Outer Rim Territories

Government and Medicine

Anne and I have struggled with the conventional approach to medicine in our culture. This struggle is manifested in ethical dilemmas for us as Christians, parents, and citizens. As Christians, we honor God's divine mandates for our life, marriage, and family. As parents, we hear and react to the proper needs of our children. As citizens, we honor authorities, and country and its demands upon us. We struggle to keep God's mandate and keep the demands of our Caesar (government.) What is the rightful demand of Caesar? When is it in conflict with our natural demands as parents or our duty to God? This tension between God's kingdom and Caesar's kingdom is no new one. Augustine illustrated this tension in his "City of God." Luther discussed this tension in his works "Can Soldier's Too Be Saved?" and "Temporal Authority: To What Extent Should It Be Obeyed?" Misunderstanding these kingdoms or confusing their causing a pastor or Christian to move astray (like Bishop N.T. Wright's condemnation of the Iraq war... see the journal First Things, Feb. 2007.) They misapply theology to political matters and end up with poor theology and politics. One of these confusions is modern medicine in America. Anne and I watched a film on American medical practice. It is critical of the "Big Business" approach in America and presents positive views of the socialized medicine. This discussion will grow heated with the upcoming release of Michael Moore's "SiCKO". While I don't always share Mr. Moore's views or approach to issues, I suspect he will ruffle quite a few feathers with this film. Americans are not pleased with the state of medical affairs. They abhor the health insurance industry. According to Mr. Moore, fifty million of the three hundred million Americans don't have health insurance. People fear to go to the doctor lest something actually be wrong. Our doctors are focused on shored the damage ravaged by disease rather than preventative care. For example, I have a loose filling and I think a missing one. Without dental coverage, I will continue to avoid doing anything about it. I don't have much choice with the economic demands of seminary. I am not alone. Many more avoid care or treatment due to missing coverage. They live fear of being sick. This situation is no good for our country. With sick laborers, we have sick businesses. The fallacy of sick days is emblematic of this problem. "I can't stay home and rest because I have no more sick days left." So sick people go to work, hurting productivity and hurting healing. Right now, Congress is holding special hearings from the 4800 families who have submitted claims to the Vaccine "golden parachute" fund established by our government. These parents have children with autism. They believe this is due to the abnormally high exposure to mercury in the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine their children received. The government established a fund to protect the vaccine companies if their vaccines actually hurt people. Without this fund, they feared a shortage of vaccines in a crisis situation. Whether these children suffer from autism because of the MMR vaccine is not the issue. The issue is twofold. First in most states parents are required to vaccinate children with their state's established regiment to attend day school. Second, the government allows companies to operate without consequence for their neglect in testing these vaccines. The companies are testing the vaccines on people, perhaps learning of the consequence years later. The FDA stepped in and regulated the mercury content of the MMR vaccine in the late 90's but the damage might have been already done. Is it responsible for a parent to exempt his child from one or more vaccines even if required by his state? Is it contrary to God's giving parental oversight? Is it an improper demand of the government upon parents? Even if the motive is good (protection from epidemic) is the risk unnecessary and unhealthy? I fear these questions cross-few parent's mind. The neglect to research the injections and contemplate the risk. Rather they inject wholesale at the demand of the government at the risk of their children. (It is obvious I have inclinations about the necessity of these vaccines. In both Illinois and Indiana we have exercised the religious exemption for vaccination under the listed questions. Yet we must note that neither state allows selective exemptions for children attending day school. It’s either receive all the vaccines or none of the vaccines, making the ethical challenge more difficult for parents with children in school.) But what about socialized medicine? Does this pose the same sort of challenges? Is it unlawful to demand taxes for the benefit of other's healthcare? Certainly, we must care for our neighbor as Christians. Is it right to put this power into the hands of the government? Is not the government ordained by God for the preservation of his creation? This ethical dilemma is not easily solved. Like vaccination, too much power in the hands of sinful man leads to corruption or neglect even when there is good intent. Socialized medicine can fail even as much as privatized medicine. (Mr. Moore recognizes that the Canadian system is being challenged by underfunding.) Mr. Moore is right. Any system fails when left unchecked. In the hands of men, all good intentions fall into greed, envy, and other great shame, and vice. This is no argument for libertarianism or anarchy. Rather we must exercise our rights as citizens to reform or check the systems. But, as Luther so clearly articulated, we must never do so and sin. Is it a sin to obey your government? The answer is never cut and dry. It is an ethical tension of duty to both of the instituted kingdoms, ordained by God. To allow a government to use taxation of unjust means (protect business from their own neglect) is a serious misuse of tax dollars. We are given no command to be silent in the political realm. To give to Caesar's what is Caesar's is not a demand to silent compliance. It’s a command which understands the political world as God ordained. It is to exercise proper and dutiful restraint even when taxation is illegitimate. We should be thankful that we have a voice and elected officials. It is our duty to comply without sin. We know that the system is broken. We can't afford coverage for the people who need it most. Doctors can't afford to practice due to malpractice insurance costs. What is the solution? We're scared of the evil beast of socialized medicine but is it really a worse system than our current affair? To harm a neighbor for unjust reasons (to protect one's own wealth) is a matter of great neglect both to God and country. I believe this issue is not simply about taxation. It is about our duty given by God in both kingdoms, the political and the Christian. The perfect solution will probably allude us indefinitely. We know that our current situation is inadequate. In this light we must act. I don't have all the answers and am struggling with the issue. What is the proper response to the medical crisis in this country?