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Parental Ignorance Can Hurt
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Anyone who doubts that Americans are turning away from science when it comes to making health decisions should review just a few sad stories that made the news recently.
First, there was the report that a youngster in Canton, OH lost his battle with leukemia, four years after his parents succeeded in getting court approval of their decision to stop his chemotherapy. In spite of the fact that his cancer was in remission (presumably thanks to his standard treatment), they decided to treat him with a "holistic" medical approach that included diet changes and dietary supplements. After four months, when his cancer returned, they did put him back on chemotherapy, but eventually the leukemia killed him. We can't know if that four-month hiatus helped or harmed the child's health, but the fact is that his parents took a gamble even though the standard treatment had been effective to some extent.
Next, we have a report of scurvy (yes, scurvy) in a two year-old girl whose parents fed her a mixture of boiled organic milk, barley, and corn syrup -- no fruits or vegetables from which she could have obtained the vitamin C needed to stave off the disease. The Church of Scientology reportedly prescribed the diet. This regimen resulted in pale, bloated skin, loosening of some teeth, painful legs (she refused to walk), and bluish purple gums (if it endures long enough, scurvy is fatal). These symptoms began to resolve only a few days after treatment with vitamin C began (Burk CH, Molodow R. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2007; 8(2):103-106).
Then, we have perhaps the saddest case -- an infant whose vegan parents apparently didn't realize their baby needed either breast milk or infant formula to thrive -- not just soy milk and apple juice. Unfortunately, these first-time parents didn't get professional help. When he was six weeks old and weighed only three and a half pounds, the baby died (at that weight a newborn wouldn't even be allowed to leave a hospital).
In none of these cases did the parents mean to harm their children, I'm sure. In the case of the parents who temporarily rejected chemotherapy in favor of "holistic" medicine, they may have been swayed by belief in the supposed superiority of "natural" cures.
In the other situations, the parents were ignorant of what it takes to feed an infant or child properly, and instead of turning to a sound source of scientific information, they relied on religious or ethical guidelines.
Healthy adults can follow a wide variety of diets and choose medical treatment for themselves based on their beliefs. But when it comes to feeding and treating their offspring, they're best advised to set their novel beliefs aside and follow guidelines that have been substantiated by years of scientific evidence.
Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., is Director of Nutrition at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).
Rev. John Carmichael (June 13, 2007)
Dear Editor,
As a matter of fact and of policy, the Church of Scientology does not prescribe diets for children or adults, nor does the Church have any quarrel with medicine, and there are numerous practicing M.D.'s among our members.
Among the hundreds of thousands of Scientologists worldwide who are parents, there are some who use a formula prepared from boiled barley and other ingredients as a substitute for commercial infant formula, and are very happy with the results. It seems very strange that any parent would maintain this formula so long, and that they would not provide other nutrients and supplements a growing child needs.
But again, the Church doesn't prescribe diets of any kind. Scientology consists of practical tools which help an individual lead a better life, of greater happiness, greater self-respect and respect for others.
Common sense, in child-rearing as in other spheres, is part of those methods.
Sincerely,
Rev. John Carmichael
President
Church of Scientology of New York
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