To what extent does belief get in the way of medical procedures? Does religion try to resolve problems that other areas can’t resolve?

TOPIC BLOG-1 : When faith gets in the way of health

The most irksome ethical quandary which has existed for quite some for medical practitioners are those that involve a patient's religious faith. William MacArthur, which was included in “Case Studies in Biomedical Ethics”: The book states that William MacArthur was a practicing Jehovah's Witness. Jehovah's Witness do not believe in blood transfusions because the Bible prohibits consuming blood. Doctors were sure that MacArthur, who suffered from end-stage renal failure, would die without blood transfusion. Doctors took an oath to save a life till what they can do. While the solution was at their fingertip, MacArthur held on to not allowing blood transfusion. From this we can surely understand the doctors plight and the ethical dilemma they experience. On top of everything, the patient had to be revived twice performing CPR, after heart attacks. The doctor treating MacArthur concluded that farther CPR would be pointless unless doing blood transfusion. Still, MacArthur declined to sign a do-not-resuscitate order,hoping to live as prolonged as possible. Though, the doctor was fixed that CPR was futile anymore and held on to his decision that it shouldn't be performed. Then he asked the medical ethics committee to editorialize. However it is not an exceptional situation in medical field. Physicians face situations where the patient's family insists on a treatment being done, which the doctors feel is totally unnecessary or significant. But should this mean patients have the liberty to any treatment they wish for?

If we take a Kantian point of view we would have to honor the wishes of the patient and continue to perform CPR. Anyway some doctors still prefer Kantian's position. In Louisiana, a physician can ignore medical remedies they believe is worthless but must refer to any other physician. If we choose to take a Utilitarianism perspective then we'd have to bear down against the advantages- we'd have to ask if the advantages of CPR really outbalance the pain for MacArthur.

Why is spirituality important in healthcare? Religious faith is an important factor in the majority of patients looking for medical assistance. Unfortunately, people in the medical field may not take religious faith under consideration when they are managing medical procedures for patients and their relatives.

The challenge for health experts is in understanding that patients often turn to their religious faith when making a conclusion about their medical procedures. Religion and spirituality can influence conclusions about patient's diet,medications made from animal produce, modesty and the desired gender of their doctors. For instance, some religions have stern prayer timings which may affect with their medical remedies or procedures. Medical care experts should be subservient of a patient's religious necessity. Lot of patient's worries and concerns are reduced when they put all their burden in religious faith during medical crisis. This is one of the main reasons, why it is essential to honor the religious needs of the patient. 

Dr Debanshu Bhaduri, Senior Consultant at the Department of Surgical Oncology, MN Budhrani Cancer Institue, Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital says, "Refusal is based on either their religious beliefs-something their religion doesn't allow or because their religious guru has advised against it. There are many instances of superstitions interfering with medical treatment too."

Dr Duru Shah, Scientific Director, Gynaecworld recalling her Jain Sadhvi patient, said, "It happened around 30 years ago but it was such a stressful surgery that I still remember it." It began with the Jain nun refusing to travel to the hospital in an ambulance. She was bleeding heavily and her uterus had to be removed," describes Dr Shah. According to Jain tradition, monks and nuns can't travel in vehicles as it would violate their vow if non-violence as the vehicle kills insects and other small forms of life. Instead, they walk everywhere. Due to the Jain practice of not consuming anything after sunset, the nun refused the consumption of IV fluids as well.

But the truly tiring part for Dr Shah as a medical expert was when her patient refused blood transfusion. Another real life incident when Jehovah's witness gets in the way of medical procedures."Anything can happen during surgery. Without the option of extra blood during operating increases the chances of surgical complications," expounds Dr Shah.  

While some trust that the power of prayer can help in the alleviating process, Christian Scientists believe that prayer is the only way.

These are some of the few real life examples when faith revolves around medical measures. This is still happening also. My verdict is that spirituality in medicine is not entirely bad, it provides a lot of good qualities also. However, medical practitioners have to do their work and their ethics is to save as much as lives as possible. It is a proven fact that spirituality puts the doctors under ethical dilemma. They don't deserve to experience ethical dilemma and it is their job to heal people. Does religion try to resolve problems that other areas can’t resolve? Finally it depends on each person's perspective and the amount of religious faith. Till now there are few cases where religious faith has helped get through medical crisis and lives are saved without religious faith also. It is impossible to conclude with yes or no.