Christian Medical Fellowship
Encyclopedia
The Christian Medical Fellowship (also known as CMF), founded in 1949, is an evangelical
, interdenominational organisation that links together Christian
doctors
and medical student
s in the UK
.
CMF's stated aims are "uniting Christian doctors", "supporting Christian medical students", "advancing Christian mission", "publishing Christian literature" and "promoting Christian values". The organisation publishes two journals
, "Triple Helix" (doctors) and "Nucleus" (students), several smaller publications, and some books. CMF organises conferences
on a local and national basis and promotes and supports Christian medical mission overseas.
CMF is linked to similar organisations in many countries through the International Christian Medical and Dental Association and the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship for its medical student
s.
, such as making submissions to the UK
House of Lords
enquiry into physician-assisted suicide, and generally promotes the Pro-Life
case in ethical debates, including topics on abortion
and euthanasia
. In some of these activities, CMF works together with other faith-based and non-faith-based groups, such as the Care Not Killing Alliance and the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship.
Controversially, CMF publications from time to time consider issues such as the reality or otherwise of miraculous cures of disease and of demon possession, which is not a psychiatric or medical diagnosis recognised by either the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-IV) or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). In such matters, CMF reflects the wider evangelical church in that some members believe miracles and demon possession to be real today, while others consider them 1st century descriptions of phenomena which are now better understood through science.
The position of the Christian Medical Fellowship has been to actively encourage doctors and medical students to use opportunites arising from the doctor-patient relationship
to discuss faith with patients, and critics have complained that this amounts to proselytising and an abuse of the doctor's professional role. In 2006 and 2007-8 two major submissions regarding the Christian Medical Fellowship and its activities encouraging proselytisation
of patients were made jointly by a coalition of minority faith communities, interfaith and other organisations to the General Medical Council
Standards and Ethics Committee. These submissions and other unrelated issues resulted in the new GMC ethical guidance for doctors prohibiting abuse of the doctor-patient relationship: "You must not express to your patients your personal beliefs, including political, religious or moral beliefs, in ways that exploit their vulnerability or that are likely to cause them distress", but also acknowledging that "Personal beliefs... are central to the lives of doctors and patients...For some patients, acknowledging their beliefs or religious practices may be an important aspect of a holistic approach to their care. Discussing personal beliefs may, when approached sensitively, help you to work in partnership with patients to address their particular treatment needs." .
leaders to the House of Lords
Select Committee on Religious Offences objecting to a claim that Hinduism
was a 'false religion'.
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
and the Gay and Lesbian Association of Dentists and Doctors have also strongly objected to the CMF's position against lesbian
, gay
and transgender
ed people, as expressed in a number of articles on the CMF website such as on "The Health Risks of Gay Sexual Relationships". CMF does not hold an official position on lesbian
, gay
and transgender
ed sexual orientations although it generally reflects a fairly conservative evangelical stance, considering sexual behaviour (homosexual or heterosexual) outside marriage to be sinful.
In October 2007, the Christian Medical Fellowship was accused by The Guardian
newspaper of attempting to skew the balance of evidence presented at the Parliamentary review of the UK's laws on abortion due to a number of its members presenting evidence at the Parliamentary Select Committee without revealing their membership and seniority within the organisation. The members concerned stated that they were submitting evidence as individuals, not as representatives of CMF, and they declared their affiliation when asked to do so in an unusual step by the Committee.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, interdenominational organisation that links together Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
doctors
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and medical student
Medical Student
Medical Student may refer to:*Someone studying at medical school*Medical Student Newspaper, a UK publication...
s in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
CMF's stated aims are "uniting Christian doctors", "supporting Christian medical students", "advancing Christian mission", "publishing Christian literature" and "promoting Christian values". The organisation publishes two journals
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, "Triple Helix" (doctors) and "Nucleus" (students), several smaller publications, and some books. CMF organises conferences
Meeting
In a meeting, two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal setting.- Definitions :An act or process of coming together as an assembly for a common purpose....
on a local and national basis and promotes and supports Christian medical mission overseas.
CMF is linked to similar organisations in many countries through the International Christian Medical and Dental Association and the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship for its medical student
Medical Student
Medical Student may refer to:*Someone studying at medical school*Medical Student Newspaper, a UK publication...
s.
Medical ethics
CMF regularly contributes to debate on issues of medical ethicsMedical ethics
Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology.-History:Historically,...
, such as making submissions to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
enquiry into physician-assisted suicide, and generally promotes the Pro-Life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
case in ethical debates, including topics on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
. In some of these activities, CMF works together with other faith-based and non-faith-based groups, such as the Care Not Killing Alliance and the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship.
Controversially, CMF publications from time to time consider issues such as the reality or otherwise of miraculous cures of disease and of demon possession, which is not a psychiatric or medical diagnosis recognised by either the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders...
(DSM-IV) or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). In such matters, CMF reflects the wider evangelical church in that some members believe miracles and demon possession to be real today, while others consider them 1st century descriptions of phenomena which are now better understood through science.
The position of the Christian Medical Fellowship has been to actively encourage doctors and medical students to use opportunites arising from the doctor-patient relationship
Doctor-patient relationship
The doctor-patient relationship is central to the practice of healthcare and is essential for the delivery of high-quality health care in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The doctor-patient relationship forms one of the foundations of contemporary medical ethics...
to discuss faith with patients, and critics have complained that this amounts to proselytising and an abuse of the doctor's professional role. In 2006 and 2007-8 two major submissions regarding the Christian Medical Fellowship and its activities encouraging proselytisation
Proselytism
Proselytizing is the act of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, another religion. The word proselytize is derived ultimately from the Greek language prefix προσ- and the verb ἔρχομαι in the form of προσήλυτος...
of patients were made jointly by a coalition of minority faith communities, interfaith and other organisations to the General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
Standards and Ethics Committee. These submissions and other unrelated issues resulted in the new GMC ethical guidance for doctors prohibiting abuse of the doctor-patient relationship: "You must not express to your patients your personal beliefs, including political, religious or moral beliefs, in ways that exploit their vulnerability or that are likely to cause them distress", but also acknowledging that "Personal beliefs... are central to the lives of doctors and patients...For some patients, acknowledging their beliefs or religious practices may be an important aspect of a holistic approach to their care. Discussing personal beliefs may, when approached sensitively, help you to work in partnership with patients to address their particular treatment needs." .
Criticisms
The Christian Medical Fellowship has been the subject of complaint from minority faith communities, including a representation by several HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
leaders to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
Select Committee on Religious Offences objecting to a claim that Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
was a 'false religion'.
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement describes itself as "a UK-based international Charity who are praying for an inclusive church".The Gay Christian Movement was founded in 1976 with the Revd Richard Kirker as its first General Secretary...
and the Gay and Lesbian Association of Dentists and Doctors have also strongly objected to the CMF's position against lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
ed people, as expressed in a number of articles on the CMF website such as on "The Health Risks of Gay Sexual Relationships". CMF does not hold an official position on lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
ed sexual orientations although it generally reflects a fairly conservative evangelical stance, considering sexual behaviour (homosexual or heterosexual) outside marriage to be sinful.
In October 2007, the Christian Medical Fellowship was accused by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper of attempting to skew the balance of evidence presented at the Parliamentary review of the UK's laws on abortion due to a number of its members presenting evidence at the Parliamentary Select Committee without revealing their membership and seniority within the organisation. The members concerned stated that they were submitting evidence as individuals, not as representatives of CMF, and they declared their affiliation when asked to do so in an unusual step by the Committee.