Incorporating Religion and Spirituality Into Healthcare

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-kodish-md/incorporating-religion-an_b_6213346.html

Eric Kodish, M.D. Become a fan
Director of Cleveland Clinic's Center for Ethics, Humanities and Spiritual Care.

Posted: 11/24/2014 7:15 pm EST Updated: 11/24/2014 7:16 pm EST

Religion and spirituality are an important, if often private, part of many Americans' lives. According to a poll from Pew Research Center, 65 percent of Americans identify themselves as religious and 18 percent describe themselves as spiritual. Yet, there is one place where those beliefs haven't always been completely welcome: medicine. This is actually ironic because during a medical crisis many people feel a need to connect to this part of their lives. Yet it can be difficult to find a doctor who shares concern for the role personal religious or spiritual beliefs can play in healthcare.

Part of the disconnect that exists between doctors and patients in these matters can be attributed to a traditional false dichotomy between faith and science. Many of the current generation of physicians and nurses have been trained to think of religion and science as opposites of one another. On top of that, medical education does not typically focus on religion or spirituality and its role in healthcare. This is a stark difference from historical times when the religious leader and/or priest and the physician healer were one and the same. The advent of science in our society pushed a separation of faith and science. Yet it doesn't have to be that way. It is possible to reconcile your religious or spiritual beliefs with your medical care -- and studies have shown that it can actually have a positive effect on your health.

Here's how to make your religious or spiritual beliefs part of your medical care:

• Know your rights. As with any aspect of your medical care, you have the power to set the course as far as how religion or spirituality plays a role in your experience in the hospital or in general medical treatment. Don't be afraid to speak up and let a doctor or nurse know about how you'd like your religious or spiritual beliefs to be incorporated into your care and medical experience.

• Start the discussion early. Many people wait for an extended hospital stay to make their physician aware of their religious or spiritual beliefs. Consider divulging this part of your life to your doctor from the beginning of your relationship if it is truly important to you. Doctors can do many things, but they can't read your mind.

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[upaloopa]

1. So what is the doctor supposed to do different

if you are religious? I don't understand.

[cbayer]

4. Frankly, I think the article is really bad.

Hospitals are required to have protocols about how to handle various religious beliefs, spiritual beliefs and those without beliefs. There are clear guidelines about how this is to be approached. Patients are generally asked up front about their position regarding religion.

Doctors and nurses should really not play any role in this at all, other than making sure that the patient has access to what they want/need. Asking your health care providers to pray with you is inappropriate.

So, the answer to your question is that the doctor shouldn't do anything differently. That's not their job.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Oh fuck no. No doctor in her right mind is going to incorporate

religious nonsense into medical practices. Malpractice heaven.

"On top of that, medical education does not typically focus on religion or spirituality" - no shit Sherlock. Why the flying fuck would it?

[edhopper]

3. Yes

if you believe an animal sacrifice is in order, make sure they know to arrange it.

As well as replacing vital surgery with prayer.

[cbayer]

5. I do think it's important to provide for the religious needs and requests

to the extent it is possible.

Things like animal sacrifice and replacing surgery with prayer are likely to become ethical issues that will be address by that specific committee.

I know you were introducing hyperbole, but there are lots of reasonable requests.

[edhopper]

6. Yeah

but there is a difference between hospital experience and medical treatment.

I was making fun of the latter.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. The article is ludicrous.

This is a stark difference from historical times when the religious leader and/or priest and the physician healer were one and the same.

First - that is complete bullshit. At least in our culture "priest" and "doctor" were different professions going back to ancient times. Second, this is actually advocating integrating "priest" and "doctor", "science" and "religion" and claiming that a profession based on evidence based reasoning is not incompatible with a profession based on utter nonsense. Does the person who posted this crap seriously support what is being stated in this article?

[trotsky]

8. It's about reinforcing religious privilege.

The world must adapt to their beliefs, not the other way around.

[edhopper]

9. Guess i didn't read deep enough

that is ludicrous.