Healthcare Info Ethics - Praying with Patients

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Medicine

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Apr 3, 2024

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PRAYING WITH PATIENTS March 4, 2024 Praying with Patients Kaeyty Richardson There is a large controversy in the world today regarding religion involved in the practice of medicine. Many believe there needs to be a strong separation between the two, as there is in public learning and politics. Others with strict religious views believe in using their religion to drive their decision-making in medicine. It has been said that the relationship between religion and medicine is inevitable as both are key components in people’s responses to suffering. It is important to realize that both the patient and healthcare provider have rights to their individual religious beliefs and when presented together, this can deliver conflict. A common conflict seen in healthcare is praying with patients. Though there are patients who choose to pray in times of suffering, there are also some medical professionals who see praying as beneficial to the patient’s care and recovery. When prayer is offered or advised by the medical provider currently servicing the patient, there can be many pressures placed on the patient when responding. There can be pressure to participate in prayer that the patient is not comfortable with, or they outright do not believe in. In the same sense of providing comfort, this can also cause unnecessary stress to the patient before having a procedure performed. Medical professionals need to remember and understand the overall goal of providing the best care for the patient. In a similar conflict, the medical professional also has rights to their own religious beliefs that should be taken into consideration when performing basic or life-threatening procedures. There are some scenarios where a provider has the responsibility of addressing a patient’s spiritual or religious beliefs due to the risks of a threatening surgery. I would choose to participate as minimally as possible so that the patient feels cared for based on their views, and I did not feel pressure from inclusion. I have a very broad and basic Christian view. I do not attend church, or much participate in prayer myself, but I have always been respectful of others. I have attended several churches with very unbiased or closed views that I try my best to differentiate from in my time and life. I feel that this is the same approach I would take if I were a medical professional preparing a patient for surgery. Since I do not have any impending strong views overruling one religion compared to another, I feel this would be a good and respectful way to address a patient’s beliefs. For example, rather than praying myself, I would gladly bow my head and close my eyes as prayer was cited in a patient’s presence if the policies of my job allowed me to.

PRAYING WITH PATIENTS March 4, 2024 My overall opinion of religion in medicine is that it should remain separate. I understand that this is a hard topic and the reasoning for patients who bring religion into medicine. However, I feel that more conflict arises when trying to uphold everyone’s beliefs. Since there is no set standard or process for each religion or affiliation, it is also hard to maintain a specific precedent. All should be reminded of the importance of the patient’s overall care from a caring provider. References Knowles, M. (2018, March 26). Physicians praying with patients — does religion belong in exam rooms? Www.beckershospitalreview.com. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-experience/physicians-praying-with- patients-does-religion-belong-in-exam-rooms.html AMA Code of Medical Ethics’ Opinion on Respect for Patient Beliefs. (2009). AMA Journal of Ethics , 11 (10), 766–766. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2009.11.10.code1-0910 Myrick C. Shinall, J. (2009). The Separation of Church and Medicine. AMA Journal of Ethics , 11 (10), 747–749. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2009.11.10.fred1-0910 .

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