Questions from a Nurse

I just got a couple of good questions:

Hello,

I am currently in nursing school to become an LVN. The new criteria is 'transcultural nursing'. This new subject is a way for nurses to cater better to the different cultures and religions that are in this wonderful world of ours. My theory teacher has assigned us all to give presentations on topics that we choose. Mine is Scientology. There are many questions that we are required to ask and learn so that we may educate our fellow classmates. Would anyone be willing to educate me on a couple of questions for now and then I can ask more later?

1. If ill or have a condition, do you seek out a doctor for help or a respected individual in the community?
2. If someone had a condition like hyper tension (high blood pressure), diabetes, or asthma, can you take prescription medications or are there remedies or herbs that you prefer? If so what are they and what is in them?
3. WHen pregnant does the individual see a doctor? If so does she go for regular check ups? In child birth are there rituals, traditions, or certain actions that are made or certain parts needed (such as umbilical cord, some cultures need it)? Is birth control an option for teens?

If I have offended anyone, I apologize. I would like to get as much information for my report and to educate my fellow classmates just as you will do for me. Thank you for any insight that you may provide and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Best Wishes,

Taylor

Hey Taylor,

I'm going to answer each of these questions from the viewpoint of the Church as I understand it.

Q1: This depends on the individual and their preferences. It is recommended by the Church that a person get care when they are ill. This is one of the precepts of the book "The Way To Happiness". The book itself is non-religious, but it is recommended by the Church that Scientologists follow it. How the individual implements this recommendation is up to them. They could go to a medical doctor, a naturopath, a chiropractor or whoever they prefer. Such a choice is individual and not an area in which the Church interferes.

Q2: Again it is up to the individual. If you want to go to a medical doctor and take prescription drugs then that is your choice. If you prefer to try something that is actually effective (e.g., Lower high blood pressure, handle diabetes, handle asthma) then it is your choice. The Church simply recommends that you get care when you are ill.

Q3: This is really four questions in one.

The answer for the first and second parts: it is up to the individual.

For the third part of the question: At birth there is an additional recommendation that the birth is kept as quiet as possible. For full details you can read this article, Scientology Silent Birth: 'It's A Natural Thing' . There are no other recommendations and no requirements. The physical bits connected to birth should be handled in whatever way the individual decides. Standard hygienic practices are always a good idea.

And for the last part: guess what ... it is up to the individual and, in the case of someone underage, their parents.

Not any real earth shattering or controversial answers but, hopefully, they tell you what you want to know. If you have more questions please feel free to ask. I'll try to answer a bit quicker than I did with this one. Last week was rather busy for me.

Good luck with your studies.

The Travolta Tragedy

First let me give my condolences to the Travolta family. At a time like this there is comfort in having a family to support each other.

Now for my comments regarding the rumors about Scientology and medical treatment: It never fails to astound me how people who hate my religion will take any opportunity, no matter how ghoulish, to attack my Church.

You have all probably seen the news about the tragic death of Jett Travolta. He was 16 years-old and suffered from seizures. It seems that on Friday he had a seizure, fell and hit his head on the bath tub. The medical examination has not been completed so it is too early to say exactly what happened.

However, some ghouls have decided to use this tragedy to attack Scientology. Can you imagine what sort of creeps would do something like that? Take a terrible family tragedy and twist it into some perverted attack on the family's beliefs. That is so sick.

The rumors these sickos have started are now getting into the media (which contains its fair share of ghouls), so the Church of Scientology has had to give out a press release telling the truth about Scientology Members position on medical care.

Just the fact that the Church has had to do that is a sad reflection on our society and the ease with which false rumors can be gotten into the media and circulated world-wide.

If you want to know the truth about our views on medical care then check these articles: Scientology and Medicine, the Scientology FAQs, Scientology and medical care or Do Scientologists use medical doctors?

Scientology and Medicine

I have known people to confuse the beliefs of Christian Science with those of Scientology in regards to medicine. Christian Scientists believe that prayer can heal and so they generally choose it first when someone gets ill (See the Christian Science FAQs for full and accurate data).

In Scientology we recognize that the body is real and that it sometimes gets sick or damaged, so the first action to take is to get the appropriate physical treatment for the condition. For example, if you break an arm then you go to the emergency room and get it attended too.

Once the physical side is under control then any spiritual issues associated with the condition can be addressed. We have spiritual technology called "Scientology Assists" which can help a person recover quicker.

In my own personal experience I have found these assists to be extremely effective. For example, after my wife had a serious operation, I gave her a lot of assists, which helped her get off heavy pain killers and onto much milder medication in a matter of hours instead of days.

If you hear any other data about Scientologists and medicine, then the person giving you the data is misinformed.

For more info check out the Scientology FAQ article: Do Scientologists use medical doctors? and an article on the "Scientology and Me" blog with the same title: Do Scientologists use medical doctors?.