Doctors want the right to pray for patients without fear of reprisal

[Beorn]

Doctors are demanding the right to discuss religion with patients and to pray for them.

Medics will discuss the issue at the British Medical Association (BMA) conference this week. It follows recent cases where health workers had got into trouble for offering spiritual support to those in their care.
Cancer specialist Dr Bernadette Birtwhistle, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: 'I think it is getting to the point where many of us feel we cannot talk to patients about their spiritual or religious needs or ask them about praying.

'Christianity is being seen as something that is unhelpful.
'Freedom of speech is being curtailed too much and I don't think that is always in the benefit of patients,' she told the BBC.

Earlier this year it emerged that 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.
Campaigners have complained that more staff may find themselves in trouble if their religious beliefs come into conflict with the guidelines set out in a document called Religion or Belief: A Practical Guide for the NHS.

The document states: 'Members of some religions... are expected to preach and to try to convert other people. In a workplace environment this can cause many problems, as non-religious people and those from other religions or beliefs could feel harassed and intimidated by this behaviour.

'To avoid misunderstandings and complaints on this issue, 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.'

A Department of Health spokesman said the document was a guide to encourage awareness for staff and patients.
The BMA conference in Liverpool will discuss on Wednesday a motion which says that the meeting, while welcoming 'the constructive and necessary advice' in the document, is concerned that some paragraphs suggest that any discussion of spiritual matters with patients or colleagues could lead to disciplinary action.

The meeting will also discuss whether it believes that offering to pray for a patient should not be grounds for suspension.
And it will decide whether it wants to call on Health Departments to allow appropriate consensual discussion of spiritual matters within the NHS, when done with respect for the views and sensitivities of individuals.

Source

[Osweo]

My Gran when she was dying would have been really ticked off if some weirdo had started preaching at her. She never had any time for that sort of thing.

It's a bit much that people get reprimanded for it, though. But shouldn't they be spending their time doing rather more urgent things? You always hear them going on about how overworked they are...

[Thorum]

I think I would shit my pants if I caught my doctor praying for me. Sorta tells you something about the doctor, eh?

[Brynhild]

My father was given last rites because they thought he was going to die in HDU. Somehow they found out he was a Catholic and found a priest to pray for him. Personally, I'm not against that sort of thing, as long as the patient (or anyone else who has power of attorney and family) wants it. I would want an elder or shaman from the Heathen community to be with me when I cross over, but that's just me.

[SwordoftheVistula]

It shouldn't be an issue with private care providers, since if you don't like it you can just go to another doctor. In a state run health care system like Britain's NHS, people don't have that option, so religious presentations by staff should be prohibited.