Wait... delaying medical treatment, of someone critical to the nation, because "but ceremony"?
Sounds like the society has developed regressive enough to die out by its own hand.
Or author is really forcing it with the plot. I enjoy stories with a bit more depth/realism.
(Such as ones where they say 'we'll fake it anyway in circumstances like this'.)
We're not doing much better nowadays with homeopathy. But even our dumb systems allow exemptions.
(i.e. Pope's abdication, Japanese princess marrying a dentist. Or baptizing babies with squirt bottles 6 feet.)
Only reason I can think of not to is someone is exploiting hardline "ceremony" excuse as threadbare assasination attempt.
Like some (US) states have laws mandating science-fiction-level requirements, to ban things one political party doesn't like.
The real point there is who is abusing what process to achieve which end.
I'm hoping author reveals what conspiracy is leading to that soon-ish.