Forums » Off duty » News & media » Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 26/5/2011 8:20 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 478
First: 15/11/2008 Last: 21/8/2012 |
Martyn, I am not sure you can place alternative therapies like homeopathy and chiropractic techniques in the same argument as these are physical, tangiable alternatives, unlike faith which is a belief. For doctors the jury is always out and in my experience, some have agreed, whilst others have disagreed, but generally the consensus is based on evidence. As for evidence that Jesus or any other deity exsists is much harder to prove. |
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 26/5/2011 10:09 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 93
First: 18/3/2011 Last: 4/3/2013 |
I wonder if we are too precious these days. The young man just shrugged off the doctor's suggestion. As long as we don't abuse our position and suggest that not believing is detrimental to health, then raising the are you spriritual issue does not seem to be a heinous crime. But it would need to be in context- maybe more when talking to a patient about a particuarly poor prognosis as opposed to someone who was feeling a bit down and lacking in motivation. If you are evangelical then your duty to your religion may well override your duty as a clinician. |
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 26/5/2011 10:56 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 73
First: 29/7/2009 Last: 30/5/2011 |
In Response to Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?: Martyn, I am not sure you can place alternative therapies like homeopathy and chiropractic techniques in the same argument as these are physical, tangiable alternatives, unlike faith which is a belief. For doctors the jury is always out and in my experience, some have agreed, whilst others have disagreed, but generally the consensus is based on evidence. As for evidence that Jesus or any other deity exsists is much harder to prove. Posted by Simon Admin Hi Simon "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre is worth a read if you think there is evidence behind homeopathy and other alternative medicine, and it kind of puts both into the same realm as religious belief. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" however applies to both realms. And there is a very good theological reason why there is no 'smoking gun' for Christian faith and yet compelling circumstantial evidence if you look hard enough. But that is a long, long, long discussion and does not belong here:) |
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 26/5/2011 6:16 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 645
First: 2/2/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
Being a Muslim it is my obligatory duty round the clock to owe my heartfelt respect to Jesus and his teaching’s. I have noted that some comments are painful about Jesus, so I request to all the participant of this discussion that they be very very careful in their comments about Jesus.------------thanks
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 26/5/2011 8:27 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 17
First: 20/3/2011 Last: 23/10/2012 |
Speaking as someone who is not religious here, but I think that anything which allows people to feel part of a community and encourages them to help other cannot be a bad thing. Regardless of whether it exists or not, religion is part of our society and we must respect all of those who choose to follow and commend their commitment. |
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 27/5/2011 10:33 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 7
First: 12/11/2009 Last: 11/12/2012 |
It is very difficult not to impart your own opinions when giving patients advice but this should be strictly limited to our role- the Medical well being of the patient- we are there to look after health. I appreciate that "spirtual" well being can influence medical well being however I feel that it is abuse of a position of trust and power to express religious beliefs or strong opinoins about any topic to patients. Like anyone else we have opinons about the world in general but it is not our job to advise/ influence patients on anything other than their medical wellbeing. I would find it offensive if s doctor started discussing religious beliefs with me:- not appropriate and the GMC were justified. |
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 27/5/2011 10:35 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1
First: 27/5/2011 Last: 27/5/2011 |
In Response to Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?: We've recently published a personal view in Student BMJ, where Thomas Riddington argues that having fundamental religious beliefs might be incompatible with being a doctor. http://student.bmj.com/student/view-article.html?id=sbmj.d2502 Posted by Oliver Ellis I think religion is a non-issue. Nothing to do with medicine. If a doctor still believes in anything this is really his personal problem, not the patient´s, who may feel even offended by this intrusion into his(her) private quarters of beliefs and religion ( if any). If the patient brings this subject, the doctor may discuss them in a neutral manner, with tolerance and understanding for the patient´s belefs and hopes, but not forwarding his own position on the issue. Religion is for the priest,not for the doctor. |
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 27/5/2011 10:36 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 7
First: 12/11/2009 Last: 11/12/2012 |
In Response to Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?: I wonder if we are too precious these days. The young man just shrugged off the doctor's suggestion. As long as we don't abuse our position and suggest that not believing is detrimental to health, then raising the are you spriritual issue does not seem to be a heinous crime. But it would need to be in context- maybe more when talking to a patient about a particuarly poor prognosis as opposed to someone who was feeling a bit down and lacking in motivation. If you are evangelical then your duty to your religion may well override your duty as a clinician. Posted by DrMK Sorry but when you are with a patient it is a doctor pt relationship- your evangelical duty should never interfere with this and if the evangelical role is your priority then I would suggest a change in career so that you can do the work which you feel is the most important to you. |
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 27/5/2011 10:45 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2
First: 27/5/2011 Last: 9/8/2011 |
In Response to Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?: I will often ask for permission to pray for someone in private, and I have never been refused. God issues the invitation, not me! Posted by Martin Young If I were a patient, I would be unlikely to refuse a doctor permission to pray for me, so I'm not surprised Dr Young has not met with refusal. However, I would quite likely be disturbed and upset by the request. I might wonder whether my doctor had given up on medically, and thought divine intervention the only hope. I might feel uncomfortable about the extension of a professional relationship into the profoundly personal realm of faith. I would probably feel constrained in future about discussing issues such as sexual health, fertility or end of life issues with a doctor who had deliberately informed me of his religious beliefs. I wonder why Dr Young feels the need to ask patients for permission to pray for them, thus ensuring they are aware of his religion? Surely God doesn't check the informed consent form before deciding whether to answer a prayer? |
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Re: Should doctors be struck off for talking to patients about Jesus?
posted at 27/5/2011 11:20 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 4
First: 16/12/2009 Last: 27/5/2011 |
Why should a doctor discussing religious beliefs with a patient be any more acceptable than discussing one's political views? Religious beliefs clearly strike me as a form of cognitive delusion, and their expression should really be permitted only for consenting adults in private. History and contemporary religiopolitics clearly demonstrate the harms and prejudices associated with religious beliefs. Please keep god, gods, goddesses, and any angels, prophets, sprites, and hobgoblins out of the consulting room. |
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