The Arrest of Jumana Nagrawala: Limits of Physician Autonomy, Rituals and Religious Freedom
Rajan Dewar, MD PhD, Associate Professor, University of Michigan
Rev. Dr. Christina L. Wright, University of Michigan
Hiran M. Dewar, University of Michigan
Richard A. Shweder, PhD, Harold H. Swift Distinguished Service Professor of Human Development, University of Chicago
John Inazu, JD, PhD, Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law & Religion, and Professor of Political Science, Washington University
Leslie LeBlanc, The Journal of Clinical Ethics
Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, a physician practicing in Michigan was arrested by the FBI for allegedly performing "Female Genital Mutilation" on underage minor girls. Her testimony revealed that she was practicing a mild form of a ritual prescribed by the Imam of her mosque (Bohra).
When religious leaders prescribe rituals to the followers, not aligning with the tenets, can be deeply stressful. Physicians, who realize this, may carry out a surrogate procedure, that is not harmful to the patient, but allays the stress. This compromise could actually be beneficial to all parties.
Several important questions are raised by the practice of Dr. Nagarwala. Can physicians support or abhor religious dictums in their practices? Surrogate decision making on behalf of minors are routine in religious practices, including circumcisions of male babies in some Christian traditions, Islam and Judaism. Similarly tonsuring of hair (mundan) and piercing ears of young children are common among oriental religions. Are such practices truly different from religious 'nicking'? Is there a role for Governmental authorities to interfere in religious traditions?
The panel consists of three academicians with invited authorities, who will present a balanced view of the case: we will present the case for the government to intervene on behalf of minor children and present the opposing view of how the government overstepped its boundaries by arresting Dr. Jumana.
Should the trial be conducted only on technical merits (ie., whether she did anatomically mutilate the genitalia) or should the wider question of religious freedom should not be curtailed by local laws?
A mock trial format will be followed, especially if the true trial of Jumana Nagarwala is not over by the time of the conference (at the time of submission of this abstract, Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, was released on bail bonds).
Rev. Dr. Christina L. Wright, University of Michigan
Hiran M. Dewar, University of Michigan
Richard A. Shweder, PhD, Harold H. Swift Distinguished Service Professor of Human Development, University of Chicago
John Inazu, JD, PhD, Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law & Religion, and Professor of Political Science, Washington University
Leslie LeBlanc, The Journal of Clinical Ethics
Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, a physician practicing in Michigan was arrested by the FBI for allegedly performing "Female Genital Mutilation" on underage minor girls. Her testimony revealed that she was practicing a mild form of a ritual prescribed by the Imam of her mosque (Bohra).
When religious leaders prescribe rituals to the followers, not aligning with the tenets, can be deeply stressful. Physicians, who realize this, may carry out a surrogate procedure, that is not harmful to the patient, but allays the stress. This compromise could actually be beneficial to all parties.
Several important questions are raised by the practice of Dr. Nagarwala. Can physicians support or abhor religious dictums in their practices? Surrogate decision making on behalf of minors are routine in religious practices, including circumcisions of male babies in some Christian traditions, Islam and Judaism. Similarly tonsuring of hair (mundan) and piercing ears of young children are common among oriental religions. Are such practices truly different from religious 'nicking'? Is there a role for Governmental authorities to interfere in religious traditions?
The panel consists of three academicians with invited authorities, who will present a balanced view of the case: we will present the case for the government to intervene on behalf of minor children and present the opposing view of how the government overstepped its boundaries by arresting Dr. Jumana.
Should the trial be conducted only on technical merits (ie., whether she did anatomically mutilate the genitalia) or should the wider question of religious freedom should not be curtailed by local laws?
A mock trial format will be followed, especially if the true trial of Jumana Nagarwala is not over by the time of the conference (at the time of submission of this abstract, Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, was released on bail bonds).