ENGL 163 Final Project
In biomedical contexts, patient questions of a spiritual nature are often overlooked or ignored. Most of the time, this is not a matter of a physician not caring, but more so the case where physicians do not know how to discuss spirituality in a way that avoids compromising the neutrality of their practice.
Appropriately responding to questions and comments of a spiritual nature can drastically improve patient care. It is important to be receptive to patients in their belief systems as they face illness or injury, as these build the foundation of their decision-making processes.
“[Spiritual perspectives] affect some of the most important parts of our lives: how we view our relationships and obligations to others, how we choose our life work, and how we relate to our own body in health, illness, and death.”
Barfield & Selman, pg. 376
Common Concerns
Questions to Ask
- Do you have any spiritual or religious beliefs that are important to your health care decisions?
- Is there anyone I should involve for spiritual support?
- How can I honor your beliefs during your treatment?
Why this Matters
- addressing spirituality can improve:
- patient trust
- decision making
- emotional wellbeing
- quality of end of life care
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