Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

MUST PHYSICIANS IGNORE GOD?

1995; Wiley; Volume: 43; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1532-5415.1995.tb05552.x

1532-5415

Thomas Mulligan, Carlos Reyes Ortiz,

Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs

To the Editor: As a physician, I must be skilled in the art of healing or at least exerting a salutary influence toward all who have entrusted their health to my care. I must cure when possible, but care always. I must recognize that although I can sometimes prolong life, death is inevitable. Finally, when the sting of death is about to afflict my patient, I must ease the path to the grave. Where can I turn when there are no magic bullets, when my black bag has no more tricks, when technology has no more to offer? Must I ignore God? As an academician, I must critically interpret the literature, and I must publish or I will perish. However, when I recently offered to critically review the scientific literature on the efficacy of prayer and present the review at Medical Grand Rounds, I was told that it was not an appropriate topic. When I began exploring the possibility of conducting a research project on the impact of prayer on dying patients, I was told that academics and religion don't mix. But what do my patients think, and what does science support? During my tenure as a physician, many of my sick and dying patients have asked to see a chaplain, and many have asked me to pray for them; very few have expressed no interest in seeing a chaplain or prayer. However, my anecdotal experience has limited value. When Koenig surveyed older men and women, he found that 98% believed in God, 95% prayed regularly, and 81% believed that religious activity helped during stressful times.1 When participants of the Duke Longitudinal Study on Aging were interviewed to determine coping strategies used during major life stresses, religious activities were most frequently used; especially faith in God and prayer.2 Finally, in a prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of the effect of prayer on outcomes of patients admitted to a coronary care unit, the prayer group less often required ventilator support.3 However, physicians usually ignore the spiritual dimension of life. Larson et al. found that religion as a variable of study occurred in only 2% of publications in psychiatric journals.4 Craigir et al. noted that only 4.8% of studies in the Journal of Family Practice contained any reference to religion.5 Orr and Isaac assessed primary care research journals and found religious variables in only 1% of 1066 articles.6 Even the gerontological literature has failed to consider religion an important variable.7 Importantly, prayer complements, rather than conflicts with, medical care.8 The recognition of a patient's spirituality has a high impact on the doctor/patient relationship.9 At a minimum, physicians should ask their patients if they want to speak with a chaplain at times of serious illness. Perhaps, physicians should even consider praying with their patients. If there is a God whom we ignore, will he help us provide the best care for our patients?