Is it right for GPs to introduce religion into medical consultations?

[naomi24]

I’ve just been watching The Big Questions on BBC1 in which GP Dr Richard Scott participated. Following a complaint from a patient who felt that the doctor, by recommending Christianity to him, had belittled his own faith, an investigation was conducted by the GMC, whose rules state that doctors are not allowed to impose personal or religious beliefs on patients. Nevertheless, Dr Scott maintained on the programme that it is acceptable to introduce his religion to his patients.

The surgery is run by six Christian doctors and its website states:

//The Partners feel that the offer of talking to you on spiritual matters is of great benefit. If you do not wish this, that is your right and will not affect your medical care.

Please tell the doctor (or drop a note to the Practice Manager) if you do not wish to speak on matters of faith.//

….. which would appear to suggest that the subject of religion will be introduced into medical consultations unless the patient specifically requests otherwise.

http://www.bethesdamc.co.uk/about_us.html

[woofgang]

I do often say that I will pray for people who post on here about distressing medical conditions, but I would never ever give advice based on my own religious or moral beliefs. I used to work within the NHS and I was absolutely rigorous about leaving my own religious and moral framework at the door. Many of the people I treated used to fish and shoot for sport, not for food,or foxhunt all of which I abhor, but they were my patients, i was not being paid to moralise to them and I did my professional best for all of them.

[woofgang]

Ps I would also never have offered to pray for a patient unless they had made their religious beliefs absolutely clear.

[beso]

jno //if you're given an opt-out, what's the problem?//

It should be an opt in not an opt out. Personally I would avoid a clinic that included religious advice in its "services".

[Eve]

I think the psychological side is shaky ground too.

I suffered badly from an eating disorder for years. I went to church a lot when younger, at least 3 times a week. The view of my church was to refer me to Christian counselling which, in my opinion, did my far more damage. It was not a proper professional counsellor/patient relationship and the main solution they had for my problems was to get a group together and pray the demons out of me. Similarly the faith healing approaches I've seen.

[beso]

Waht a dreadful thing to have to endure jenna.

[sandyRoe]

I'd be very worried if the doctor suggested that prayer was my best option.

[woofgang]

lol sandy me too and I believe in it!

[jake-the-peg]

That's OK Woofgang

I have a friend who's a Satanist

I'll ask him to pray for you

[Baldric]

If I want to discuss religion, I won't be heading for the Doctors, nor would I stay with a Practice where I had to 'opt-out'

[naomi24]

Jenna, that's terrible. How irresponsible!

Personally, I don't believe medical doctors should be using the working day to give any kind of spiritual guidance. They should stick to doing what they're paid to do. As for patients having the opportunity to ‘opt out’, it shouldn’t be a consideration. It's intrusive and it simply shouldn’t be happening.

[jomifl]

I would be very worried about the mental state of a GP who was a 'militant' christian.

[craft1948]

I'm a Christian but certainly don't think it is in a doctors remit to talk about any religion with his patients, unless invited to do so.

[cathfromsaron]

not the time or place for that, UNLESS you want the hospital or local bloke to speak to you at your request, of course!

[solvitquick]

Dr Richard Scott is clearly way off the mental/medical radar and should be struck off, in particular because of his ignorance or ignoral of the BMA code. One could debate whether it should be "opt in" or "opt out" but the subject should never arise in medical consultation, in the clinic or hospital. Anyone registering with this practice is stupid. In that way the practice would hopefully collapse. The government should act to stop clinical practices costing the taxpayers/patients for wasting time praying during their
duty-time. This waste of time could cost an urgent patient their life, while this praying is going on! As they use our money to pay themselves about £100,000 per month is it not a subject to the tax authorities to investigate?

[boxtops]

Solvit, you're a bit off beam with the money there - £100,000 is for a year, not per month, and they have to pay for a lot of things out of that, it doesn't all go in their back pockets. It's up to the surgery how they spend their day, as long as they can meet all their commissioned targets and see as many patients as they are contracted to do. A quick five minute prayer probably takes no more time than people spend making a coffee before they start work.

I think you'd be on a sticky wicket if you start banning prayer time, given other faiths who need to pray several times a day (albeit mostly on their breaks).

[wolf63]

I suffer from Bipolar Disorder and have had the same GP for about 20 years. Some times we talk about un-medical stuff (probably trying to gauge how stable I am). Once the conversation crossed into me going to a church for a charity event and doc started asking me a few questions about my religious views (cynical and sarcastic atheist) etc Later he told me that people who develop deep set religious views are often doing so because of mental illness.

I really hope that I have written this down properly - and that it makes sense. Not much makes sense!

[boxtops]

Wolf, it does make sense. I saw a hypnotherapist many years ago and at one point (when he knew me quite well) he asked me if I was religious, because I often wore a stylised crucifix. (I wasn't, I just liked the jewellery.) However he explained that had I been, he thought I might have found the church community supportive of my situation. I wasn't offended by that discussion - he didn't say whether or not he practiced any religion, it was a genuine enquiry about my own support network. I think that's OK.

[karenmac60]

Personally I would be very dubious about seeing any dr I knew to be religious. Surely religion and science don't mix. Even if the dr didn't feel the need to discuss his beliefs, I wouldn't be too confident in his abilities as a dr if he thought it was all god's will anyway. I also hate the fact that ministers, priests etc pop up when you're in hospital. I've lost count of the amount who have announced themselves to mr mac when frankly we've had more important things to think about. Fine, if a patient asks to see someone then that is up to them, but they are like jehovah's witnesses turning up at the foot of your bed wanting to spout their mumbo jumbo.

[solvitquick]

OK boxtops I apologise forgetting salaries wrong, ty for correction. However I stick to my other points. Re: other costs they are the practice's problem and are probably tax-deductable. GP'S should sign-out for coffee or other breaks. Irrespective of "targets", when on paid-duty, they should see as many patients as possible and concentrate on diagnosis and refer them to hospital consultant if their diagnosis is uncertain.

[woofgang]

karen, I dont think that a patient should "know" unless the patient themselves brings the subject up.