Can I Stop My Treatment If God Healed Me?

In accompanying people of sexual and gender diversity, it is common to encounter stories of deep courage. With some frequency, there also emerge testimonies of people who — in a moment of genuine and sincere spiritual surrender — consider suspending their antiretroviral treatment under the premise that their faith is sufficient to achieve physical healing.

This article does not aim to judge that experience or question the depth of anyone's faith. On the contrary, it seeks to build a bridge. As someone who for eight years was an active part of religious life, I understand from personal experience the importance of spirituality as a driver of resilience. And from that very place, I want to share what scientific evidence tells us: faith and treatment are not in conflict. They are allies.

Antiretroviral treatment does not test your faith. It is, in itself, a miracle of human intelligence put at the service of life.

Spirituality as Refuge and Life Force

Spirituality is a human right and an invaluable tool for emotional healing. For many people, believing in something higher or finding peace in prayer is what allows them to maintain their integrity when circumstances become difficult. That strength is real, documented, and respected.

However, faith does not need to be in opposition to the advance of science. Throughout history, medicine has been understood by many religious traditions as an instrument of divine care toward humanity. Care of the body and care of the soul are not contradictory: they are part of the same commitment to life.

I have heard testimonies of young people who, after experiencing what they perceive as a miraculous intervention, decide to discontinue their medication, feeling that continuing it would mean doubting their faith. To those going through a similar situation, it is vital to remember that continuing treatment is not an expression of doubt — it is an expression of gratitude and respect for the body you have.

What the Data Tell Us About Treatment Interruption

Adherence to antiretroviral treatment in Latin America and the Caribbean is estimated at an average of 70%, below the threshold necessary for sustained long-term viral suppression. Among the factors associated with lack of adherence are stigma, misinformation, and alternative beliefs about the disease.

Globally, 9.2 million people living with HIV still do not have access to treatment services. Voluntary interruption of treatment in people who already had access to it increases this gap in a preventable way.

Interrupting antiretroviral treatment significantly increases the risk of viral rebound, drug resistance, and deterioration of the immune system, as well as the risk of HIV transmission.

Science as a Tool of Gratitude

Taking care of one's health with available tools is the greatest act of gratitude toward the gift of life. Medicine does not cancel out prayer: it complements it. It is perfectly possible to maintain an active spiritual life, seek peace in a congregation or personal altar, and simultaneously be rigorous about treatment adherence.

Today we know, under a solid international scientific consensus, that HIV is a medically manageable condition. Thanks to strict adherence, the virus becomes undetectable. And when the virus is undetectable, it is untransmittable.

A Commitment to Holistic Self-Care

Interrupting treatment for spiritual reasons should not be seen as a test of faith, but as an unnecessary risk to a body that deserves protection. The intelligence of those who spend years in laboratories developing effective therapies is also a manifestation of care toward humanity. May spirituality grant us the strength to be consistent with our health.

Let us keep believing and praying, but above all, let us keep taking care of ourselves. Every life is too precious to be left to chance.

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