Church's teaching on going to a doctor of a different faith

[AveMariaMaterDei]

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J.M.J.T.

Does anyone know if it is okay for a TLM Catholic to go to a MD. for a diagnosis of a condition, if that doctor is into things like eastern religions, Hindi religion stuff, etc.? I have something that I'm hoping to get diagnosed and taken care of before entering religious life, but two out of the three MD's that are available for this are from India and seem to be into the eastern religions and beliefs and like they make it a part of their practice... I briefly considered going to one of those two as they sound like they are more about helping the patient find the cause of a health issue then the third Dr. did, but then they also have the thing with the eastern religion stuff, which I really don't want to have to deal with and kind-of have doubts about it being okay and am wondering what the Catholic Faith teaches about this...

What do you think? Do any of you know what the Catholic Church teaches on this?!?

Thanks!

May God Bless you!

[tinytherese]

What specific treatments are you concerned about? Even if they do practices against Church teaching, you can politely inform them that you're uncomfortable doing such treatments and ask for other options. If they insist on doing those treatments anyway, then find another doctor.

I've had multiple doctors over the years who've asked me if I was willing to go through with treatment options and they gave me the option of declining. One doctor asked if I was willing to take the pill for a health problem. I refused and she addressed the issue in a different way. 

Edited July 5, 2019 by tinytherese

[Seven77]

 If the other doctors you mentioned don't incorporate Eastern religious practices in their treatments, I would suggest you go to them. As long as they are competent in their medical practice, and that their religion does not have any thing to do with the particularly treatment, it should be perfectly fine. The doctor who sees me is a Hindu but that has nothing to do with anything in my particular situation.

[AveMariaMaterDei]

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J.M.J.T.

Thank you for your replies! :-)

I'm not sure exactly what of their eastern religion they use with their patients...They are Cardiologists and while they seem, from what I've read online, to be very helpful and knowledgeable, but in their videos on the website, the one seemed very much into the eastern beliefs and like she might definitely use that with her patients and the other Dr. seemed somewhat that way, though maybe not quite as much...That just had me unsure what to do and I've always been hesitant about going to a Dr., etc. who was into that type of stuff as I know from what some friends experienced when they went to an eastern MD at another friends suggestion. And not being sure if it's against the Church's teachings in any way or anything.

I don't know if I'll need treatment for whatever the health thing is, so maybe I'll just be able to avoid that altogether. I was more worried about their trying to kind-of use their eastern religion beliefs to try to define the problem, as the one Dr. was mentioning several times, things about the heart and mind, etc., the way they do in their religion and it sounded like she may try to use that to much instead of just figuring out the issue itself...I really like that she is a Dr. who really connects with the patient and works with them to fix the issue, but am not so sure about her religion things when it comes to using it even in her diagnosing an issue and in talking with her patients like that...

 

[Guest]

15 hours ago, AveMariaMaterDei said:

Does anyone know if it is okay for a TLM Catholic to go to a MD.

What does being a "TLM" Catholic have to do with the question?

[Lilllabettt]

10 hours ago, AveMariaMaterDei said:

+

J.M.J.T.

Thank you for your replies! :-)

I'm not sure exactly what of their eastern religion they use with their patients...They are Cardiologists and while they seem, from what I've read online, to be very helpful and knowledgeable, but in their videos on the website, the one seemed very much into the eastern beliefs and like she might definitely use that with her patients and the other Dr. seemed somewhat that way, though maybe not quite as much...That just had me unsure what to do and I've always been hesitant about going to a Dr., etc. who was into that type of stuff as I know from what some friends experienced when they went to an eastern MD at another friends suggestion. And not being sure if it's against the Church's teachings in any way or anything.

I don't know if I'll need treatment for whatever the health thing is, so maybe I'll just be able to avoid that altogether. I was more worried about their trying to kind-of use their eastern religion beliefs to try to define the problem, as the one Dr. was mentioning several times, things about the heart and mind, etc., the way they do in their religion and it sounded like she may try to use that to much instead of just figuring out the issue itself...I really like that she is a Dr. who really connects with the patient and works with them to fix the issue, but am not so sure about her religion things when it comes to using it even in her diagnosing an issue and in talking with her patients like that...

 

Do you live in a rural area? I'm surprised if you really only have 2 cardiologists to choose from? Although I know it might be the case out in the country...

If these are the two you have available, I wouldnt worry about just getting a preliminary diagnosis from either one. If you need long term treatment you may have to travel to find someone you're comfortable with ... but a cardiologist is a specialist, and usually you dont need a specialist appointment every other week (nor do they have time to offer that many appointments). 

[AveMariaMaterDei]

10 hours ago, Josh said:

What does being a "TLM" Catholic have to do with the question?

I mentioned that because sometimes the TLM and EM Catholics can have somewhat different views on such things...hopefully this makes sense and hasn't offended anyone, as that was certainly not intended.

[AveMariaMaterDei]

9 hours ago, Lilllabettt said:

Do you live in a rural area? I'm surprised if you really only have 2 cardiologists to choose from? Although I know it might be the case out in the country...

If these are the two you have available, I wouldnt worry about just getting a preliminary diagnosis from either one. If you need long term treatment you may have to travel to find someone you're comfortable with ... but a cardiologist is a specialist, and usually you dont need a specialist appointment every other week (nor do they have time to offer that many appointments). 

Thank you for you reply and input. :-)

There are other Cardiologists near me, but all of them are men, except three, and I really don't feel comfortable going to a male Doctor. The only other woman Cardiologist besides the two eastern ones, seemed to be more into diagnosing and "medically" fixing an issue, while the eastern ones sounded from their videos like they are more about getting to really know the patient, their health situation, and helping them through that as well as looking into more natural ways of treatment...which I'd really prefer, I just don't want to go to them for this and then find out that they are big into eastern beliefs in their way of diagnosing and treating a condition.

I'm hoping to talk to my spiritual director tomorrow to see what he advises, as well.

[Seven77]

1 hour ago, AveMariaMaterDei said:

I mentioned that because sometimes the TLM and EM Catholics can have somewhat different views on such things...hopefully this makes sense and hasn't offended anyone, as that was certainly not intended.

For the record,  I think that most of the people who regularly frequent this website who go go to the Ordinary Form also have similar or even identical views on some of these things.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Seven77 said:

For the record,  I think that most of the people who regularly frequent this website who go go to the Ordinary Form also have similar or even identical views on some of these things.

Yeah pretty much. I think any Catholic who goes to Mass every week, Holy Days, Confession frequently ect would share similar beliefs on this topic even if they go to the Ordinary Form. Same with topic's such as mediums and other occultish/new age type things. Not a guarantee but most likely.

Not to derail the thread but I haven't been to a Latin Mass yet. I'm not opposed to going in the future. But the Parish I go to that is Ordinary Form has great priest's and great homilies. I don't pretend to be in The Greatest Catholics Of All Time Club. I'm chief of sinners. But if people who attend Latin Mass feel they are Superior in Catholicity to me. Or more conformed to Catholic doctrine I find that laughable. 

Original Poster this is 100% not aimed at you. I'm just speaking on the topic in general. Sorry for derailing. Hope you find a great doctor. God Bless.

Edited July 7, 2019 by Guest

[Lilllabettt]

3 hours ago, AveMariaMaterDei said:

Thank you for you reply and input. :-)

There are other Cardiologists near me, but all of them are men, except three, and I really don't feel comfortable going to a male Doctor. The only other woman Cardiologist besides the two eastern ones, seemed to be more into diagnosing and "medically" fixing an issue, while the eastern ones sounded from their videos like they are more about getting to really know the patient, their health situation, and helping them through that as well as looking into more natural ways of treatment...which I'd really prefer, I just don't want to go to them for this and then find out that they are big into eastern beliefs in their way of diagnosing and treating a condition.

I'm hoping to talk to my spiritual director tomorrow to see what he advises, as well.

I see. Although I understand having a preference (I personally prefer male physicians) you'll find in religious life that detachment from preference is very much on the menu. Heres your chance to begin practice now!  

Your needs:

1. A competent cardiologist 

Your preferences:

1. Osteopathic 

2. Female

3. Non-eastern religion

With any luck this will not be a drawn out, long-term relationship like the one you might have with a primary provider. I would see who checks your 1 or 2 most important boxes and inquire if they are accepting new patients.  That's another thing... many specialists are not interested in taking new patients, and those that are might not have an appointment available for months. 

[chrysostom]

If a doctor wanted me to get into transcendental yoga to address a health issue, I  would find another doctor. If a doctor was into transcendental yoga but didn't bring it into the treatment I would be fine. Before she passed away my Gran was disturbed by a caretaker who instead of just assisting her with some treatments tried to foist traditional remedies from his homeland on her.

Sounds like you don't have all the info you need though. If they don't charge for a first consultation, you might try a first meeting and prepare some questions relating to her medical practices including traditional eastern medicine etc. That would clear it up better than we can on here...