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This 'Christian doctor' was lucky not to be struck off This 'Christian doctor' was lucky not to be struck off
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I have some sympathy for GP Richard Scott, the "Christian doctor" recently arraigned by the General Medical Council, who told a patient that he would get better if he prayed. I have some sympathy for GP Richard Scott, the "Christian doctor" recently arraigned by the General Medical Council, who told a patient that he might get better if he prayed. After all, prayer was the first therapeutic intervention, and the Christian church has been at the honourable forefront of healing. Many treatments involved getting the patient to pray for their own recovery. But if prayer per se is of proven value, what happens when other people pray for you?
After all, prayer was the first therapeutic intervention, and the Christian church has been at the honourable forefront of healing. Many treatments involved getting the patient to pray for their own recovery. But if prayer per se is of proven value, what happens when other people pray for you? One of the most authoritative scientific studies comes from a Christian organisation. Just last year Leanne Roberts, from the Southwark diocesan office, published a scholarly assessment of the power of prayer. Together with colleagues, she evaluated a number of research trials which involved nearly 8,000 patients. There was no difference overall in recovery from illness or death, whether subjects were prayed for or not.
One of the most authoritative scientific studies comes from a Christian organisation. Just last year Leanne Roberts, from the Southwark diocesan office, published a scholarly assessment of the power of prayer. Together with colleagues she evaluated a number of research trials which involved nearly 8,000 patients. There was no difference overall in recovery from illness or death, whether subjects were prayed for or not.
What if you do not know you are being prayed for? Or if the supplicants do not know for which patients they are pleading? One trial compared patients in a coronary care unit. Remarkably, those at high risk of death were more likely to live when prayed for. Cardiac surgery was more likely to be needed among those not "receiving" prayer.What if you do not know you are being prayed for? Or if the supplicants do not know for which patients they are pleading? One trial compared patients in a coronary care unit. Remarkably, those at high risk of death were more likely to live when prayed for. Cardiac surgery was more likely to be needed among those not "receiving" prayer.
These studies do raise a number of difficulties. First, there may have been patients in either group who had friends praying for them without the knowledge of the investigators. And if God is truly omnipresent and all-knowing, he might confound those praying without true conviction. After all, God moves in mysterious ways. And what happens if, in a Christian setting, a Jew prayed for a Muslim or a Catholic?These studies do raise a number of difficulties. First, there may have been patients in either group who had friends praying for them without the knowledge of the investigators. And if God is truly omnipresent and all-knowing, he might confound those praying without true conviction. After all, God moves in mysterious ways. And what happens if, in a Christian setting, a Jew prayed for a Muslim or a Catholic?
Leonard Leibovici, from Tel Aviv university published a study in the BMJ in 2001, testing the power of prayer. He argued that as we cannot assume a priori that time is linear, or that God is limited by linear time, why not pray for patients without their knowledge, after the disease has been treated? In 2001, Leonard Leibovici, of Tel Aviv university, published a study in the BMJ, testing the power of prayer. He argued that as we cannot assume a priori that time is linear, or that God is limited by linear time, why not pray for patients without their knowledge, after the disease has been treated? He conducted a trial that was randomised, blinded and statistically controlled involving 3,393 patients who had been treated in hospital for bloodstream infection. Years later, long after treatment had concluded, a short prayer was made for one group randomly assigned by the toss of a coin. The patients subjected to remote retroactive intercessory prayer tended to have less fever, reduced hospital stay and lower mortality.
He conducted a trial that was randomised, blinded and statistically controlled involving a total of 3,393 patients who had been treated in hospital for bloodstream infection. Years later, long after treatment had concluded, a short prayer was made for one group randomly assigned by the toss of a coin. The patients subjected to remote retroactive intercessory prayer tended to have less fever, reduced hospital stay and lower mortality. In these days of informed consent, it might seem morally indefensible to conduct a trial if patients do not know whether they are being prayed for or not, and Dr Leibovici says that this was difficult, indeed impossible in his study.
In these days of informed consent, it might seem morally indefensible to conduct a trial if patients do not know whether they are being prayed for or not, and Dr Leibovici apologises that this was difficult, indeed impossible in his study.
Ethical issues are more relevant for Richard Scott. Of course, reports of what was actually said in the consulting room may be misleading. Did, for instance, Dr Scott really invoke the devil, as claimed by his patient? It is often thus – both doctors and their patients can have a biased recall of what actually was said.Ethical issues are more relevant for Richard Scott. Of course, reports of what was actually said in the consulting room may be misleading. Did, for instance, Dr Scott really invoke the devil, as claimed by his patient? It is often thus – both doctors and their patients can have a biased recall of what actually was said.
But Scott subsequently undermined his case. He apparently claimed that there was "massive evidence" supporting the value of faith, calling it "the new specialism", stating that Christians are "84% less suicidal". Leanne Roberts' data show this is untrue – and where patients pray for themselves, there are few randomised trials comparing prayer with placebo treatments supporting Scott's assertion. Nearly all the trials are variously flawed or simply show the power of statistics, rather than the power of prayer.But Scott subsequently undermined his case. He apparently claimed that there was "massive evidence" supporting the value of faith, calling it "the new specialism", stating that Christians are "84% less suicidal". Leanne Roberts' data show this is untrue – and where patients pray for themselves, there are few randomised trials comparing prayer with placebo treatments supporting Scott's assertion. Nearly all the trials are variously flawed or simply show the power of statistics, rather than the power of prayer.
A patient in the consulting room is vulnerable and at least metaphorically naked. It is immoral for doctors to take advantage by promoting personal belief during consultations. To make matters worse, Dr Scott was treating a person in poor mental health. Rather than protesting, he should consider himself lucky he was not struck off the register.A patient in the consulting room is vulnerable and at least metaphorically naked. It is immoral for doctors to take advantage by promoting personal belief during consultations. To make matters worse, Dr Scott was treating a person in poor mental health. Rather than protesting, he should consider himself lucky he was not struck off the register.
Lord Robert Winston is professor of science and society at Imperial College London