debate met to discuss the difficulties and to launch a new leaflet that aims to bring the issues out into the open.
Revd Dr Jeanette Meadway, the Mildmay's medical director and a well-respected
congregation leader herself, explained the reasons for the meeting. It
was part of a campaign her hospital and local health authority were running
to dispel dangerous myths around healing and medication in the Christian
community. In her introduction to the day's proceedings, Dr Meadway described
how a former patient had achieved an undetectable viral load with medication.
But when told by a church leader that he had been 'cured' and should proclaim
his healing by giving up his medicines, he followed the advice. Some time
after, tragically, his health deteriorated and he died. This and other
similar incidents were the reasons behind the event.
Dr Guy Baily, a leading HIV consultant at Bart's hospital, stressed the
importance of starting treatment early and adhering to it, and that work
must be done to improve the image of doctors and quell suspicions of medical
treatment in such religious communities.
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Speakers at the meeting: [from l to r] Dr Guy Baily, Revd Dr Jeanette Meadway, Bishop John Sentamu, Revd Moyo, Bishop John Perry
