ITEMS OF INTEREST October 9, 2006 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

with contributions from Steve LeBlanc, Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., The Christian Science Board of Directors

PHIL DAVIS KNEW he was in trouble the instant the all terrain vehicle he was riding uphill shot out from under him, tossing him in the air. He landed on his back with a hard crunch, the ATV crashing down between his legs. Davis, a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, which shuns traditional medical care, feared he had suffered a serious injury. "The first thought was that I'd really hurt myself and the second thought was that I'd done something really stupid and my third thought was that God was not thinking about me in that way," he said.

As Massachusetts works to turn its landmark health care reform law into a reality, regulators are picking their way through a minefield of vexing issues, not all of them related to the cost of co-pays and office visits. In the case of Christian Scientists and others who opt for alternative care either out of personal preference or religious belief, the state has to decide if health care always equals medical care. Christian Scientists want to be sure the state recognizes spiritual healing as credible health coverage.

Instead of calling a doctor or his HMO after his accident, Davis contacted a Christian Science practitioner, explained what had happened, and asked the practitioner to pray for him.

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