Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity, Essay Example

Abstract

America is a conglomerate of various cultures. Because of this, Americans have the privilege of enjoying a cultural diversified healthcare field. Yet, there are many challenges that healthcare workers face due to that diversity. When dealing with patients from different cultures, healthcare workers must be aware of their healing and care practices. Many groups have distinct and unique healing and healthcare practices. Healthcare providers have to integrate these practices into their modern healthcare plan. By integrating, healthcare providers ensure that they meet the expectations of the patient.

Introduction

The overall role of healthcare providers is to ensure the well-being of their patients. Healthcare providers use different approaches to provide care to their clients. Healthcare providers come in contact with clients from various faiths and religions. As a result, healthcare providers must be aware and open-minded to other healthcare practices.  For example:

“Faced with uncertainty about what to expect in diagnostic or therapeutic encounters, the patient may withhold personal views of what’s wrong or histories of nonbiomedical diagnostic and therapeutic actions already undertaken. Patients may be reluctant to discuss beliefs, herbal therapies, home remedies and practices, and religious efforts at healing. They often fear the practitioner’s disdain for these activities” (Dufrene, 1991).

Holistic healthcare providers focus on the client’s mental, spiritual, and physical health. Healthcare providers will face various barriers when they are unable to accept or respect the faith beliefs of the patient. When the patient feels that his/her religious beliefs are respected by the healthcare provider, he/she is more likely to accept help and suggestions from the provider. Some patient’s believe that their healing is dependent upon the will of a higher power. This paper discusses how faith plays a dominant role in the lives of many as it relates to healthcare practices. An analysis of how healthcare providers can implement various healing methods into their modern agenda. Finally, the paper will summarize some of the practices and beliefs of Christians and Baha’i as it relates to health and healing. The ultimate objective of the healthcare provider is to provide the best care possible to each patient, regardless to faith and religious beliefs.

Origins of Baha’i

Baha’i was named after the prophet, Baha’u’llah, who founded the religion. This religion dates back to the late nineteenth century. This religion is based upon two beliefs. First, they believe that the universe is eternal-essentially that elements of the universe came to be in a particular manner, and that they will cease to exist in the same manner. They maintain a dual perspective of health and healing. First, they believe that healthcare services are a way to praise God. Secondly, health and healing is a divine service achieved through prayers to God. However, they do not agree with Christian’s belief that the origins of sickness and suffering began in the Garden of Eden due to man’s disobedience (Dufrene, 1991).

Baha’i & Healthcare

Practitioners of this faith believe that suffering is the way in which God tests his followers. They convey that the way to true healing is long healing prayers. The sick must continue to pray and ask for health even when their health is not showing improvement. This act shows devotion and faith in God. They believe both suffering and health comes from God. When they suffer, it allows growth of the spirit and faith. Yet, they do use other remedies to help with illness. For example, they believe it is alright to take a pain reliever because God created it. So, they will seek medical attention from others of their faith. If their health care provider is of a different faith, they expect them to respect and adhere to their beliefs. Their beliefs forbid the use of alcohol and drugs and if they suspect that a healthcare provider is under the influence of these substances, they will refuse his services (Paonil & Sringernyuang, 2002). For example, they will not allow a doctor who smells of cigarette smoke to render them services. This is just one of the few restrictions that they follow. According to Fratkin:

“The use of blood transfusions, organ transplants, or advanced technology and engineering is not prohibited. In care giving, the patient’s spiritual needs and dignity should be supported whenever possible. Whether it is preferable that a same-sex doctor be assigned to a Baha’i is entirely a matter of personal choice” (1997).

The Baha’i religions do not force many restrictions on receiving healthcare services. Nevertheless, they do disagree with abortions because they believe the soul is present from the moment of conception, but will allow it in circumstances where the mother’s life is at stake.

Christianity

Members of the Christian faith believe in miracles that heal the body of illness and disease. These miracles can occur spontaneous or in conjunction with medication and prayer (Hawkins & Haggerty, 2003). They believe it is possible for God to work through the health care provider. The knowledge that the doctor has came from God. In the Christian faith, all knowledge comes from God, but He is selective in which talents He gives to each person. It is normal practice for Christian patients to request communion to remove sin, which could be causing their illness (Fratkin, 1997). Christians believe that health is a part of God’s promise to his followers. To them, having great health is the will of God for every human being who is a follower of Jesus Christ. They believe that life was created by God, and that illness is not attributed to the sins of mankind. Both Adam and Eve were blameless and free from sin when God created them. They were given perfect health and freedom by God in the Garden of Eden. The remained innocent and free from sin until they disobeyed God’s commandments. However, once they disobeyed God’s will, they were exposed to illness, disease, and death. Christians believe that health consists of both physical and spiritual aspects. Christians have varying views on the teachings in the bible. Some believe they are metaphorical, while others contend they are literal. Yet, all Christians agree that the bible is guide that God left for Christians to follow in their daily lives. Christians use prayer as a weapon to heal both physical and spiritual illness, but they do not negate the advice and help of healthcare providers. According to Wong, Wong, & Lonner:

“Healing of physical illness by medical professional is a God given art which, when appropriately and properly used, serves God’s purposes and helps restore people to a normal level of human functioning, so that their spiritual and moral growth can continue. The work of the medical professional is honored as long as it does not obviate God’s healing and redemptive work” (2006)

Christianity & Baha’i

Prime Reality

In both Christianity and Baha’i faiths, God and his biblical teachings represent reality. According to Sire, “Prime reality is the infinite, personal God revealed in the Holy Scriptures. This God is triune, transcendent and immanent, omniscient, sovereign, and good” (2009).  Both faiths teach that God is the foundation of all other realities that humans experience. They believe that the world and everything in it was created by God. Likewise, God has a purpose for everything he created. Humans were created in the likeness of God. He made them with the capacity to make choices because they are intelligent. They are endowed with spiritual qualities that allow them to communicate with God, who is a spirit (Sire, 2009). Human beings have the capacity for love and carrying relationships because God, himself, is love.

Life after Death

Each faith believes that human beings are a part of the life cycle of the world. They each support their belief that all life began with God. Consequently, he has power over both life and death. Nevertheless, death is not the end of existence; it is merely the transition to another form of existence. They each believe that after death, the person’s spirit leaves the body and returns to God. That spirit continues to exist in the spiritual world. Death is not the ceasing of existence, but transformation of existence. Sire adds, “At death people are transformed. Either they enter an existence with God and his people-a glorified existence-or they enter an existence forever separated from God, holding their uniqueness in awful loneliness apart from precisely that which would fulfill them”(2009)

Knowledge

Humans have the ability to learn and know by the grace of God.  According to Sire, “The foundation of human knowledge is the character of God as Creator. We are made in his image. As he is all knowing knower of all things, so we can be sometimes knowing knowers of some things” (2009). In other words, both faiths believe that God gives knowledge to humans. He decides what type of knowledge and how much knowledge he gives to whom. Consequently, neither faith has problems with visiting healthcare providers when they are ill.

Morals

A person determines right and wrong from the teachings as a child. However, some adults may veer away from the teachings they received as a child. In many cases, adults may choose a religion different from their parents. Yet, in some cases, children grow up to have the same values and morals as their parents. — ads, “Ethics are transcendent and are based on the character of God as good (holy and loving)” (2009). For Christians and Baha’i, God’s teachings are guidelines for doing what is morally right.

Human History

Christians and Baha’i convey that human history is the lives of humans on earth until the return of God. Says, “History is linear, a meaningful sequence of events leading to the fulfillment of God’s purposes for humanity” (2009). In other words, humans do everything for the glorification of God and his holy will.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers must be aware of different faith practices of various religions. They must be able to accept different views that are contrary to their own. Healthcare providers are able to disregard their beliefs in order to support the beliefs of their patients. Religious traditions and faith healing practices can make the healthcare practice very complex. Healthcare providers encounter patients from various cultures and healing beliefs. Good healthcare providers are able disregard their own beliefs for the beliefs and practices of the patient, if they are mentally competent.  Healthcare providers must make an effort to get to know their patients and their religious beliefs and practices. This will help them to provide them the best care possible. Wong, Wong, & Lonner concluded:

“Doctors prefer to see only physical problems on a problem list; they’re neater. A patient may resent a doctor’s suggestion that problems can be blamed on his or her spirit, attitude, mind, home or job; and some doctors don’t like patients who want to discuss their spirit, mind, home or job. … Most of medicine should be understanding and grappling with interactions between social and mental and physical problems”

Because providing the best possible care to each patient is the ultimate goal, healthcare providers must commit to be open minded to faith healing practices.

References

Dufrene, P., (1991). Utilizing the arts for healing from a native american perspective: Implications for creative arts therapies. USA: Purdue University.

Fratkin, J., P., (1997). Healing in the fire of moxa: Acupuncture for spiritual purification.

Hawkins, J. W., & Haggerty, L. A. (2003). Diversity in health care research: Strategies for multisite, multidisciplinary, and multicultural projects. New York: Springer Pub.

Paonil, W. & Sringernyuang, L., (2002). Buddhist perspectives on health and healing. The Chulalongkorn Journal of Buddhist Studies, 1(2).

Sire, J. (2009). The universe next door. (5 ed.). Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=obhdLJK8UjEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA9&dq=Sire,+the+universe+next+door&ots=NwnlfeDjK9&sig=L2FdorFQ-NkmOMg2gMfTng01cYQ#v=onepage&q=Sire%2C%20the%20universe%20next%20door&f=false

Wong, P. T. P., Wong, L. C. J., & Lonner, W. J. (2006). Handbook of multicultural perspectives on stress and coping. New York: Springer.