The law in many countries requires employees to subject themselves to pre-employment medical examination before their employer hires them or otherwise. This is very essential because one has to be medically fit to carry out certain tasks in certain positions. Employers also need to know how much they are likely to spend on a prospective employee’s medical bills and if the mathematics between their contributions to the growth of the company will be in the favour of the company.

For every driver’s licence issued, at least a visual acuity test is done – you cannot be allowed to drive when you cannot see properly. You will be a nuisance to yourself and everybody else. You need to pass a medical examination before you can be granted visas into certain countries. These requirements are clearly stated by the law and have not been fingered to infringe on our basic human rights.

Five years ago I met a gentleman and his fiancée in my line of duty who had just tested positive for HIV. His fiancée had tested negative so both of them requested for a confirmatory test, which produced the same results. This gentleman requested an end to the relationship, which the fiancée declined and insisted they go ahead and tie the knot as earlier planned. All this was after a long lecture on HIV/AIDS from me.

About a year afterward, I met this gentleman again and this time he wanted my help as a brother and a doctor. He was months away from getting married to his long-time fiancée and the church was now asking for medical report before holy matrimony. He suggested that I falsify his HIV status on the report so the church can go ahead with the ‘holy’ matrimony for them. He went on to say he had come to me because I was the only other person aside his fiancée who knew is HIV status. I explained to him that as a medical doctor, it was against my code of ethics to falsify results or findings for any purpose, but as a brother I would advise him to explore other alternatives to holy matrimony.

The health of a your life partner or soul mate as some of us will want to call it is very important. In fact, the number of people who require information on genotype before committing to any relationship is now on the rise because of fear of sickle cell disease in future. This is a major step forward. But Love conquers all as they say, and to some people that’s the most important thing in any relationship. The health status of my partner is secondary.  This is the freedom of choice humanity enjoys.

It has become common practice that some churches require prospective couples to pass a medical exam or provide a medical report before holy matrimony. Some people have been denied their wishes for not satisfying such requirements. Many others have managed to falsify reports to have their wishes granted.

No law in any institution in this country overrides the supreme law of the land. Must the church know one's health status, be it genotype, HIV or pregnancy test result before they can be deemed fit for a holy matrimony? Are these not confidential information meant for consumption by the prospective couples and their health professionals? Does not granting people their wish of a holy matrimony on health grounds, when they are fully aware of the consequences, amount to discrimination and infringement on basic human rights? Are the laws of the church superior to the laws of the country?

Let's wake up and get talking.

Dr. Bernard Dampson

bernarddampson@gmail.com