Health
Gross on faith healing
In March 2008, 11-year-old Kara Neumann lay on a mattress on the floor of her family’s home in Wisconsin while parents and friends around her were praying.
Within minutes she had died from undiagnosed but treatable diabetes. Her parents had not sought medical assistance but had tried to save her through prayer.
Kara was a pulchritudinous girl and a great student. Her despairing aunt had rung the 911 emergency services but by the time the ambulance arrived, Kara’s curable disease had taken her life.
The aunt’s heroic and frantic pleas to intervene in her sister-in-law’s family were answered too late. The parents blamed themselves, not for “not having enough faith” and rather than call in a doctor were desperately calling more people to offer prayer over Kara’s rapidly expiring body.
How can they have been so stupid? Kara had not seen a doctor since the age of three. Her parents belong to an online church Unleavened Bread Ministries whose web page proclaims “Warning: These are America’s Last Days”. The page is in incomprehensible mixture of dire proclamations and uplifting anecdotes of faith healings. I tried to discern the underlying rationale of the faith but it is a diatribe even more opaque and illogical than this blog (amazing but true).
Her mother, Leilani, is quoted as saying, “I thought it was a spiritual attack. We stayed by her side non-stop and we prayed.” Leilani expects that Kara to be resurrected. I wish she was right. I know she isn’t.
The parents were later charged with second-degree reckless homicide and found guilty. The received an innovative six-month prison sentence where both parents are jailed for a different month once a year for six years so that the three remaining kids had the, perhaps dubious, blessing of having a parent at home.
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Hitchens diagnosed with esophageal cancer
British-born author Christopher Hitchens has cut short a book tour to undergo chemotherapy.
Media outlets including America’s CBS News reported that Hitchens, known to be a heavy smoker and drinker, has been diagnosed with cancer.
“I have been advised by my physician that I must undergo a course of chemotherapy on my esophagus,” the 61-year-old said in a statement released through his publishers Twelve.
“This advice seems persuasive to me.
“I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice,” he added.
A representative for Twelve offered no details beyond the statement.
WASHINGTON — British author Christopher Hitchens says he must undergo chemotherapy on his esophagus and has canceled some engagements.
The 61-year-old Hitchens, whose most recent book, “Hitch-22,” is on Publishers Weekly’s best-sellers list, posted a message on his publisher’s website that he had been told by his doctor that he must undergo a course of chemotherapy. Hitchens expressed regret for having to cancel engagements on short notice.
His publisher issued a statement saying the author was being given his privacy during the treatments.
The author, essayist and columnist lives near DuPont Circle. He has written more than a dozen books and enjoyed surprising commercial success three years ago with “God Is Not Great,” a direct attack on religion.
Dr. God: ‘Thou shalt suffer for my pleasure’
Catherine Deveny’s one woman show God Is Bullshit has been extended due to popular demand. For more details go to www.catherinedeveny.com Her column appears in The Age’s MelbourneLife on Wednesday.
Checking out with dignity, by Catherine Deveny
One of my favourite people is an old boyfriend’s mum, Marijke, a stuttering Dutch psychologist, heart of gold, body of a Veronica and a penchant for buying old furniture, painting it beige and re-upholstering it in calico.
Meeting her in my teens was a revelation. The women I knew mostly fell into the category of teacher, housewife, mother, nurse or tuckshop lady rather than fiercely independent, free-thinking European woman who cooked lentils, travelled the world and danced to her own tune. Clothes optional.
I caught up with Marijke a while ago to meet her new man, Rene, a Dutch cardiologist. The little boys and I rolled up to a breakfast by the sea. Whole-wheat pancakes, bowls of stewed fruit the colour of jewels, fluffy clouds of yoghurt, steaming cups of coffee and light streaming in. At the moment I was reflecting on what a healthy sight it was, Rene pushed his chair back and lit a cigar. At the table.
I love Europeans.
He turned to me and said: ”Cathy, did Marijke tell you how we met?”
”No, she didn’t.”
He took a drag of his cigar and said: ”I killed her father.”
Rene had legally euthanised Marijke’s father in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is legal. A death with a happy ending.
I thought of Marijke and Rene when I addressed the Dying With Dignity Rally on the steps of Parliament House last week.
Passionate supporters huddled together on the steps like many Melburnians past. I hoped this was the last rally for euthanasia ever, but infuriatingly I knew it wouldn’t be. Despite the need for our laws to catch up to reflect social progress and our community values, 85 per cent of people support voluntary euthanasia.
I was disappointed by the turnout – about 150 people. Some 10,000 rocked up to the Save Live Australian Music Rally when they closed The Tote. But the collective age at the Dying With Dignity Rally was probably twice that of the Slam Rally. Perhaps it’s a good sign – maybe people were thinking: ”I don’t have to turn up to a rally for voluntary euthanasia. Clearly it’s going to happen; they legalised abortion.”
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Homeopaths Ignore Therapeutic Goods Administration
From ABC Lateline:
Homeopaths ignore TGA over false advertising
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YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trIf4l2d-DM
Richard Dawkins vs Homeopathy
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYqQ_n2vOOI
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PTSD and Substance Abuse: Treatment for Veterans
Robyn Walser, of the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, addresses the issue of self-medication and substance abuse in returning OEF and OIF veterans, many of whom suffer from PTSD. This program presents and overview of the problem and introduces some of the effective treatments.
Series: Treating the Invisible Wounds of War: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, Families and Care Providers.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPgaDF7AHD0
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