Physician Karen Melton

Removing the Ring of Submission Physician Karen Melton

I discovered that the spiritual philosophy of Osteopathic Medicine was contrary to my Christian faith...


"There is no question as to whether there can be a spiritual element within osteopathic medical care," writes one of the representatives of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). "A core tenet of osteopathic medicine is that: 'The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.'"


Finally, there was acknowledgement that osteopathy had its own spirituality. This was a happy moment for me reading those words in November of 2014. There really is no question. There is and can be a spiritual element in osteopathic medical care. I spent two years trying to get the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to understand I could not be one of their members because the philosophy and practice of osteopathy was spiritual. By being a member of the AOA and practicing osteopathic principles, I would be violating my own religious beliefs. It was a wonderful moment when they got it. Now the question was, would they accommodate me and find a way for me to renounce osteopathic religious spiritual thought and keep my allopathic/scientific (traditionally called MD) medical training.


The answer was a resounding no!


The reason, I later discovered, is that the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) has wed that spiritual element to my training, license, and all domains of patient care.
-- Karen Melton, Physician


"This book reveals an insider's view of the world of osteopathic medicine and shines a bright light on aspects of the underlying philosophy that are sure to startle and alarm the reader. This is a must-read for any Christian who seeks healthcare standards that originate in the teachings of the Divine Physician."
-- Susan Brinkmann, OCDS