Religious Needs and Expressions at End of Life
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Religious Needs and Expressions at End of Life
HSP 3500: Spiritual & Ethical Considerations in End-of-Life Care
January 24, 2022
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Religious Needs and Expressions at End of Life
The earth consists of a multicultural and multi-faith society. Each one of us follows a
wide range of religious and spiritual beliefs. Although most of us believe that our differences
only hold us back by the division of our religions, it actually helps us unite as one community in
so many ways. For the same reason that we all practice our religion to escape from all of our
misfortunes and to ask for forgiveness of our sins. Learning about religions and our different
views on healthcare especially at the end of life will teach us to become more understanding and
more respectful to our own spiritual beliefs.
I was raised by a Christian family and I have always attended church every Sunday as a
kid. My parents always remind me to have my rosary with me because they believe that the
rosary serves a purpose that includes concentration, comfort, guidance, and the answers to our
prayers (McGuire, 2021). I was also enrolled in a Christian school for all of my elementary and
high school years. This experience has taught me a lot about God as a trinity, God the Father, his
son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
As a branch of Christianity, Roman Catholicism can be traced to the death, resurrection,
and ascension of Jesus Christ in approximately AD 30. The followers of Jesus Christ believed
that the Catholic Church is where he died at which was established and built by the apostles. The
teaching of Roman Catholicism was based more on the sacraments that were instituted by Christ
himself (Swihart, 2021). They focus more on the scriptures and holy bible alone in faith and
morals.
As Christian, we are against modern medical treatment and we believe that we are healed
through prayers. This practice of communicating with God helps relieve tension, worries as we
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listen to his guidance. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information,
“Christian Scientists generally choose spiritual means for preventing and healing disease.
Christian Science practitioners offer spiritual healing support. They would not interfere in
matters of specific medical treatment.” (Swihart, 2021) Most seriously ill Catholics receive the
Sacrament of Healing administered by his or her priest before undergoing any treatments or
procedures to ensure that their physiological, psychological, and spiritual needs are being met.
“Right to die,” is the phrase used by so many Christian when they go through the end of
life. This expression was defined by the Institute of Clinical Bioethics which means that it “does
not mean the right to procure death either by one’s own hand or by means of someone else, as
one pleases, but rather the right to die peacefully with human and Christian dignity” (Admin,
2015). Contrary to our modern generation, most have built trust and respect to our healthcare
workers that they are considered as the people of God who are willing to take care of the sick
and have the power to administer the remedies that are necessary or useful.
This support that comes from pastors or chaplains can look different depending on the
denomination but their job comes down to fulfilling the patient’s spiritual needs. This could look
like being the communicator between caregiver and patient, being company to patient at death,
or providing comfort in conversation, say pointing out the belief in suffering as a way of
purification before death, and in the unification with God after death in eternal life. It could also
entail any of the following rituals: bedside prayer, anointment (also known as last rites), holy
communion, baptisms (blessings in the case of young patients approaching death).
For Christian patients, there is an importance to respecting the God given value of life,
however, at the end of life this idea may have more or less significance on making decisions
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about life support, resuscitation, and organ donation depending on the individual, though none
impermissible through the religion. Christianity also has no objections to examinations of the
body after death, after which any of the following after-death rituals–wakes, funeral mass,
graveside blessing–are to be handled and performed by the patient’s family and church. In terms
of handling the body after death, cremation or burial are both acceptable options.
Learning these beliefs and practices has motivated me to be more open-minded, to always
show respect for every patient, always ask questions, and to pay more close attention to verbal
and non-verbal reactions from their cultural and religious differences. If I was assigned with a
Catholic patient, I would assure to provide a bible, rosary beads, or crucifix in his or her room,
during surgery or procedure as a sign of God’s guidance and protection against harm (Pastora,
2022). While patients are at the end of life or at risk of death during a medical procedure, as the
nurse I will make a schedule with a priest to request sacraments, last rites, and blessings. Lastly,
let the family know about the situation so they could have everyone around the patient to pray
and say their goodbyes (Caring, 2022).
Goodbye isn’t the easiest word to say especially when a loved one passes away. It’s
something that no family member in this world wants to go through this kind of a tragic
nightmare. Having a support system from the health care workers who are around the whole
journey not only do they manage pain and other symptoms, they also assist in the process of
death with dignity. Holding up our beliefs, practices, and values until our last breath is true and
sacred. From Joshua 1:9, "Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go" (Kopf, 2020)
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References
Pastoral needs catholic patients - catholic church in ...
(n.d.). Retrieved January 24,
2022, fromhttps://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/sites/3/2018/11/pastoral-needs-catholic-patients.pdf
McGuire Tai. (2021, February 10).
Christian prayer beads: What they are and why use
them?
Just Disciple. Retrieved January 24, 2022, from
https://justdisciple.com/christian-prayer-beads/
Swihart, D. L. (2021, November 17).
Cultural religious competence in clinical practice
.
StatPearls [Internet]. Retrieved January 24, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493216/
Admin, A. (2015, July 6).
What is the Catholic Church's position on the use of medical
remedies at the end of life?
Institute of Clinical Bioethics. Retrieved January 24,
2022, fromhttps://sites.sju.edu/icb/what-is-the-catholic-churchs-position-on-the-
use-of-medical-remedies-at-the-end-of-life/
Caring for the Christian patient - ashfordstpeters.info
. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2022,
from https://www.ashfordstpeters.info/images/other/PAS04.pdf
Kopf, J. (2020, October 19).
20 uplifting Bible verses about death to bring you peace and
hope
. Country Living. Retrieved January 24, 2022, from
https://www.countryliving.com/life/g32024974/bible-verses-about-death/#:~:text=
%22I%20tell%20you%20the%20truth%2C%20a%20time%20is%20coming
%20and,those%20who%20hear%20will%20live.%22&text=%22For%20this
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%20God%20is%20our,our%20guide%20even%20unto%20death.%22&text=
%22He%20will%20swallow%20up%20death,the%20tears%20from%20all
%20faces.%22
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