So why am I still flip-flopping about a lawsuit? I spoke with a friend recently, and shared the news. My old primary care doctor called me on my cell and personally apologized for potentially shortening my lifespan. But instead of making me feel more at peace, his casual chat made me feel more upset. I said if he’d given me specific information outlining what could be at play, I could have taken measures, and that having taken measures later, my GFR had held steady for many months.
He said he was sorry and that he might be more careful with future patients. So why did I feel that was wholly inadequate? I told my friend about it, and he reiterated that I should take action against the doctor and the hospital. The doctor had probably taken years off my life and might also err with others in the future; plus, the hospital, behemoth though they are, might change their policy that delayed referral to nephrology until stage 3B.
I told my mom, and she does not see the Bible as the authority on life as I do, but she said there’s a difference between trying to get revenge on someone, between greed and avarice (read lawsuit) and taking responsibility for you and your family and friends. I guess I saw what she was saying to mean that I could advocate for myself without being cruel or greedy, per se, but I still struggle with the idea of a lawsuit as it chiefly brings to mind what I’d do with a big windfall of money…
Yes, I’d donate a lot to charity and try to elevate my writing activities, advocating for better hospital policy regarding kidney disease, but the thing still smelled like a money-grab…
I looked up some verses on the subject online:
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, …
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
And I found some bullet points, but don’t know if they are valid without researching:
- 2 Timothy 3:1 – Discourages selfish motivations
- Exodus 23:7 – Discourages false motivations
- Romans 12:1 – Discourages vengeful motivations
- Proverbs 31:8 – Encourages speaking up and judging fairly, and defending the rights of the poor and needy
- Philippians 2:14-15 – Encourages doing all things without complaining and disputing
- New Testament – Encourages taking disputes before the Lord’s people instead of before unbelievers
And who am I to judge my doctor, to know if he is a man of faith? Such dilemmas are difficult by nature.
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