For those who want their pound of flesh, the nurse broke the rules and should pay, no argument there. But it seems this is about more than breaking rules, it's about whether the rules are justified or if they are more of a problem than that which they prevent. Afterall, do we sit back happily when a grandma is sent to jail for not paying her TV licence? "Got what was coming to her, the old wagon!" Seems a bit harsh to me, even if she broke the law.

Why should anyone be precluded from offering a prayer? Why should anyone be so easily offended or angry at that? There was no suggestion of conversion here. If you don't believe in God or prayer, then you can afford a wry smile at the poor simpleton's credulity and say 'no, but thanks all the same'. The only reason to be afraid of prayer is if you suspect it might have some actual effect (though why anyone would struggle against being cured - even by prayer - is beyond me, unless they wanted to die for some reason unknown).

If you're so easily offended by other people's expression of their religion, why is that? I am a Christian, but when I have visited synagogues in the past I have worn the skull cap, because Jews who worship there wear it, and I want to show a sign of respect to their beliefs. I'm not worried that I'll suddenly stop being a Christian just because I am wearing a skullcap! In my experience neither Jews nor Christians nor Muslims are easily offended by expressions of each other's faith (unless we're talking about the world's flash points - but they got to be that way for many reasons of which religion is only a small part). It tends more to be people who are anti-religion as a whole who prefer not to see signs of it about (fair enough all the same, just let's not say it's to avoid conflict between the world's main religions).

Modern medicine is based heavily on medical science - surgery and drugs are anyway, and similar aspects. But anyone keeping up to date with developments in medicine will know there has been an 'East-ward' shift in medical thinking that views the curative process as more than simply a 'scientific' series of pills and surgical interventions. There is now a more holistic approach which realizes that a patient's general motivation is important, much more emphasis is placed on bedside manner, more attention is paid to making the hospital a pleasant environment with attention to ergonomics and design / colour etc., I have relatives with a lot of experience in the field of occupational therapy, where patients (for example) did painting etc. in order to speed their recovery. There is also a bigger emphasis on prevention whereas previously it was assumed that we could live as we liked and science would fix us when things went wrong, much as take a car for a 'tune up'.

Once again, I repeat, the best way seems to me to be a polite "no thank you" and move on.


Someone back a bit presented the old lady as 'the VICTIM [my emphasis] was in her 70s' - that bit made me giggle! The 'victim' of a prayer! Oh dear! I can imagine the headlines -

- The victim, in her 70s, was still in a shocked condition late last night after being admitted to hospital. She told police that the attacker had forced her way to her bedside where she offered to pray for the victim in no uncertain terms. "I was lucky to escape" she explained. She alerted one of the other nurses, who quickly raised the alarm. The perpetrator was quickly apprehended and a file is being prepared for the DPP. "I was lucky" continued the old lady, "but imagine if it had been someone else! I hate to think what might have happened!" The police say they have a suspect in custody and are making no further enquiries. "We are confident that we have apprehended the main suspect and that the matter is closed and will be speedily brought to trial" No date has been set for the trial, but a set of stocks have been dusted off and are being prepared in the village green. "We're expecting a brisk trade in old cabbages and rotten tomatoes" one greengrocer stated, while another added "I can hardly wait. I had several hundredweight of bad eggs to offload and I was wondering what to do with them"

I wonder if the day is far off?