Health Professionals talking to patients about religion.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religio ... tient.html

The committed Christian, was accused of “harassment” and told by the medical regulator that he risked bringing the profession into disrepute by discussing his religious beliefs.

The Cambridge-educated doctor has refused to accept a formal warning on his record, and is instead taking legal action to fight the censure.

His case follows a series of high-profile disputes between Christians and their employers over their freedom to express their beliefs, including an electrician who displayed a cross in his van and a nurse who prayed for a patient.



I've just been listening to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 about this GP. He talked to a patient of his, who came to see him with mental health issues, about his Christian faith and what God could do for him through his love.

Several people contacted the show to say that their midwife/doctor/psychiatric nurse had also done this. One man who worked with mental health patients rang the show to say he discussed the death of his young child and how God helped him with that with his clients.

I hadn't realised how often this happened. I wonder what people think of this. I'm completely appalled. I'm not an atheist, but I think it's completely innappropriate for a person in this position of power to discuss religious belief with often vulnerable patients. If I wanted to discuss religion I'd go see a vicar not a doctor.

It can probably be summed up in one sentence: "Religion, the great placebo".

Just another case where Christians are being persecuted in the UK, there seem to be new ones popping up every week. So much for the free exercise of religion.

It's at this point that Dr Scott ceased being a trained doctor and became an untrained vicar instead.
Not acceptable.

Nothing wrong with a suggestion. Something like, "A lot of people find comfort in religion in times like these."

But yeah. Seems like anything beyond that is crossing a line.

This is rather ridiculous and sad.

If the GP in his "position of power" [yet they deny that the white coat is a shaman's colobus cloak!] suggests - or recommends or in some cases writes out a referral - for "counselling" or psychotherapy [which has happened in my personal experience] this is approved and appropriate and the physician is wise and compassionate.

If the so-powerful GP suggests or recommends changes in diet or life style [get more sunlight on your skin, exercise more, drink passionfruit juice] - which has happened in my personal experience - this is approved and appropriate,

If the empowered and white-coated GP sends the patient off for a battery of tests [even after a condition has cleared up], or refers the patient to a more specialized practitioner, this is approved and appropriate.

If the disciple of Hippocrates [except that Hippocrates' oath is now obsolete, replaced by pledge of allegiance style platitudes] suggests alternative treatments such as acupuncture or herbal supplements [which has happened in my personal experience] this is a bit dubious - though chiropractic has gained acceptance and acupuncture is well on its way] but still the physician is swise and compassionate.

BUT IF HE MENTIONS A DIVINE ENTITY! Sooner he should have touched the patient inappropriately. OBVIOUSLY he is a religious predator trying to pressure the weak and hurting into his cult.

Please! If the GP is putting the Roman Road in front of everyone who enters his office, I lift an eyebrow. I do not like or trust indiscriminate witnessing, with all due respect to kxmode if he is still walking around here.

But if he sees a need and has reason to believe that Christ or AA or getting involved in community activities could help the patient more than pills, counselling, surgery, diet or yoga, should he not say so? If that makes him a Vile Vulture of Villainy - then I'm one too, in that I - IN A POSITION OF POWER AS ELDER BROTHER - once mentioned the possibly useful [but forbidden] THING to my seriously disturbed and dysfunctional sister.

Was he catholic?

Believing you me, buddy boy, inappropriate touching is NOT limited to not inevitable in Catholic clergy.

The gentleman who was for sure thinking of touching inappropriately my about 16 year old bod MAY for all I know to the contrary have been Catholic, but he was no priest.

I've noted that Christians act more like Christ when persecuted than when they have power. I don't approve of persecution, mind you, but looking at the Sermon on the Mount, it appears that Christ values it highly.

Harassment means continuing to do something that someone has asked you to stop doing.
So I think it's fine for a doctor to mention religion, but I also think they should stop talking about it as soon as the patient expresses a wish for them to do so. I also think, in the interest of professionalism, that doctors should not try to be priests. There's nothing wrong with suggesting that a patient might benefit from praying or speaking with a spiritual leader, but they shouldn't give advice beyond that.
Insofar as praying can help some people feel more empowered and optimistic about their health, and these feelings can be beneficial to healing, I do not feel that matters of religion are entirely outside the scope of the medical profession.

I understand that holistic healthcare is useful, especially the spiritual part of it in all parts of healthcare.
Now image if an healthcare professional is also a lay spiritual leader, whats the ethics involved in that siltation?
I can think of a doctor and dentist that I know of that are both lay misters, do that have to keep there faith out there professional work? Also to add I do know for the fact the doctor has patients that are of the same faith.

If professional and patient share the same faith &/or spiritual ideas is it ok for the professional to give them spiritual healthcare advice in line with there shared spirituality.
Also with the doctor I know as an example if that doctor in there faith role in church had a church member who became ill in church what should the doctor do?

Not irrelevant question - what is the postulated church's attitude to faith healing? To body-invasive medicine?

And what is the illness?

Faith healing can and often does include the more traditional forms of healing as well. They generally don't tell someone to stop their chemo.

Good question sir, in the LDS faith: prayer, fasting and priesthood blessings are used for the healing of the sick.
re priesthood blessing for illness its only given when a person asks a priesthood holder for it to be done & after the person has taken medical help.

some food for thought, the LDS church called some of there local church groups wards, now do with have a spiritual hospital?

The illness for example lets say a church member who as diabetes has just had a very serious hypo & needs medical attention.
And one of the church's lay leaders is a doctor, what dones the doctor do?

cdfox7 - If the medical professional is also a lay minister, and the patient is a member of the same religion, then I see no reason why they shouldn't discuss their shared beliefs in as much depth as the patient wishes. The doctor still has to respect the fact, however, that the patient may not WANT to talk about religion. He or she may only want medical advice/care, and if so then doctor should honor that.

So basicly the professional should choice which role is appropriate for that occasion.
if the professional in there spiritual leadership role talks to one of the church members in a church setting, should the professional give medical care/advice when its an non medical emergency?