Thread: Lao Authorities May Release Christians Jailed for ‘Illegally Practicing Medicine’

Some of five Christians jailed in Laos for “illegally practicing medicine” after they prayed for a dying woman’s recovery may soon be released, according to an official responsible for religious affairs in the country’s Savannakhet province.

In a move that drew sharp criticism from human rights groups, a provincial court handed down nine-month sentences to the Christians earlier this month for violating Lao laws governing medical practice by praying for the recovery of a dying woman.

“It is illegal [that] the court sentenced them to jail for practicing medicine practice without licenses,” the official, who declined to be named, told RFA’s Laos Service. “The provincial authorities will release them after they serve their time.”

Although the official said he believed some of the sentences would be reduced in the future, he provided no further details.

The Christians were arrested last June after they prayed for the recovery of a woman named Chansee—a religious convert from Buddhism to Christianity—who was dying of a long-term illness.

After she died, a member of her family requested that police arrest the Christians because that person believed they had caused the woman’s death, the official said.

Some authorities, an attorney and district administration official had tried to help the Christians because they believed that they had no intention of causing the woman’s death, he said.

But because the case was sent to the provincial level, they could do nothing more, he said.

Sends the wrong message

International human rights groups have criticized the detentions.

Sirkoon Prasertsee, director of U.S.-based Human Rights Watcher for Laos Religious Freedom (HRWLRF), told ucanews.com, a Catholic news service in Asia, that the court ruling sent a message to Christians in Laos that government authorities can arrest and criminalize them for gathering to pray for those who are ill.

“The court ruling is threatening the very core of the Christian religion, where prayer for the sick and suffering is now officially ruled as a criminal offense,” Sirkoon Prasertee was quoted as saying.

Phil Robertson, deputy director for Human Rights Watch’s Asia division, told ucanews.com that the court’s decision was an example of the government’s lack of commitment to protect the rights of religious minorities.

“Laos’ record on religious freedom leaves a lot to be desired, especially when it comes to the sorts of harassment and repression inflicted by authorities on any congregation or group that has not received official permission to operate,” he was quoted as saying.

Robertson pointed out that the country’s Decree on Religious Practice outlaws any religious practice that the authorities deem could create “social division” or “chaos,” but fails to define those terms, resulting in impunity for local officials who target religious minority groups.

“If this group of five is charged and convicted for doing nothing more than praying at a dying woman’s side, then this could mark a new nadir for religious freedom in the country—so let’s hope that common sense will prevail and Laos drops the case immediately,” Robertson was quoted as saying.

The five defendants were listed in court documents as farmers but identified as pastors or Christian leaders by the HRWLRF, according to the ucanews.com.

They were not allowed representation by a defense attorney, and the court made no effort to determine the cause of Chansee’s death, Prasertsee told the news service.

In its decision, the court said it had determined that the “deeds performed by the defendants constituted indeed a criminal act of working as illegal doctors,” the news report said.

Prasertsee also told ucanews.com that the five Christians, who are jailed in Savannakhet provincial prison, would likely appeal their verdict but could face problems again with finding legal representation.

Christians make up about 1.5 percent of the population in predominantly Buddhist Laos.

Lao Authorities May Release Christians Jailed for ?Illegally Practicing Medicine?

happens in the uk too.

Nurse suspended for offering to pray for elderly patient's recovery


A nurse has been suspended from her job for offering to pray for an elderly patient's recovery from illness.

Nurse Caroline Petrie has vowed to continue praying for patients


Nurse Caroline Petrie was suspended for offering to pray for her patients. Photo: JAY WILLIAMS

By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter 9:00PM GMT 31 Jan 2009
Caroline Petrie, a committed Christian, has been accused by her employers of failing to demonstrate a "personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity".
She faces disciplinary action and could lose her job over the incident.


Mrs Petrie, a married mother of two, says she has been left shocked and upset by the action taken against her.

She insists she has never forced her own religious beliefs on anyone but politely inquired if the elderly patient wanted her to pray for her – either in the woman's presence or after the nurse had left the patient's home.

"I simply couldn't believe that I have been suspended over this. I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. All I am trying to do is help my patients, many of whom want me to pray for them," she said.


Mrs Petrie, 45, is a community nurse employed by North Somerset Primary Care Trust to carry out home visits to sick and elderly patients.

The incident which led to her suspension took place at the home of a woman patient in Winscombe, North Somerset.

"It was around lunchtime and I had spent about 20 to 25 minutes with her. I had applied dressings to her legs and shortly before I left I said to her: 'Would you like me to pray for you?'.

.' And I said: 'OK.' I only offered to pray for her because I was concerned about her welfare and wanted her to get better."

However, after the incident on December 15, she was contacted by the trust and asked to explain her actions.

The woman patient, who is believed to be in her late 70s, is understood to have complained to the trust.

Mrs Petrie will not disclose the woman's name or reveal the precise nature of her ailment because it would breach patient confidentiality.

Mrs Petrie, who lives in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, said she was initially confronted the next day by a nursing sister who said the patient had been taken aback by her question about prayer.

"I said: 'I am sorry. Did I offend or upset her?' The sister said: 'No, no. She was just a bit taken back. You must be aware of your professional code of conduct. I would be careful.'

"But the next day my coordinator left a message on my home phone and I realised this had been taken further."

Mrs Petrie said that she often offers to pray for her patients and that many take her up on it.

She either prays with them or after she has left their home. The nurse has been a committed Christian since she was ten – after her mother died of breast cancer.
Initially, she was Church of England but she switched to the Baptist faith nine years ago. "My faith is very important to me," she said.

Mrs Petrie had previously been reprimanded for an incident in Clevedon last October when she offered to give a small, home-made prayer card to an elderly, male patient, who had happily accepted it.

On this occasion, the patient's carer, who was with him, raised concerns over the incident.

Alison Withers, Mrs Petrie's boss at the time, wrote to her at the end of November saying: "As a nurse you are required to uphold the reputation of your profession.

"Your NMC [Nursing Midwifery Council] code states that 'you must demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity' and 'you must not use your professional status to promote causes that are not related to health'."

In the letter, Mrs Petrie, who qualified as a nurse in 1985, was asked to attend an equality and diversity course and warned: "If there is any further similar incident it may be treated as potential misconduct and the formal disciplinary procedure could be instigated."

Mrs Petrie said: "I stopped handing out prayer cards after that but I found it more and more difficult [not to offer them]. My concern is for the person as a whole, not just their health.

"I was told not to force my faith on anyone but I could respond if patients themselves brought up the subject [of religion]."

It is the second incident – the offer to pray for a patient – that led to the disciplinary action. She was suspended from her part-time job, without pay, on December 17.
She faced an internal disciplinary meeting last Wednesday and expects to learn the outcome this week.

At last week's hour-long meeting, Mrs Petrie says she was told the patient had said she was not offended by the prayer offer but the woman argued that someone else might have been.

The nurse had her representative from the Royal College of Nursing present Mrs Petrie's husband, Stewart, 48, works as a BT engineer and they have two sons, aged 14 and ten.

The couple attend Milton Baptist Church every Sunday and Mrs Petrie said: "Stuart and I have decided to put God first in our lives."

Mrs Petrie, who has worked for the trust since February last year, has already taken legal advice from the Christian Legal Centre, which seeks to promote religious freedom and, particularly, to protect Christians and Christianity.

The centre, in turn, has instructed Paul Diamond, the leading religious rights barrister. Andrea Williams, the founder and director of the centre, said: "We are backing this case all the way."

A spokesman for North Somerset Primary Care Trust said: "Caroline Petrie has been suspended pending an investigation into the matter.

"She is a bank nurse and she has been told we will not be using her in this capacity until the outcome of our investigation is known.

"We always take any concerns raised by our patients most seriously and conscientiously investigate any matter of this nature brought to our attention.
"We are always keen to be respectful of our patients' views and sensitivity as well as those of our staff."
Nurse suspended for offering to pray for patient's recovery - Telegraph

^ Sad, seems our posts are divided between the insanity we left in our home countries and the insanity of Thailand, with an occasional odd country thrown in for amusement. Kind of depressing that our choices are between two equally insane but totally different countries and cultures.

I'm not religious, but such a comment from a nurse would get a polite "thank you" from me.

Originally Posted by BobR

^ Sad, seems our posts are divided between the insanity we left in our home countries and the insanity of Thailand, with an occasional odd country thrown in for amusement. Kind of depressing that our choices are between two equally insane but totally different countries and cultures.

I'm not religious, but such a comment from a nurse would get a polite "thank you" from me.

Appears to be more conditioned extremist in nature than religious or medicinal.

This mix [and the false altruism] is dangerous.

So they did have medical licences or didn't they? Did they not have witch doctor licences?

Originally Posted by taxexile

happens in the uk too.

Hmmm... really?

Initially, she was Church of England but she switched to the Baptist faith nine years ago. "My faith is very important to me," she said.

Alarm bells ringing. You can but wonder at how she offered...

Mrs Petrie had previously been reprimanded for an incident in Clevedon last October when she offered to give a small, home-made prayer card to an elderly, male patient, who had happily accepted it.

On this occasion, the patient's carer, who was with him, raised concerns over the incident.

The carer advancing the cause of being offended on someone else's behalf, because they don't yet realise how offended they are supposed to be.
What exactly is the "concern" here? Being invited to take an interest in something? If Diversity Daleks start handing out flyers, will she be expressing concern about that? If islamic missionaries start handing out prayer cards, will the carer risk it?

Alison Withers, Mrs Petrie's boss at the time, wrote to her at the end of November saying: "As a nurse you are required to uphold the reputation of your profession.

As caring?

"Your NMC [Nursing Midwifery Council] code states that 'you must demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity' and 'you must not use your professional status to promote causes that are not related to health'."

This doesn't do much to change the general perception that "equality and diversity" is about advancing bigotry and imposing and advancing the cause of sodomy and atheism, and a very prejudiced notion of "diversity" and a very unequal notion of "equality".
Aside from that, academic research has indicated the health benefits of having an imaginary friend:
http://admin.cmf.org.uk/pdf/helix/aut04/29books.pdf

At last week's hour-long meeting, Mrs Petrie says she was told the patient had said she was not offended ... but ... someone else might have been.

So this is a vexatious complaint, and advancing the cause of being offended on the behalf of others who don't yet realise how offended they are - but will no doubt be trained so that they understand how offended they are supposed to be.
Typical of the fascists of the left.

Mrs Petrie said: "Stuart and I have decided to put God first in our lives."

Is not a helpful thing to say.

"She is a bank nurse

Which won't help her case either.

[QUOTE=CaptainNemo;2964794]

Initially, she was Church of England but she switched to the Baptist faith nine years ago.

A Christian convert then. Those are the most zelous as they feel they have to prove themselves.

How about a new thread for the 2009 UK new story?

The LPDR government are a bunch of lunatics. They ought to focus their attention on diversifying the economy.

From the sublime to the ridiculous...And back again...