ill or diseased in the first place. How each individual decides to deal with illness or disease certainly depends on their faith. I do believe that many people make choices in these situations based on the quality of life treatment brings. This would include financial concerns and stress on family/friends. Ultimately, I believe that our lives are in God's hands and we pass on according to His will and not ours.

 

[ChrisHolland619]

God gave doctors their skill for a reason. Nowhere in the new testament does it say to not get health help.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Heres a woman who got no better seeking a physician (or rather many) but instead of getting better grew worse.

Mark 5:26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

Growing worse and going broke by the same is shown.

As Paul said, Im in straits, desiring to depart (which is far better). So if God wants you around you arent going anywhere.

I'd settle for a morphine drip on my way out of here if it might be a rough one but just as glad the time of my departure had arrived if it come.

Afterall theres nothing wrong with desiring to depart, we all must depart at some time or another. And at least it shows that one can spend all they have on many physicians and just grow worse linergering on. So (for me) I would look at it as why bother? If God choses to heal me He could indeed, however if its my time, its my time. There have been some who chose to live on (by physicians) and have done so, as well as those who chose to live on (by physcians) who had not. You could spin the bottle to see which you would be, its either one or the other, but ultimately that choice is Gods and we will all die (at some time) in our flesh and have to put it off.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Lets assume someone does refuse treatment. I've had people tell me then your killing yourself essentially, which is suicide. But how true does everyone think that is?

To me it does start to get into that "grey area" of being a christian. I also begin to think about where the bible says about us having to take care of our temples. Wouldn't refusing treatment be not taking care of our temple? Even if we new we would die on treatment anyways.

In the end I will never refuse treatment because I don't want to be wrong about it. And more importantly because I am getting married soon and will never give up on my bride to be.

 

[BFine]

Having worked in the medical field and Hospice--
I know treatment for cancer isn't without some serious
side effects and can do further harm to one's body like
the cancer can.

I've cleaned up enough vomit, blood, and some pretty foul
bodily excretions.

I've been with folks who are on such strong pain meds that
it ate up their stomach lining, affected their mind, damaged their liver
and or some other organs.

Taking care of your body is good but you must also weigh
what the treatment will do to you/and or your temple.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Do you think a Christian has any business refusing health treatment for a condition that could kill them? Or would that be considered suicide, no matter the severity of the disease? Would your answers change if the patient was uninsured and having treatment would mean going into thousands of dollars in debt (or putting their family in debt if treatment is unsuccessful?)

Yes I think a Christian has a right to refuse treatment, even if it results in their death.

I don't think insurance should have anything to do with it.