Dr Kent Brantly says he was “saved by God”.

Dr Kent Brantly, an American doctor and missionary who contracted the Ebola virus while working in West Africa, was released from an isolation unit this week after being cured of the disease.

Evacuated out of West Africa, and flown to America to become one of the first ever Ebola patients in the country, Dr Brantly had been kept in isolation for three weeks. He and another American patient, Nancy Writebol, were the first two people to receive an experimental drug for Ebola.

At a news conference following his release, Brantly announced, “Today is a miraculous day.”

“I’m thrilled to be alive,” he continued. “To be well and to be reunited with my family.”

One might think that – being a man of science – Brantly meant that his recovery was a medical miracle. But as his press conference continued, it became clear he was talking about a miracle of God.

When talking about fellow patient Nancy Writebol, he said: “When she walked out of the room, all she could say was ‘To God be the glory’. As a medical missionary, I never imagined myself in this position.”

He then went on to say in no uncertain terms, “God saved my life. Please do not stop praying for the people of West Africa.”

Watch the clip here:

His statement has since been slammed by commentators and critics from around the world, who are insisting that scientific advancements saved Brantly, not spiritualism or religion. Critics are also raising this question:

If Brantly was saved by God, does that mean God decided not to save the 1,200 people in West Africa who have died from the virus?

Sam de Brito wrote in a recent column:

Michele Hanon wrote for The Guardian:

Steve McSwain also discussed Brantly’s comments in The Huffington Post, also was more reticent:

Scientific advancements and medical professionals saved Dr Brantly, and cured him of Ebola.

Kent Brantly is most likely a truly compassionate human being. He travelled to West Africa to tend to the sick, and then became sick himself. When he spoke at the press conference, he no doubt merely wanted to give thanks to a major force in his life – his faith – the same way someone might thank their family for supporting them during a difficult time.

But that’s not what he said. What he said was, “God saved my life.”

News outlets can report that Kent Brantly thinks he was saved by God; but as far as the facts are concerned, he was saved by science.

As de Brito points out in his column, Brantly’s words are not only inaccurate; they are quite possibly damaging. Sam de Brito explains that superstitious beliefs have also hindered the containment and treatment of Ebola in West Africa.

If God did save Brantly, there’s only one thing we wish.

That God wants to save the people of West Africa, too.

What do you think of Dr Kent Brantly’s comments?