Tuesday, 30 June 2009
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Should Doctors and Nurses Be Allowed to Pray with Their Patients?
If a doctor wishes to discuss spiritual matters or offer prayers for a suffering patient, he or she should not be subjected to disciplinary measures for doing so, the British Medical Association (BMA) will be told this week.
This is no new issue for the BMA; in fact it will be discussed at their annual conference in Liverpool during a session about medical ethics.
According to a recent article, this controversy first came to light when a nurse, Caroline Petrie, was suspended after a patient complained that Petrie offered to pray for her.
Later, her primary care trust agreed that she should be allowed to pray for her patients provided that she first asks them if they have any medical needs.
The BMA agrees with this, but argues that spiritual discussions should never warrant disciplinary measures by National Health Services (NHS).
A motion put forth by BMA's agenda committee states, "Offering to pray for a patient should not be grounds for suspension." Additionally, the motion advises that spiritual matters should be raised "with respect for the views and sensitivities of individuals."
Two sets of guidelines currently govern the matter of discussing spirituality in medical practices. One is set out by the General Medical Council (GMC) and the other by the Department of Health.
The department's view is explained in Religion or Belief: A Pratical Guide for the NHS:
"To avoid misunderstandings and complaints, it should be made clear to everyone from the first day of training and/or employment, and regularly restated, that such behaviour, notwithstanding religious beliefs, could be construed as harassment under the disciplinary and grievance procedures."According to the GMC, it's important "to exercise some joined-up thinking so that while always respecting the views and sensitivities of others, there should be freedom of speech to have appropriate consensual discussions of spiritual matters within the NHS."
Doctors express varied opinions on this issue. Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, director of professional activities at the BMA, sees no inherent problem with discussing spiritual matters in the medical practice, but urges that it be done with sensitivity to the patients' personal beliefs and desires.
"[It's] hugely important that it's done right and sensitively," Nathanson said. "[Doctors] want to know what they are allowed to do."
Do you think that doctors should be allowed to pray for their patients, or discuss spiritual matters with them?
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- From: Winds_of_Change
- Name: Winds_of_Change
- About Me: Hi, I'm Amanda. I'm an English major in the Journalism Certificate program at the University at Buffalo. I love to write, and through this Revelife blog, hope to integrate that passion with my other love, my Catholic Christian faith. I'm a big fan of Christian music...Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, Stephen Curtis Chapman..you name it. I sing at my churches both at home and school and am a firm believer in "He who sings prays twice." Most importantly, throughout the last few years, I've deepened in my faith and come to know that God will always be there to guide my steps. I often live by this passage and trust its message: "'For I know the plans I have for you,'" declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."' - Jeremiah 29:11
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Comments (46)
They should be allowed to ask, and then they should respect the patient's wishes. It is not harassment to ask the question.
I didn't read this article, but my first thought when I read the topic question, was "How could anyone stop me from praying for anyone?" Praying is not something you just do out loud, in front of people. If I were a nurse or a doctor, I would be praying for my patients every night. I often pray for people that don't know I'm doing so.
@sugartomyhoney@xanga - The question the post raised deals more with whether nurses and doctors should be allowed to ask their patients if they can pray for them out loud.
I don't see why they need to tell the patient they will pray for them. They're perfectly allowed to pray privately for whomever they want to, so restrictions on their offering or asking may be placed without preventing the actual prayers themselves. I do understand why a patient would be ticked off if she was told or asked for permission.
She was offended that the doctor offered to pray? Doesn't sound like the doctor is the one with tolerance issues.
only if the patient requests it.
I would feel such relief if my doctor offered to pray for me. I find it comforting when someone prays over me when I am having a hard time with something, or am sick.
Parents stand in the gap for the children in prayer. Why shouldn't doctors and nurses stand in the gap for their patients? Is that not part of being a prayer warrior?
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - seriously.
Here's another question: can a Christian be stopped from praying?
and another:
Should a Christian be allowed to say Jesus' name?
or
Should Christians be allowed to breath?
It seems that people just want Christians to cease being Christian.
Absolutely doctors and nurses should be allowed to pray with their patients! As long as they ask beforehand ("can I pray with/for you?") and respect the patients' answer, I see no problem. When my dad was in the hospital his doctor prayed with him every time he saw him. It was a huge comfort to my dad.
A long as all their medical needs are seen to / attended to first, I have no problem with a nurse / doctor offering religious comfort. Personally, I'm looking at it from a historical standpoint being that most / many hospitals in the US are owned and operated by the church with nurses duties often being performed by nuns. So, it's not entirely uninvited if a nurse asks to pray with you and you're in a hospital run by nuns.
However, afterward, if the person refuses, then it should be left at that, though I'm sure they would pray for them outside the room during the time they normally would pray for the patients, which I also think is fine.
Who says this woman is a Christian? She's a white European woman, but that doesn't necessarily mean she's Christian.
The question is whether doctors and nurses should be penalized for offering to pray with their patients, and if not, then what is the protocol for ensuring such offerings are within the bounds. The question is not whether a Christian nurse or doctor should be penalized for offering to pray with a patient.
I don't think they should be penalized, Christian or not, for offering. But it does require sensitivity to the patient's circumstance as well as an understanding of how to respond appropriately to people who say no (and yes, for that matter).
Several studies have shown that a trained observer can predict with 95% accuracy which doctors will be the subject of multiple malpractice claims just by observing a couple of minutes of discussion between the doctor and patient. If a doctor communicates through words and body language that he or she cares about the patient's outcome and considers the patient an equal in the healthcare process, patients will not sue them even for the most egregious errors. If they don't communicate those things, patients will sue them even over someone else's errors. Patients want their caregivers to give care, and part of that care is psychological. Offering to pray for someone over a healthcare concern is certainly a sign of caring even to most non-believers.
I might be a bit uncomfortable allowing a Muslim to pray over me, but even if I said no, the offer would be an important sign that my nurse cares.
i don't think a doctor has any place offering. being agnostic, it would bother me if my health care professional asked me that. i'm relying on medical technology to save me, not a deity. and if i wanted someone to pray for me, i'd ask a member of the clergy. my nurse is my nurse, not my spiritual guru.
As a medical student, we've gotten a number of lectures and discussions about this topic, from both Christian and non-Christian perspectives. Surprisingly, most surveys & studies on the topics find that the vast majority of patients WISH that doctors/medical staff inquired about the patient's religious belief, and that a distinct majority also would be open having someone pray with them.
What's even more interesting is that the reason most medical staff don't pray/ask about a patient's religion is because they are more uncomfortable with it than the patient is! Moreover, in the studies done, Christian medical professionals are actually LESS likely to ask a patient about religion (as compared to other religions or atheists). When I first heard these statistics I was shocked, but after having been on the floors for some time I'm not surprised. I think the big problem is that most med prof just don't believe they have the time to risk a long discussion (and/or berating by the patient).
I think all doctors and nurses should pray for their patients all the time. Whether or not they pray with their patients is another question. I do think that they should have the right to at least ask the patient if they would like to pray, and if the patient turns them down, so be it. Their loss. You can still pray for them. Prayer is something that shouldn't ever be regulated by the government, but if your praying affects someone else negatively (i.e. causes someone to become angry when it could be avoided) then the prayer isn't being prayed righteously, and who knows if God would want to listen to that prayer if it were in poor spirit. That's just my two-cents worth. Pray often and pray hard :)
@Pickwick12@xanga - If I wanted to be prayed for, I would ask. How about that?
I think it's alright if you ask, "Would you like me to pray with you/for you?" and then respect the wishes of the patient.
I work in the medical field it is required of you to not ask actually... And the reason being is that is violating their privacy, also it is disrespectful work policy in many ways because it can be almost deemed as discrimination... In addition not all patients are religious/spiritual and may be offended by you asking..., it partially goes hand in hand with the privacy of patients and their right to confidentiality... So no, I don't think it's okay to ask, because upon being admitted patients are asked if they want to meet with a priest and get communion and have the option to decline or accept at which point it is the chaplain's responsibility to pray with the patient... If it in the case of a dying/ICU patient, they most likely will have a living will where is specifies what they want ie) communion, last rights etc, or the family will know what they want. Simple enough. Hospitals are the last place where we as Christians should start witnessing/preaching.
As someone who walks around an emergency room on a regular basis I would suggest not praying. It's best to distance yourself as far away from a patient so if they pass you have no emotional ties to them.
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - But some people would be too embarrassed to ask, and what if the medical person isn't a Christian? I think most people appreciate the gesture of prayer because its the thought that count and when people are sick, they are alot more reliant on God, and are probably more likely to seek him while they are vunerable, rather than when they are in full health and spirit and don't feel like they need him.
The medical staff should be allowed to bring up any matter that they feel would be of benefit to the patients health and well being. And the patient should be allowed to refuse that topic of conversation. But the medical facility should make their guidelines clear on the matter, to their staff and to their patients.
This is interesting. My husband is an ER doc and has been praying with his patients for over 20 years now. He always asks for the privilege to pray. He has been refused only one time.Â
 ~No joke!  The fellow immediately went into cardiac arrest...... He prayed anyway. The man pulled through. I don't think that the man coded because he refused, but it sure is interesting that ALL these years, he has had only 1 person refuse. As my husband always says to his patients, "It's God who does the work, not us doctors"@xsteph_ox@xanga - And what if the patient is not Christian? Don't the same circumstances apply? When I'm sick, the last thing I want to hear from a doctor is that they'll pray for me to get better. Not trying to be rude, just putting it out there.
I didn't read the post or anything, I just read the comments....And I believe that you can pray for them with out saying anything. Like HeartOfPandora@xanga said, she would rather not hear someone praying for her while she was in the hospital for whatever reason... And that's okay. Doesn't mean the doctor or nurse can't go home and say a prayer for whoever the patient might be.
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - I know you're not trying to be rude :) I think asking to pray for someone is okay, unless you know they are of another faith, but forcing it on them is another matter. That would make me uncomfortable even as a Christian, if they came into my room and randomly started doing it for no reason. If someone asks to pray for you, it shows that they care. I've had non-christians approach me and ask me to pray for them which I've always found unusual, but it gives some people comfort. I think alot of people believe in God even if its not a Christian/Jewish God.
I think they should, I mean yes of course they should respect the patient and ask them if they would like to pray with them. But if the doctor goes to her office or her home and prays for them that shouldnt be a problem. But some people think that just because someone did a simple prayer that they are trying to push the word of God on them. And thats just wrong, they shouldnt judge. I believe that as christians we should pray for others and if i see a sick person i would want to pray for them so that they can get better or so that everything goes as planned. People shouldnt take it as an insult or us trying to push the word of God on them.