Jett Travolta Dies - Anti-Scientologists Rush To Say "I Told You So."
Jett Travolta, teenage son of John Travolta, died over the weekend, probably from an injury sustained during a seizure. Many people have put forth the observation that Jett was autistic, although the Travoltas have always denied it, and he was never medically diagnosed with the condition. As reported by Damian Thompson at the UK Telegraph, many Anti-Scientologists have rushed to blame the death on Scientology's anti-psychiatry stance that may have led to misdiagnosis and treatment for Jett.
Can we be any more ghoulish?
Whatever you may think of Scientology, there's never been any accusation or suspicion that the Travoltas neglected their child. They may have made different choices that many others would have not, but it is critically important to keep in mind that they still attempted to act in the best interests of their child. If Jett was denied medication, it was because the Travoltas believed (rightly or wrongly) that medications would cause more harm than good.
There's nothing wrong in criticizing beliefs. But there's a time and a place for it, and there are right and wrong ways of going about it. This article is a prime example of how to illuminate Scientology practices without resorting to the name-calling, unsubstantiated accusations, and just general whining that I see far too often in complaints about Scientology.
In the meantime, my sympathies go out to the Travolta family. Regardless of anything else, they have just suffered the loss of a child, which is something no one should be gloating over.
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Comments
I would like to say thank you for your article. This is certainy not the time for decent people to express negativity about the family, or their chosen church. With all the publicity that has followed in John Travolta’s wake, the strongest point ever made was his love for his wife and family. There can be absolutely no doubt that he and his wife did everything humanly possible to give Jett the best of everything. Love and excellent care being at the toop of the list!!!
I lost my Son at age 24 to asthma. I had a healthy Son. The doctors said he had asthma because of a little bronchial phlem at age 11. He had no shortness of breath. Doctors started with gving him an inhaler and meds. Then when he could not breath they added more. They had him on the highest doses of all meds. available. He had No shortness of breath before the meds. I argued with doctors about the side effects harming my Son. They said that they would not give him anything that would hurt him. Now that he is gone, test studies show the medicines do cause worse upper respiratory inflammation. The side effects can be fatal. Two medical professionals have confirmed it to me. It is exactly as I tried to explain it to them. I begged them to understand what they were doing. Doctors have diagnosed many other people I know with asthma, that do not have asthma. Just a simple bronchiol cold that goes away. The medical world lied to me. I am not a scientologist. I trusted the medical world and they killed my Son. They profited a small fortune from us before he died.
Four years ago I was injured in a car accident caused by a man pulling across the highway in front of me. I was injured, and it took doctors 3 years to realize I had a shoulder tear and lower back injury, even with my constant complaints of pain.
I went into minor endometriosis surgery and woke up deaf in left ear. Again the doctors played stupid.
To hear anyone complain that the Travola’s Son died because they did not seek proper medical treatment has never experienced the incompetance of the medical world, the dangers of medicines, nor the pain of loosing your most precious child. My heart goes out to the Travolta family. I know the love and dedication they had trying to help their Son. I know the pain. No one has the right to place judgement. Jett appears to be a very special boy, who was truly loved, but is now in Heaven. I pray the family can find peace in their hearts, thanking God every day that they were blessed with the presence of such a beautiful spirit even if it was for a short time, and ignore the vile, evil, ignorant remarks. May God Bless the Travolta Family
While everybody is being sensitive to the Travoltas’ religious beliefs, I still think it is appropriate to ask questions. Any time there is a death of a child and the parents hold beliefs that are antithetical to modern science and medicine, the questions need to be raised, especially by coroners and medical professionals.
What ever is their believes… they loss a child, no parent want’s to experience losing a child especially at 16.so for the once questioning his death they need to have some compassion they almost makes it sound as if they cause his death,please people look at the big picture here parents losing their young beautiful child, that they no doubtfully loved..