Posted: April 29th, 2018

The Role of Religious Persons in a Medical Facility

The Role of Religious Persons in a Medical Facility
1. Introduction
The current revolution of technology and globalization is significantly changing the world. Such changes affect places of work, institutional policies, and modes of professional operation. Medicine is one of the most affected disciplines. Emerging issues constantly challenge different professionals in the medical field. Health care is no longer a private affair between the physician and the patient. It has since involved a third party: the government, so that in most instances, health care is standardized in accordance with the laws and policies formed by the state. This means that medical professionals currently face a lot of moral and ethical issues in the course of their duty, especially when attending to patients. From abortion to issues concerning contraceptives, from concerns about the mode of giving life to ethical issues surrounding taking life from patients, medical professionals today require not only medical knowledge but also a good sense of their professional ethics. The above is taken to be the reason why the majority of medical professionals take up training in the code of ethics and philosophy in order to understand the relevance of ethical moral reasoning, to help identify possible moral dilemmas from the onset of their studies and in the future to be in a position to make informed moral choices in the course of their professional work. This paper seeks to explore the roles, importance, and the positives of having religious persons working or serving in a medical facility. Conceptually, religious practitioners play an inclusive role in the delivery of health care from all over the world. It is also important to appreciate, in the very first instance, the aspect of professional health care. The term health care refers to the prevention and management of illnesses, injury, disabilities, and the preservation of the mental and physical well-being of human beings preached to people in wider societies. On the other hand, a professional in the field of medicine refers to one who applies and dedicates his or her acquired knowledge and skills to contents legitimized by a particular field of knowledge with the aim of the general well-being of the community. In the light of the above, there is a presupposition that doctors and other medical professions are driven by justified beliefs in the field of practices that they do. Every patient has their own constitutional human right and freedom of beliefs and religion is captured as one of their constitutional rights in many national constitutions. However, the constitutional right of the medical professional is intended to be enjoyed by the medical profession as a body, hence is not necessarily an individual right. It may so happen that some religious groups tend to claim that their practitioners require certain considerations based on due regard of their right to religion while in practice. The question that arises is whether the very work of the religious persons and their place in the medical field should be given much attention. However, the issue of balancing the rights and needs of the religion against those of society and those of individuals who do not share the particular same beliefs is a real challenge to many specialists in the medical field. Many researchers in the sociological and medical discipline have been trying to attempt to come up with the reasons as to why there are rising numbers of religious persons taking up the roles of importance in health care in the first place.
1.1 Background of the Study
The healthcare field in the United States is constantly changing in an attempt to provide the most current, appropriate, and cost-effective care for patients. In order to accomplish this, there are a variety of different interdisciplinary approaches to care that are being used commonly in the medical field today. These may include social workers, case managers, psychologists, and various types of therapists working together with physicians to provide holistic care to patients. One approach that is slowly emerging is the use of spiritual or religious care and support for patients. Due to the increased recognition of holistic (or whole body) health in the medical field, there is a possibility that religious practices and knowledgeable religious advocates could begin to assist patients in the medical field. The focus of this dissertation will be on religious practices and religious persons and their role in the medical field. Specifically, this dissertation will examine the importance of religious persons in American medical facilities as well as the challenges they may face. This dissertation will also provide various strategies for effectively incorporating religious persons into medical care. The primary research objective is to identify the specific importance and challenges associated with the presence of religious persons in American medical facilities. By addressing the importance and challenges associated with religious persons within the medical field, the dissertation will also shed light into how religious persons are situated and viewed by the existing medical teams. The findings will provide valuable insights for medical professionals and religious persons to work together more effectively in order to gain greater interdisciplinary success and provide better care for patients.
1.2 Purpose of the Dissertation
The purpose of the dissertation is to explore the importance of religious persons in a medical facility and the challenges they face. This includes examining how religious persons can better support patients and what strategies medical staff might use to enhance collaboration with religious persons. By addressing the importance and challenges of religious persons and considering methods to improve collaboration between religious persons and medical staff, the dissertation can help provide a clearer understanding of the value of religious persons in the medical field. It also offers practical advice for both religious persons and medical staff who aim to work together in a way that respects patients’ spiritual needs. This research is important because it can potentially benefit both religious persons who work in medical facilities and the patients who they care for. In investigating this area, the dissertation can also provide valuable insight for those who are involved in the training of religious persons, such as course providers for healthcare chaplains. Although it is not initially clear to a non-religious person why religious persons are necessary in a medical facility, due to a lack of understanding of the role that such people play, this work will demonstrate that they provide a vital source of support in a number of ways. By examining how religious persons may support patients and how they may provide care with a valuing of the whole person, the work has potential to contribute to a positive understanding of the role and create new opportunities for the future of chaplaincy in the healthcare system. In particular, offering a different framework for what the role of a religious person is in the care of patients may help to shape the way that people understand faith in a medical sense. It will also give concrete examples to support the claim that religious persons have a meaningful role to play and that they should be valued for this.
1.3 Research Questions
This dissertation aspires to determine the different aspects of religious involvement in medical facilities that may affect the operations of a healthcare system. The research questions that this paper seeks to answer include: What roles are played by religious persons in a medical facility and what is the importance of religion in healthcare? How do these persons integrate religion with the daily activities that may sometimes be too demanding? What are the patients’ views concerning religious practices and does it affect their medical experiences? Lastly, what challenges do religious persons face in a medical facility and how does the medical fraternity support them? These questions will be addressed in different chapters of this dissertation and will act as a guide towards the attainment of the objectives of the paper which have been mentioned in the introduction section.
2. The Importance of Religious Persons in a Medical Facility
Religious persons play a very significant role in many western medical practices, as well as many eastern medical practices. This is largely because of the social and spiritual hold religion and religious practices have on cultures and personal practices. Patients may find comfort in religious rituals and in the input of religious practitioners and, in many societies, it is normal for religious practitioners to do more than purely spiritual work with a patient. Many religious figures are invited to lecture and provide spiritual support for the wider medical team on a regular basis. This is a sign of the rapidly changing and diversifying cultural context in which medical practices now take place. Medical practices are putting more and more emphasis on ‘holistic healthcare’ and well-being, and are attempting to make medical provisions as individually centred as possible. This, in turn, means that interdisciplinary approaches to patient care are flourishing; the input of figures with spiritual or religious significance can be incorporated in the patient’s therapy or wider care plan, as well as the individual prescriptions of medical practitioners. With the ever-growing presence of religious individuals and religious legislation aimed at rights of religious freedom and respect within healthcare, it is very important that the relationship between the secular and the spiritual in western medical practices continue to adapt to and house the input of religious practitioners. The importance of religious individuals and the impact of religious practices should not be underplayed. Furthermore, the University of the District of Columbia argues that it is important to “establish a dialogue” between modern medicine and religious principles, in order to fully appreciate the potential benefits of such a multi-faceted and diverse approach to patient care. This has been a successful approach in the healthcare systems of countries such as the UK and the USA, thanks to the increasing emphasis on social and spiritual well-being and the move towards holistic healthcare plans and patient centred, individually tailored therapy.
2.1 Enhancing Spiritual Well-being of Patients
In addition to providing spiritual care, religious persons play a crucial role in enhancing the spiritual well-being of patients. Spiritual well-being refers to a sense of peace and contentment that a person feels. When people are faced with injury, illness, and other stresses, their spirits are usually low. Enhancing the spiritual well-being of patients often leads to a faster recovery and a better quality of life. This is because attending to spiritual needs helps in the way patients cope with both acute and chronic illnesses. Illness is significantly more bearable when patients have hope and strength drawn from deeply held beliefs. Religious persons are, in most cases, skilled in the art of deep listening, and that provides the greatest likelihood of the spiritual needs of patients being met. They take time to listen to the patient’s story, and this way, they can identify the underlying spiritual pain and offer healing. Actively involving such interventions to aid patients in coping spiritually, patients are more likely to respond to a treatment plan and psychological healing as well as overall wellness. When the spiritual needs of a patient are identified in the medical setting, a religious caregiver guides patients in their spirituality. Many patients will look up to their caregivers for spiritual needs and will live by the spirituality of counsel and guidance given by the caregiver. It is worth noting that most patients tend to cling to religion than practicing religious rituals. A research conducted by Dr. Larson et al. (2000) indicated that patients who rely more on religious belief than church rituals have better and improved physical health and less anxiety. So, providing spiritual care in a healthcare facility does not actually mean imposing practices from the caregivers but nurturing the spiritual health of the patients in a more compassionate way. Through educating the medical professionals and creating awareness about the religious caregiver, it has the potential to contribute a lot in the healing process. For example, by ensuring that the caregivers have finished the necessary training in pastoral care and fulfilling the facility’s standard for giving spiritual care, it can ensure that the health, safety, and welfare of every patient are well addressed. Also, fostering a healing environment that includes attending to spiritual needs helps patients, their family members, and the caregivers as well. In another way round, family members who visit their loved ones in the healthcare facility are more likely to be positively influenced by the compassionate care offered by the religious persons. In that case, family members will also be educated about the spiritual care, and as a result, the health and wellness of the patients will be supported even after the family member. By and large, providing spiritual care to patients is a core value in healthcare provision and especially for persons living with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Most spiritual needs in a healthcare setting can be met through a collaborative provision of care that engages both the medical professionals and the religious caregivers. However, it is crucial that healthcare providers recognize and respect the roles of religious caregivers and create that conducive environment where they can work as a team in attending to the spiritual needs of patients.
2.2 Providing Emotional Support
Religious persons in a medical facility often provide emotional support to patients and their families. There are certain feelings and emotions that medical practitioners often cannot fulfill. For example, a doctor may tell a patient that everything will be fine, but it takes a religious person to convince the patient that the statement is true. Also, a patient may not accept a doctor’s explanation of a terminal illness, but may find solace in the supportive words of a religious person. Without the emotional support provided by religious persons, the patient’s continued mental health may decline. Also, the families of patients often require emotional support and it has been found that religious persons in a medical facility provide such support to family members more than any other healthcare professional. This is largely because such persons are often part of the community, which makes them more recognizable to the families who may spend many hours in hospital visiting sick relatives. By utilizing the emotional support provisions provided by religious persons, hospitals can make the atmosphere as stress-free as possible. By promoting a luxurious environment in hospitals, patients may have a speedier recovery and families will be able to come to terms with the fact that someone is ill. This shows that religious persons in a hospital do not just provide emotional support, but their actions can help the healing process of patients and families as well. And since the work of religious people is becoming increasingly recognized in this area, some doctors have begun to refer patients to the religious persons attached to the hospital. This can only serve to better their experiences and is good for their respective religions as well. Such recognition could well provide religious persons with more opportunities and funding to do work in hospitals, therefore bettering the environment for everyone.
2.3 Addressing Ethical Dilemmas
When medical technology is used to apply a cure and it is unsuccessful, life for the patient may have been prolonged for a short time. An ethical decision has to be made in relation to switching off life support. For those who believe in the sanctity of life, they can find that this is going against their moral beliefs. However, for those who believe in an afterlife, they may think it is morally better to switch off life support. Also, when in the time leading up to death, drugs may have to be given to ease the suffering. But there is a debate between what is enough to help the patient but not too much as to quicken the death. This can also be seen as a way of going around and defying the nature of life. This then brings up the argument in terms of palliative care and when drugs are to be administered. The UK has no universal rights and this has been a topic for discussion since the Human Rights Act came into place in 1998, “right to life” and “freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment”. Also, euthanasia is illegal. Also, PAT which is Physician Assisted Termination is legal in some states in the US and Switzerland. This is a practice where a doctor provides the knowledge for a patient to end life, but it is the patient who takes the final action which will lead to death. Finally, it is worth noticing that religion may be a barrier to securing an ethically correct act and can make an ultimate decision harder for the individual – this applies only if that individual who is making the choice is religious. It is suggested by Green (2013) that “some hold that when acting in a professional capacity, personal moral or religious convictions should be put to one side if the rights of patients are to be respected”. This is a valid argument because the decision should not be based upon what a doctor may want, but what is correct for the patient. Such is the progress and the constant change in modern society in the fields of medicine and technology, the future may hold different views and ideas on the “correct” answer to an ethical dilemma such as euthanasia or abortion.
3. Challenges Faced by Religious Persons in a Medical Facility
Many times, religious people are faced with the problem of balancing their religious beliefs with the practices of medical care. According to a healthcare provider, the first thing that a religious person should consider when taking healthcare decision is to research on the trustworthiness of the healthcare provider. This viewpoint of balancing religious beliefs and practices of medical care can be attributed to the variety of religious beliefs. However, for more unambiguous religions such as Christianity, strict guidelines and rules have been established which according to medical researchers, allow the doctors more flexibility in providing guidance. For example, in the Catholic Christian faith, medical research suggests that it is a moral obligation for people to seek medicine or go through a medical treatment. However, the faith provides room for flexibility and gives leeway where specific personal choice is involved. On the other hand, when making decisions, the medical practices and the medical special care in which the healthcare provider provides to the patient is the primary concern in the event of patients requesting practitioners to accommodate their religious practices. This has been well elaborated by the US Federal government, which opines that no protection can be peaceably provided to any religious practices which conflicts with the laws provided by the US constitution. From this perspective, it shows the possibility of healthcare provider denying any request which has been made against regulations and practices as guided by the law. Helpful tips for balancing faith and medicine: Start by researching the background of the healthcare provider. Learn the basics about popular cultures and religions, as well as the patient’s particular beliefs. Consider consulting the religious clerk in the hospital in seeking the right treatment for a quick recovery. Present your motive of refusal to certain medical procedures in a polite manner. Background: Religion vs Medical Practices. Balancing religious faiths and the practices of medical science can be a daunting task due to the complexities involved in each set of belief. However, with modernization of medical practices, it is essential for people to strike a balance between the two.
3.1 Balancing Religious Beliefs with Medical Practices
So what should we do when our faith and professional responsibility clashes with each other? How to address religious disparities among patients and promote effective collaborations between religious personnel and medical professionals? These are the questions we have to address in the next few chapters.
Therefore, it is of great importance to come up with a proper solution to address the interplay between religious beliefs and medical practices. Given increasing religious diversity and growing attention to patients’ right to religious values, health care professionals have to pay special respect to religious beliefs, and deal with religious disparities among both patients and peers. However, inappropriate assumptions and stereotypes based on religious orientation should be avoided. Also, effective strategies and reasonable compromises to balance religious beliefs and medical practices have to be worked out.
Since the University of Maryland Medical Center is a public hospital, we have to serve patients without discriminating against their different religions, cultural backgrounds, and payment methods. It will be difficult to explain to nonreligious patients why they cannot get services at their willing standard because of the religious limitations. As to Catholic patients, after they learn about Catholic teaching, they are likely to doubt the genuineness and quality of the services the hospital provides to them and feel being discriminated and disrespected.
As a Catholic hospital, the University of Maryland Medical Center has been facing significant ethical dilemmas regarding reproductive issues, such as abortion, sterilization, and birth control. According to Roman Catholic teachings, direct sterilization, abortion, and artificial birth control are intrinsically evil. However, failure to comply with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services might result in critical financial consequences, such as the revocation of Medicare certification and charitable tax status, or even lawsuits from private citizens.
3.2 Dealing with Religious Diversity among Patients
From a demographic and religious perspective, there is a well-known fact that the diversity among and between the patients is very high in the healthcare centers and hospitals each year. Research proves that a fifth of healthcare visits are made by people of different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds. That undoubtedly adds pressures and stresses on the health, and sometimes these pressures and stresses may go against the clinical healthcare standards. There also may be a chance of erratic clinical outcomes as well. These issues can be minimized if the patients are managed and treated in a manner that is responsive to their diversities, and communication is the key tool in this regard. Understanding these diversities by all the health professionals in the diverse healthcare environment is a huge challenge. This requires a greater positive contribution and understanding on the part of both healthcare professionals and the society which makes the diversity a great challenge. It appears that there is an increasing with the secularism as well as atheism. But in a society where the scientific traditions are considered as superior, it excludes the spiritual and emotional needs in the healthcare system. But some studies show that the religious beliefs and spirituality are positive factors for better health, and it has been seen that the people may adopt the medical plans which comply with their religious beliefs. The patients with different religious backgrounds will have different expectations and needs based on their religious beliefs. These differences bring the challenges for healthcare professionals regarding the provision of care that is religiously sensitive and respectful while understanding these unknown principles of other faiths.
3.3 Overcoming Stereotypes and Misconceptions
It is important that medical professionals and staff are made aware of their professional responsibility in creating an environment that is free from judgmental, derogatory and bullying behaviours. Such an environment should foster mutual respect and positive engagement among people of different cultural and religious background and ultimately benefit both the staff and the patients from a spiritually enriched and integrated model of patient care.
Third, establish a clear guideline on what constitutes disrespectful or discriminatory behaviours towards religious persons and implement anti-bias training sessions for all members of staff. The prejudice some religious persons face, such as Islamophobia towards Muslim practitioners, can be damaging not only to their well-being but also to the harmony in the workplace and the treatment outcomes for the patients.
Second, encourage an open and inclusive environment in which people feel free to discuss their own religious affiliations and beliefs and to learn about others. Actively promote interfaith dialogue, religious literacy programmes as well as social activities that are designed to engage people from different religious and non-religious backgrounds.
Therefore, a key strategy for improving the support for and collaboration with religious persons as discussed in the next chapter is to address and eliminate these stereotypes and misconceptions. First, raise awareness of the unique and valuable roles religious persons play in a medical facility and the professional and ethical standards to which they are held. Highlight the diversities of religious beliefs that are represented in today’s multicultural society and the importance of cultural competence in modern healthcare.
Moreover, religious persons from smaller religious groups or less well-known faith traditions may be subjected to lack of understanding or unfair bias, because their colleagues and patients are not familiar with the beliefs and practices of such groups. These stereotypes and misconceptions create significant barriers to the effective integration of religious persons into a medical facility and the delivery of optimal spiritual care for patients.
Stereotypes and misconceptions about religious persons can affect the way they are perceived by their colleagues, supervisors, and patients. For example, some people may assume that all religious persons are against scientific and medical advancements, and therefore they may not be willing to collaborate with religious persons in medical settings. Others may view religious persons as traditional and close-minded individuals who hinder the smooth operation of a modern medical facility.
Overcoming stereotypes and misconceptions
4. Strategies for Effective Collaboration between Religious Persons and Medical Professionals
Promoting an open and collaborative approach to patient care may be achieved through regular case conferences held to discuss patient treatment and care plans. Such conferences provide an opportunity for both medical professionals and religious persons to interact with each other and appreciate each other’s professional input and unique insights. In addition, all professionals involved in patient care should have the opportunity to express their views and to have access to information concerning the patient’s condition and treatment. Medical professionals should strive to create an environment that is attuned to the religious and spiritual needs of patients. This may be done, for example, by giving relatives the opportunity to assist the patient in practicing their faith or by allowing patients to celebrate religious festivals in hospital, where appropriate. Medical professionals should seek to learn about the religious and cultural practices of the patients and communities that they serve. This will enable doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to provide care that is sensitive to the cultural and religious needs of different groups. Also, religious persons need to make an effort to be spiritually and pastorally present in healthcare environments. I work as a Catholic Chaplain at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where the contribution of religious persons in hospital is highly valued. I visit patients and families during their hospital stay and work closely with doctors, nurses, and other staff in caring for the sick. While providing direct care to the families and staff, I also provide a 24-hour on-call service available for any life-threatening emergency, and am involved in the teaching and formation programs organized by the Hospital and my own Diocese. All the three strategies outlined in this chapter – promoting interdisciplinary communication, incorporating religious practices into patient care and providing training and education for medical staff – will help to create better coordination and understanding between religious persons and medical professionals. In addition, the strategies can provide support and assistance for health providers that are challenged by the increasing demand for religious and spiritual care, especially in today’s culturally diverse society. Also, they explore the responsibilities and dilemmas encountered by religious persons in their roles. By doing this, they hope both the governments’ and the public’s recognition of religious persons’ dedication to the health and quality of people’s spiritual life may be enhanced. Furthermore, it is suggested that more studies and research projects should be carried out that focus on the emotional satisfaction or the particular difficulties that religious persons may encounter. It is vital that effective strategies for religious persons are identified and put in place. Also, religious persons must keep up with the change of practice and modern healthcare. Any further training or changes in the professional routine may also be required, in order to consolidate the strategies as mentioned in this chapter.
4.1 Promoting Interdisciplinary Communication
To begin with, Dr. Best stressed the necessity to communicate with other medical personnel. She comments, “We are here to help the patient together. That means we should all be on the same page about the patient’s treatment and what will be best for them. You don’t know that if you don’t communicate well with your colleagues.” Based on what the interviewees said, the term of “effective interdisciplinary communication” is not simply to transfer information, but make sure that all team members have access to the same information and the ability to participate in decision-making. Dr. Dale also indicated that praying “with” patients would be a better practice. He explains, “You offer them the option to pray with you or accept prayer. But you don’t just assign them a praying time and tell them that you will pray for them later.” He then mentions that it is very common for him to be the only person who carries out continuous conversations with the patients for many hours in a multidisciplinary setting. And this provides him and the patient more golden opportunities to pray together in an appropriate manner. Last but not least, religious persons should communicate openly about their own beliefs and practices. Dr. Garfield said, “In this culture and work environment, people tend to be afraid of getting into some religious conversations, especially if they are not religious. But the fact is that sometimes healthcare providers actually have their own religious attitudes. If we all keep hiding what we do and what we think, we are only adding barriers to the collaboration of interdisciplinary team.” He comments that it’s important to foster a safe and open-minded environment to promote and respect the spiritual well-being of patients.
4.2 Incorporating Religious Practices into Patient Care
Also, taking the time to sit down and talk to patients about their religious beliefs and how they interact with their overall care would be beneficial. This will help doctors understand the patient’s religious perspectives and give patients a chance to actively use their faith in their care. By doing this, both the healthcare provider and the patient are able to understand each other better, and doctors will be able to respect patients’ autonomy in their healthcare.
One strategy for incorporating religious practices into patient care is to employ a “mind-body-spirit” approach. This method asserts the importance of involving the patient’s faith and placing their faith within the context of their illness. By catering to a patient’s spirituality and involving it in his or her overall treatment, it makes the patient more likely to comply with the care and treatment plan as well as experience higher life satisfaction and better health.
A common way of using faith in patient care provided by “The American Journal of Managed Care” is to manage chronic pain. The researchers found that patients might use their faith as a coping mechanism, and better health is observed when people actively use religion as a tool in life. Hence, being respectful of patients’ religious practices and trying to understand the cultural differences could bring a lot of advantages to healthcare providers.
Incorporating religious practices into patient care not only helps patients to use their faith as a coping mechanism, but also can lead to a higher quality of care. Patients’ religious beliefs are usually a huge part of their healthcare needs, and various researchers have found that religious practices can actually improve health. Given this, it shows us that through integrating a patient’s religious beliefs into the healthcare management, they will be able to help the patient in the most efficient way.
4.3 Training and Education for Medical Staff
In order to facilitate the collaboration between medical professionals and religious persons, it is of great importance to equip medical staff with necessary knowledge of different religions and religious beliefs. One way to achieve this is to include religious studies in the medical curriculum. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the General Medical Council has made it clear in “Tomorrow’s Doctors” that the teaching of religious beliefs, value systems and cultural diversity in the context of medicine should have high priority in medical schools. Another way is to provide continuing medical education programs to medical professionals, in which they can have a better understanding and appreciation of different religious beliefs and customs. In some countries, such programs are mandatory for medical staff. For instance, the Singapore Medical Council has implemented the “Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines” which prescribes that doctors should respect the religious and cultural views of the patients. In order to assist doctors in understanding and appreciating such views, the Council has initiated a three-year program of periodic training in ethical and legal matters. By the end of every three years, every doctor must have attended and successfully completed this training. It is suggested that a similar mandatory continuing medical education program should also be implemented in Hong Kong. Last but not least, training of religious awareness should be provided to fresh medical graduates during their hospital orientation. They should be introduced to the hospital chaplain service either by seminars or brochures so that they know the relevance of religious service to patient care and well-being. This not only encourages their future collaboration with religious persons but also enables them to make appropriate and respectful referral of patients to the chaplain. By doing this, patients’ right to choose and fully participate in their desired religious activities can be better respected and facilitated.

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