Scientologist Views On Medicine Questioned

(CBS)  Even as John Travolta and his wife mourn their son, Jett, some critics of the Church of Scientology are pointing to what they say is a negative church position on medications and medicine.

The Travoltas are Scientologists.

Early Show National Correspondent Hattie Kauffman reports that, since an autopsy showed Jett, 16, died of a seizure, his family now acknowledges Jett's been suffering seizures for many years.

The Travoltas have always been private about their son, Kauffman points out.

"John Travolta's friends who are lawyers indicated Jett had been on a psychiatric pharmaceutical drug that specifically intends to address issues about seizures," says University of Alberta Alternative Religions Prof. Stephen Kent. "They also went on to claim Jett was removed from that drug because it was causing organ damage."

One ex-Scientologist says when she suffered epileptic seizures 30 years ago, the church told her to stop her medication.

"So I started having grand mal seizures," recalls Tory Christman, "and I wasn't even off the medicine. I was only off part of the medicine, and I started having very bad grand mal seizures."

A Scientology spokesperson told CBS News the church doesn't get involved in medical decisions. The statement says, "Scientologists seek conventional medical treatment for medical conditions. Scientologists use prescription drugs when physically ill."

But skeptics point to the writings of the church founder.

"There are definitely some policies that L. Ron Hubbard wrote in the '60s where he was very critical of the medical profession,' says former Scientologist Bruce Hines.

Scientology's most famous member. Tom Cruise, has made it very clear the church is against psychiatric drugs.

"It sees psychiatrists as being enemies -- not only enemies on this earth, but also cosmic enemies," says the University of Alberta's Kent.

But Scientologists do believe in a purification program that Kelly Preston, John Travolta's wife, reported using to treat her son, notes Kauffman.

"People go thru periods of physical exercise combined with large doses of vitamins including niacin and then hours in the sauna," Kent says.

[vexit]

The belief in the current medical profession is blind belief in the propaganda you see on TV. More people die from Medical incompetence then from people trying to use natural methods to gain better health. The giant pharmaceutical Companies don%u2019t want any of us to live healthy, eat right, exercise. We are renewable income, why cure us when they can just make us feel like its helping by taking all these pills. If they had their way, all those
Ads about this and that drug would be done without the part about the side affects. Even those are rushed by so we ignore the truth. If they Want to stay away from the poisons that the medical establishment is told to prescribe then they probably are doing more good for their people then we are in believing our Doctors all the time. Leave these people alone to grieve, while we grieve for the tens of thousands that die from the doctor proscribed helpful drugs that kill them.

[yjidam]

Tory Christman claims that she was ordered off her seizure medication by the CoS but she forgets to say that such illegal orders were promptly overturned by higher CoS authorities, and that for the 30 years she was in Scientology she was allowed to take her anti-seizure medicine, as confirmed by her 2003 affidavit.

Tory Christman affidavit is the best proof there is that Scientology is not against seizure medicines where needed.

Google "Tory Christman" affidavit 2003

[stamford31]

It''s an embarassment to the human mind that one indivudual''s opinion about anything at all is believed to be the ultimate truth. Please fellow humans, seek your own truth.

[churscientny]

Scientology - I''d buy into it if it worked.

[truthrules]

Amanda Hugen, where are those case files?
Don''t you think if Scientology actually cured things that Scientology would be more popular than it currently is!

[eddievroom]

A heart attack is obviously physical in nature -- the issue as I see it comes down to what Scientology considers a physical problem vs. what can be cured by Auditing (and what they define as a "psych drug"). You can hear a clip of an L. Ron Hubbard lecture here, where he states policy regarding Epilepsy (and calls professional medical treatment "gobbledegook"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMom3y1zyZU

[eddievroom]

Regarding that chorus of "none of your business" -- a child is DEAD due to a potential case of CRIMINAL NEGLECT -- how is that nobody''s business? Would you suggest that we disband Child Protective Services and stop investigating CRIMES perpetrated against minors since if it''s "in the family", it''s a-ok? Where do we draw the line of "none of our business? Locking kids up in the attic and starving them? Rape? Murder? Well, Manslaughter at least, if the parents are rich and well-connected it seems...

[bmarshall08]

My wife was taking a Scientology service recently. While on the course she complained of pain in her breast. They immediately "required" that she seek medical attention. They were so insistent that she go see her doctor that she was even a little annoyed when the supervisor of the course she was on called to see if she had made the appointment with her doctor yet.

There was no alternative-therapy-nonsense suggested at all. "You have a physical problem go see your doctor". Is about the best way to sum up the point of view I observed them pushing.

That EXPERIENCE seems inconsistent with claims that Scientologist are in some way against medical treatment.

The hard line stance against psychiatric "abuse" that most Scientologists support should not be confused with a rejection of all medicine. It would be a grossly unfair and untrue characterization.

There are medical problems with medical remedies. To suggest that any Scientologist would allow themselves or someone they love to be harmed because of some misguided rejection of medicine is patently offensive.

[mrvolleyba11]

AmandaHugen
...and in the end you die just like everybody else from the same stuff us!

L Ron Hubbard suffured mental illiness which is why he was so against it! a loon in his own right and medocre writer at best. CoS is not recognized by Germany and only recognized un US after blackmailing government officials.

do not believe ANYTHING CoS says!!!

[mrvolleyba11]

Yjidam ...spoken like a "true believer"!
those wacko''s have made it clear that ANY method to include subversive tactics, lies, and maniplutation is acceptable against anybody who speaks porrly or against the group!
Yjidam go sell your BS somewhere else to idiots who might buy into it!!!