Should doctors talk about religion with patients?

Doctors should follow the patient's lead when it comes to discussing religion. A large percentage of the population have faith and religious beliefs. They look to God for their strength and ability to overcome the seemingly impossible. Believers are comforted by God and His word. While a doctor should not question their patient's particular beliefs or attempt to impose his own on them, general discussion and shared prayers can help the patient.

Not all religious people will want to discuss their faith with a doctor. Some may feel that it is inappropriate since the doctor is there to care for their physical health, not their spiritual well being. Some may disagree with the doctor's beliefs and not care to hear what he has to say. Still others regard their faith as something very private and they do not want to discuss it with anyone.

Non believers, of course, will not appreciate a doctor talking to them about religious matters that they do not believe in. Doing so is very off putting for the patient with no faith in a higher Being. They may see the conversation as a means for the doctor to "force" religion on them and react in a hostile manner. Non believers sometimes view believers with distrust or lacking credibility. That is not the type of relationship a doctor wants to create with his or her patient.

There are no hard and fast rules pertaining to whether or not a doctor should discuss religion with his or her patients. There are hospitals and other medical facilities that do discourage the staff from talking about religion with the patients. If an establishment that he or she works at has rules stating that religious subjects are off limits the doctor would of course need to abide by this, or risk termination.

Given the right conditions and circumstances speaking about religious issues can be very beneficial. Not just for the patient, but the doctor as well! The patient will likely be calmer and more optimistic about his or her prognosis when God is brought into the situation. This, in turn, gives the doctor a patient who is cooperative and willing to be proactive about their health which makes it easier to provide them with care.

Religion is a controversial subject these days. Many non believers are trying to push God out of schools, government buildings and everywhere else that they can. It is little wonder that a doctor would be cautious about discussing Him with a patient. By using common sense and following the patient's lead a doctor can determine if the subject is appropriate.