Can you mix religion and medicine?  How many of you have refused (or have worked for a physician who has reused) to provide a certain aspect of care (IE: morning after pill Rx) due to your faith?  Is this appropriate? 

I had a phone call from a patient who was referred to a OB/gyne doc for left oopherectomy secondary to a cyst, and after her initial consult requested a ride side tubal ligation at the time of her procedure.  The doctor had originally agreed to this, but then his office called her back to inform her that due to the hospital restrictions, this could not be performed (catholic based hospital).  Pt is absolutely infuriated, and states that if she'd known this prior to scheduling the procedure (which will run her approx 20,000) she would have gone to the other hospital.  She would have had to find a different doctor, because the one she was referred to doesn't have privileges there.

I have to admit, that despite my strong faith, I agree with the patient.  Have any of you seen similar scenarios?  What do you think about them?

I had a situation but not with a patient, my ex-husband. He had an interest on the side, so we decided to call it quits. This gal had a child from 4 different guys and I told him he was next and should get fixed. He was still under my insurance, so I told him he could go get in done before he was dumped off my insurance. The day of the surgery we went to the clinic and they informed us they couldn't do it since I worked for a catholic organization and they didn't cover this surgery. So we could pay cash, he looked at me expecting me to cough up the cash. HA!, you can use my insurance, but I am NOT paying for you to screw around. Needless to say they now have 2 sons, tee-hee just as I predicted.

Hmmm...

I've worked at 2 secular hospitals & 2 religious hospitals, & have thought about this a lot.  The experiences I've had have been that only those who have thought out the true meaning of their religion can effective incorporate it into their clinical practice. 

What I mean by this is that there are many individuals & groups who blindly follow religious dogmas without considering the meaning & impact they have on other people.  They then force their beliefs onto their patients & fellow coworkers, inflicting pain.

Here are a few examples I've witnessed:

1. Nurse Anesthetist - tells everyone that since the patient is a prostitute, she "deserves" the HIV infection she acquired & it is God's punishment.  She tells the family that God is "striking down" this woman for her sin.  She doesn't bother to listen to the woman to discover her prostitution started (& continues) as a desperate act to support her children after her husband's death (no life insurance).  The family never knew how the patient earned her living.


2. Recovery Room Nurse - tells patient after elective abortion (following rape), "you've committed murder & will never be forgiven." 


3. ICU Nurse - tells Muslim patient's husband, "you can't stay in the room when we give a bath, we have rules here!"  Of course, the nurse is a male - this is unthinkable in the patient's culture.  The nurse tells his coworkers he has no tolerance for "these Muslims" & their "stupid religious rules."

It's hard not to be judgmental in these circumstances.

But...I've also seen some wonderful examples of beautiful spiritually enlightened people who are connected with their higher power make an incredible impact in the lives of patients & their families.

1. The hospital chaplain, who is a fundamental Christian, praying with families & patients of many different religions. 


2. The nurse struggling with her faith, wondering if there really is a God, praying with a dying patient's family.

I guess my point is that it takes self-awareness & others-awareness - the ability to understand what we think & how we impact the world before we're able to bring any of our spiritual beliefs into the workplace.

Submited with humility!

Kim

 I have taken care of probably all religions or at least most . I had a muslum family that would not let a male nurse come to see their wife because of their religion I have hate other religions where patients were very cold if you were not their religion I had one man Chineese they thought they were having a boy which is good luck for their religion for first born it was a girl this man walked out of the delivery room and did not come back to visit. Very sad, all religions really have the same basic goal many are just on different roads to THAT goal, it should never interfere with care though.

greenergrass says...

There's nothing special about my nursing - sometimes I'm lazy...sometimes I get irritated...sometimes I'd rather not be at the hospital.  But, I do try to remember when I've been a patient & a family member.  That usually snaps me out of my nonsense.

I think that this is something we all fall into, and a good way to get out of it.  Unfortunately I've seen too many medical "professionals" who can't seem to get past themselves.

Thank you for your honest point of view.

DaMomb- I work at a Catholic hospital. The same "regulations" apply at our facility. (Ex: Our insurance does not provide for birth control for their staff). While I agree with you (I believe institutions should place their biases and religious values at bay for the greater good of the patient and the patient's wishes); I also believe that since my facility was founded by nuns who broke their backs and their pocketbooks to provide patient care in accordance to their beliefs they have the right to decide what care that they will provide. Unfortunately, this is entwined into religious practice; which I do not believe should force their beliefs onto anyone else. (This is at the root of why I am a recovering Catholic and have such a hard time with organized religion. I have a difficult time believing that my graceful God would be so judgemental of other religions and their practice.) This is all just my humble opinion.

Relegion and medical practice should be do not mix. Each patient believes and cultures should be respected.    Personal beliefs of health care workers should not interfere with thier practice.  As health care workers we should be remember to be objective as possible and give the best care to our patients I remember when  I was 19 yrs old I went to an ob-gyn to obtain some birth control pills.  Unfortunately this particular Dr. refused to prescribe any pills due to her muslim faith.   She said I was to young and that I should not enage in  premarital sex.     I was infuriated...six months later I ended up pregant with my first child.    Do you think this physician was right to deny me birth con-trol pills? 

I feel it is very wrong for healthcare providers to deny their patients certain medical things/care/meds based on their beleifs On the other hand,.as a christian, i follow my faith, if i had a  problem w/ any aspect of care i didnt feel comfortable with, i would refrain.Having said that, i would still know the pt has the right to make his/her own decisions and would give it over to a co worker.I work in a catholic hospital , and they do not dispnese birth control, they do no tubal ligations etc.All pt's that want those services have to go elsewhere.I feel it is one thing to say it is against my releigion, then leave the pt no alternative.I have never had any issues with my religion and pt care/needs/services.

As health care professionals we should not let our religious, political  or personal beliefs affect our nursing practice.  I've been on the recieving end of a nurse's unprofessional comment due to her personal beliefs. 

 Upon arrival to L&D, mid contractions (strong) she said that my OB/GYN did too many unecessary C- sections.  This was her response when I asked if there was time for my husband to get here before the C-section. I've always known that I would most likely NEVER be able  have a vaginal delivery  due to gynecological issues. She never answered my question regarding my husband. She took my situation as a platform to bad mouth my OB/GYN and tell me how i should try for a vaginal delivery.  This was my first child birth, I was already scared and now I was Horrified!!  

She looked to be bit of a tree hugger. Her  uniform adorned with all types of earthly sayings. Regardless, if she was a tree hugger, preacher's wife,biker chick or part time stripper with a portable pole in her locker. As a Healthcare professional she should  NOT have been using her time ther in the L&D #1 BAD Mouth doctors and #2 push her personal beliefs. Her concern should have been the health of me and my child. Sure , in my 10 + years as a nurse, I come into contact with patients who I've  found religious and other fundamental differences with.  Yeah I may vent  in the break room or at home but never do I express my  personal feelings directly to a patient. Whatever patients are or are not,  we are at that crossraod together because they are in need of help. That's why I became a nurse to help peolpe.  I'm a christian who prays for all of my patients. No matter what.

sap says ...

Just the other day on my local news, a woman was interviewed because she was refusing to have her son get his "shots" for entering junior high. She was telling the reporter that it was against her religion and other beliefs she had.  Her religion was catholic. She also stated that she wanted to keep his body pure for the Lord.

I am catholic and I think she's ridiculous.  There was a bill passed that states you can refuse imminuzations due to religious beliefs. I'm not sure this is such a great idea.  Will this boy put other children at risk because he doesn't have the proper shots for entering school?

Tough call.

 

I didn't know that Catholics had such beliefs in general...I mean, I knew about the birth control thing, and a few other very basic fundamentals of the religion, but c'mon...is this lady for real?

I don't think that he'd be putting others at risk as much as he'd be put at risk for not being protected angainst those childhood illnesses.  The way I see it, is God gave us medicine, and the people who practice it so that we would care for our bodies.  Does this woman eat any processed foods, smoke, drink alcohol, etc?  I wonder what kind of a temple gets (fastfood) sludge put into it!