Plain Answers About the Amish Life by Mindy Starns Clark Page B

professional help than the non-Amish, especially with minor ailments or injuries. Generally, the more conservative the district, the more likely they are to rely on their own home treatments first, using doctors and hospitals only as a last resort.
    Do they believe in getting vaccinated?
    Generally speaking, yes, though some abstain for religious reasons or because of safety concerns—particularly from vaccinations associated with autism.
    Do they practice family planning?
    Most Amish couples want many children, so family planning is not usually necessary. When desired, however, it depends on the district. Some districts discourage or prohibit the use of birth control, while others consider it a private matter left to the discretion of husband and wife.
    Do the Amish have their babies at home or in the hospital?
    Both, and at birthing centers too. Though a number of Amish women give birth in hospitals, many opt for home births or birthing centers instead. They do so for several reasons:
    â€¢ cost—home births are much less expensive than hospital births
    â€¢ comfort—many women find the home environment far less stressful for labor and delivery
    â€¢ proximity—most women would rather be surrounded by their own family members than by a staff of paid medical workers
    Depending on the region, hospital and home births may be attended by a physician, nurse-midwife, or midwife. Generally, the more conservative the district, the more likely they are to use midwives and home births.
    Do the Amish use health insurance?
    No. Because of their belief in remaining separate from the world, the Amish generally do not use health insurance. Most medical expenses are simply paid out of pocket by the family involved.
    For large expenses a family cannot afford, costs are usually covered by their community. The Amish believe this binds them together and forces them to depend more heavily on one another.
    Is it true they prefer to seek treatment outside of the United States?
    No, but some Amish will travel to other countries, primarily Mexico, to save money on more exorbitant medical treatments.
    Is there such a thing as an Amish doctor or an Amish hospital?
    The Amish end their formal educations at the eighth grade and professional degrees are not pursued, so the Amish would not be adequately schooled to become a doctor. There are, however, non-Amish doctors who specialize in treating the Amish.
    There are also hospitals and other facilities with a decidedly Amish clientele, such as the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania; the Mount Eaton Care Center in Mount Eaton, Ohio; and the Pomerene Hospital in Millersburg, Ohio.
    What about mental health? Do the Amish ever seek treatment from psychiatrists, psychologists, and or family therapists? Do they ever seek professional counseling?
    Yes. If necessary, most Amish will seek mental health care, though the counseling process can be hindered if the medical professional involved is not familiar with a Plain lifestyle—or, worse, if he sees it as part of the problem. Thus, many Amish who need mental health services seek out Mennonite-based facilities such as at Philhaven in Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania. There they can receive services from professionals who are experienced with—and respectful of—the Plain lifestyle.
    Why do the Amish seem to deal with more than their fair share of genetic disorders?
    Unfortunately, the Amish suffer from what is known as the “founder effect,” which means they can trace their genetic roots back to a small set of common ancestors. (This can also be found in other culturally isolated religious groups, such as the Ashkenazi Jews, as well as in communities that are geographically isolated, such as the island-based populations of Iceland and Easter Island.)
    Through many generations of genetic intermixing, mutations of DNA have caused the proliferation of rare disorders among the Amish—for example, dwarfism