Ethical Issues in Healthcare Prayer and Religion Essay

Religion and health have long been linked, and continue to be so in most cultures around the world. In fact, both mental and physical health problems were once believed to have supernatural or spiritual origins, a belief which persists until this day in spite of empirical evidence showcasing the biological and chemical causes of illnesses (Koenig, 2000). Regardless of whether or not religion is a worthwhile social institution, religion, spirituality, and practices like prayer remain central to the lives of most people. Religion can be inextricably linked with personal and cultural identity, and can greatly inform both medical decisions and health practices including lifestyle choices. There is also a notable link between religiosity and a number of health outcomes including morbidity and mortality rates, proven in empirical studies. The literature tends to support a strong connection between prayer and stress relief in particular, as prayer and religion are widely believed to mediate anxiety and stress in health-related situations. Because religion is a major component in the lives of patients, nurses and other healthcare practitioners need to understand how to broach the subject with patients, encourage prayer and other religious practices as part of a holistic healthcare strategy, and also understand when to avoid imposing religious beliefs onto patients.

Core ethical principles in nursing include autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. Each of these ethical principles encourages or outright advocates the blending of religion and healthcare when the patient requests it. As many as 96% of all Americans believe in God, and that number is even higher for African-Americans (Koenig, 2000). Therefore, it can be assumed that patients have spiritual beliefs that are important to them and their health care practices, decisions, and outcomes. Davis & Owens (2013) found that the vast majority of American patients want spirituality to be integrated into their treatment, but underscore the importance of patient autonomy. In other words, nurses should not impose beliefs or even strongly suggest the use of prayer for patients who do not display any interest in religion. Even imposing morality on patients can be construed as malfeasance. For the majority of patients who do care about and who are interested in religion, it is critical to respect religious diversity. Regardless of specific faith or actual set of religious beliefs, religiosity itself is linked to reductions in "all-cause mortality," including for cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease, disability in general, and usage of medical services (Davis & Owns, 2013, p. 13).

There are three primary reasons why healthcare workers should encourage religiosity and prayer in patients who express their spiritual beliefs. For one, prayer and religion are linked with positive health outcomes. Second, prayer and religiosity are connected with reductions in stress in almost all patient populations and can encourage healthy lifestyles that lead to overall…