Doctors are demanding that NHS staff be given a right to discuss spiritual issues with patients. Is it right to mix religion and
healthcare?
Doctors will tell the British Medical Association conference this week that staff should not be disciplined as long as they handle the issue sensitively. The
doctors who are behind the motion are unhappy about the guidance that has been issued.
Last year community nurse Caroline Petrie was suspended by North Somerset NHS Trust after offering to pray for a patient, although the 45-year-old was later
allowed to return to work.
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said it is wrong to mix religion and health care. "The risk is that it makes patients feel
uncomfortable."
Do you work for the NHS or have you used its chaplaincy service? Does religion have a role to play in healthcare or should the two be kept completely
separate? Should NHS staff be disciplined if they sensitively offer to pray for patients?
Read the full story
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Is it right to mix religion and healthcare?
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 TBE |
Is it right to mix religion and healthcare? |
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Posts: 16905 Mon, 29-Jun-09 10:18:33
Gamer Chick
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birminghamstar |
#1 |
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Posts: 6743 Mon, 29-Jun-09 20:29:46
Faded Prima Donna
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I would feel very uncomfortable if a nurse or doctor said they'd pray for me, some people who are religious might find comfort in it but it gives me the
heebie jeebies
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TBE |
#2 |
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Posts: 16905 Tue, 30-Jun-09 10:58:15
Gamer Chick
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It should be secular. They are entitled to their personal beliefs but they should not bring them into work.
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Shayde |
#3 |
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Posts: 8141 Tue, 30-Jun-09 13:14:18
Bow to the Mistress
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I agree completely. Medicine and religion have no place together... one is a science and the other a fantasy, the two do not gel
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MikeHouston |
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Posts: 7386 Wed, 1-Jul-09 10:55:07
Reverend Rohypnol
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birminghamstar wrote:If a doctor or nurse said they were going to pray for me I'd go spare. I'd consider it a violation of my rights. "I don't think Viagra is much use. It takes 30 mintues to work. I often find that by that time, the woman has managed to
wriggle free" Frankie Boyle
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TBE |
#5 |
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Posts: 16905 Wed, 1-Jul-09 12:21:34
Gamer Chick
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Anything run by government should be secular really. I did always wonder if they had all religions on standby for hospitals. I know many have chaplains but
what about all the others.
Personally the last person I'd want to see if I'm in hospital is a bloody vicar.
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R Lance |
#6 |
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Posts: 1433 Wed, 1-Jul-09 17:38:06
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Feel just the opposite, if Doc was a atheist, I'd walk away from him, I would not be offended even if he/she were Muslim or Jewish In fact The nurse when I
was last in hospital was Muslim, wore a head scarf.
In all our hospitals there are chaplains, who will offer to pray for you if asked. 
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birminghamstar |
#7 |
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Posts: 6743 Wed, 1-Jul-09 18:32:59
Faded Prima Donna
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I don't know if my Doctor is Muslim, Catholic, Jewish or an Atheist and that's how I like it, it shouldn't affect someone's medical care what
religion their Doctor is
and there are similar chaplains here but they will pray for you ONLY if asked
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R Lance |
#8 |
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Posts: 1433 Wed, 1-Jul-09 18:59:38
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Usually when you check into one of our hospitals there is a box asking religious preference, Chaplains check this and will go to those of the same faith and
offer to pray. If you mark none or atheist then no one comes.
Many of our hospitals are ran by religious orders and you can expect someone to ask.
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Flukey |
#9 |
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Posts: 1393 Wed, 1-Jul-09 21:31:51
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A medic could offer to pray for someone having discovered during the course of a conversation that the patient had or shared religious beliefs. Medicine and
religious beliefs do often mix, most notably when it comes to blood transfusions and Jehovah's Witnesses. If the patient is happy to do so, then it should
be ok for a medic to discuss spiritual issues with them. It is when it is not welcome or requested that it is different.
Those boots were made for walking, and that is what they do, and if you ever come to Dublin, they'll walk around with you!
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TBE |
#10 |
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Posts: 16905 Thu, 2-Jul-09 11:53:16
Gamer Chick
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What a ridiculous notion not to want to see a doctor who is an Atheist. That has got to be the most pathetic thing I have ever read.
Doctors are doctors regardless of their religious beliefs or non belief. They do the same job regardless. Religion previously interfered with doctors doing their jobs refusing to prescribe medicines every woman is entitled to. Religion isn't allowed to interfere in any other job so why the hell should doctors or hospital staff be any different. The laws here protect patients from religious doctors. They can not force their own religious morals on others. It is just wrong. All hospitals have the form with the what religion are you. I got asked when my son had to go into hospital when he was younger. I always tick NONE. The last thing I would want is someone religious babbling on about their beliefs. It does not help me or the situation I'm in. Personally I think religion should not be offered at all. The onus should be on the patient to ask for it. That way no one has to be offended or have some well meaning religious muppet pushing their beliefs on anyone.
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Shayde |
#11 |
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Posts: 8141 Thu, 2-Jul-09 11:55:32
Bow to the Mistress
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Completely agree, Em
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TBE |
#12 |
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Posts: 16905 Thu, 2-Jul-09 12:03:32
Gamer Chick
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R Lance |
#13 |
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Posts: 1433 Thu, 2-Jul-09 17:38:40
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>>>>>>>>>> What a ridiculous notion not to want to see a doctor who is an Atheist. That has got to be the most pathetic thing I
have ever read. <<<<<<<<<<br />
No more so, then being offended, if asked if someone wanted to pray for you. They are doing what they deem a favor/service .
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Shayde |
#14 |
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Posts: 8141 Thu, 2-Jul-09 20:46:40
Bow to the Mistress
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you're not there for favours or praYERS.. YOU SEE A DOCTOR FOR HEALTHCARE... IF YOU WANTED SOMEBody to pray for you visit a church... the two are
completely different things!!
I would not appreciate a medical PROFESSIONAL offering to pray for me either,i'd rather they spent that time doing thier job and thinking about treatments tahn asking a fairy story for help!!!
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R Lance |
#15 |
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Posts: 1433 Fri, 3-Jul-09 00:56:39
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Church is only one area people pray at most people attend church to LEARN the gospel not for the praying.
Prayer is done when ever need arises. Why the hostility at someone just asking. to do what they deem a favor. It only takes a couple of words '[ No Thank You] to end it. I some one offers to get you a drink when you don't want one do you come unglued?
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Biggles |
#16 |
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Posts: 79 Fri, 3-Jul-09 08:46:33
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R.Lance wrote; Feel just the opposite, if Doc was a atheist, I'd walk away from him,
I would rather rely on a doctor who had supreme self-reliance and confidence in his own ability than one who felt that his work required some supernatural assistance. Would you feel obliged to ask a doctor if he was an atheist? Why would you walk away from him if he was? Does his atheism make him less of a doctor in your eyes? Biggles, Prime "Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than Christianity has made them good." H. L. Mencken |
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Shayde |
#17 |
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Posts: 8141 Fri, 3-Jul-09 10:50:39
Bow to the Mistress
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R Lance wrote:Prayer is done whenever the need arises for YOU... not for those of us with enough sense to realise that it's all a load of hogwash! If somebody offered me a drink whilst i wasn't in a bar, i would decline... but a drink and spirtual leanings are 2 incredibly different things. There was nothing hostile in my last post, i hit caps by accident and couldn't be arsed to re-type, but again, common sense should have shown that... You have to get it in to your head that not everyone believes in the bible and it's teachings, not everyone believes in your god. You do, that is fine. But it does not belong in healthcare unless requested by the patient. I'm there for medical treatment, not spirtual.
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TBE |
#18 |
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Posts: 16905 Fri, 3-Jul-09 11:57:37
Gamer Chick
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Why should someone else's religious beliefs be forced on someone?!!? There is nothing ridiculous about expecting to not have religion forced down your
throat. It is ridiculous to refuse medical attention from a doctor who has no religious beliefs. If you think they are the same thing then that says a lot more
about you and your ridiculous obsession with christianity.
I can't say I see the relevance of your drink story. Personally if I go somewhere and a waiter/waitress didn't ask me if I wanted a drink I'd not be staying long. Equally if they tried to preach to me and offer me a prayer I'd leave. If we reverse your weird comparison and if I were in a church for some reason and someone offered me a drink I would probably decline. A house of worship is not a suitable place to be offered a drink unless we're talking communion wine. However if in a house of worship someone offered to pray for me or tried to preach I would politely decline as I would be in the place of worship and it is to be expected. I was forced to go to church as a child and I can't say people went to learn the Gospel as you put it. It's not like the Christians don't know the bible. Lets face it being preached at every Sunday, year in year out, and the repeated themes over xmas, easter etc it can hardly come as much of a surprise. They start early with the indoctrination of the children with the help of Sunday school and a more dumbed down playful version of the stories in the bible. There is obviously a sense of community and they often have coffee/tea afterwards and a natter. The children play together and get their Sunday best dirty etc. They go because it's a ritual and it's expected of them. They have to be sorry for all their sins etc. Pray for whatever.
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duffgus.peoplespoliticsiii |
#19 |
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Posts: 1269 Fri, 3-Jul-09 14:56:27
Wind-up Merchant
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As my father is drawing nearer to death more people keep telling me they will pray for him. I nicely ask them not to waste their time. I am really not
offended too much as they are speaking from a position of caring. They maybe somewhat offended but if need to I tell them he's an atheist. As I see it
they started it so if anyone is going to be offended it needs to be them not I and its better to be pissed off than pissed on.
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Shayde |
#20 |
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Posts: 8141 Fri, 3-Jul-09 15:05:53
Bow to the Mistress
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Oh after my mother died i wanted to scream at anybody offering comfort that she was with god now... i usually replied i don't believe in god and i'd
rather she was with us, her family.
I'm not offended by people who say such things as i too realise it comes from a position of them caring and wan't to comfort... however that is from friends and if a medical professional said the same thing to me i would be mighty pissed off.. mainly because i would feel that they felt it was better she was gone and i would always wonder if there was something more they could've done for her.
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