What does the Bible say about refusing medical treatment?
Jesus said: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick”—Matthew 9:12. For any one who is sick or a pregnant woman who needs medical attention but refuses a medical treatment is acting in ignorance of the Divine Providence.
What religion rejects medical treatment?
Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusion. Christian Scientists refuse most medical treatment. Instead they rely on the healing prayers of Christian Scientist Practitioners. The Faith Tabernacle Congregation in Altoona, PA believes that disease is caused by the devil.
Is it correct to refuse treatment because of religious beliefs?
Simply, if an adult under your care is mentally competent and refuses a treatment, including blood transfusions, surgery, or standard medical care, based on a held religious or cultural belief, the law generally grants this right of choice—even if the consequences of refusal are dire.
What cultures refuse medical treatment?
Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Scientists are the two most common religious doctrines that may dictate treatment refusal, limitation, or preference for prayer.
Do Seventh-Day Adventist believe in medical treatment?
In fact, Seventh-day Adventists have no issue with standard medical treatment but do emphasize a holistic approach to health, which they practice in their not-for-profit Adventist hospital system, with divisions around the world.
What do Seventh-Day Adventist believe?
Beliefs and practices Seventh-day Adventists share many of the basic beliefs of Protestant Christianity, including acceptance of the authority of the Bible, recognition of the existence of human sin and the need for salvation, and belief in the atoning work of Christ.
What to do if a patient refuses treatment due to religion?
If you have to refuse, explain your reasoning. Whatever your decision, candidly explain your reasoning to the patient. Be clear that your rationale is based upon professional judgment, not disrespect for the patient's religious ideas.
Can doctors refuse patients based on religion?
Justice dictates that physicians provide care to all who need it, and it is illegal for a physician to refuse services based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. But sometimes patients request services that are antithetical to the physician's personal beliefs.
Why do Jehovah's Witnesses refuse medical treatment?
They believe that taking blood into the body through the mouth or veins violates God's laws. Witnesses view the above verses as ruling out transfusion with whole blood, packed red blood cells (RBCs), and plasma, as well as white blood cell (WBCs) and platelet administration.
Is Adventist health religious?
While our healthcare system is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we care equally for all of our patients regardless of their personal faiths or beliefs.
Which religion does not believe in God?
2 The literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods,” according to Merriam-Webster. And the vast majority of U.S. atheists fit this description: 81% say they do not believe in God or a higher power or in a spiritual force of any kind.