Should a G.P or nurse mention Jesus when dealing with a patient?

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Hi :)

Apologies for not putting up a link, I found the article recently online (Mail).

Do you think it is ever justified for a doctor, nurse or even a police officer to bring their faith in Jesus into the workplace?

So for example, if a nurse is comforting a patient and feels it necessary to share with that patient her love for Jesus and even perhaps offering prayer. Would that offend you personally if it happened to you? And do you think they have crossed the line and should therefore consequently lose their job?

Please share :)
 

theFijian

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Hi :)

Apologies for not putting up a link, I found the article recently online (Mail).

Do you think it is ever justified for a doctor, nurse or even a police officer to bring their faith in Jesus into the workplace?

So for example, if a nurse is comforting a patient and feels it necessary to share with that patient her love for Jesus and even perhaps offering prayer. Would that offend you personally if it happened to you? And do you think they have crossed the line and should therefore consequently lose their job?

Please share :)

In this context of this example it would be unwise to evangelise or offer prayer, considering that it is not part of their job description and may be unwelcome. If a nurse thinks a patient could benefit from spiritual counsel then that's what the chaplaincy service is there for.

It hardly seems gross misconduct however so those who have lost their job over this kind of incident (presuming they weren't doing it persistently) have been treated far too harshly and this is often due to pressure from secularist groups.
 
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Paradoxum

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Hi :)

Apologies for not putting up a link, I found the article recently online (Mail).

Do you think it is ever justified for a doctor, nurse or even a police officer to bring their faith in Jesus into the workplace?

So for example, if a nurse is comforting a patient and feels it necessary to share with that patient her love for Jesus and even perhaps offering prayer. Would that offend you personally if it happened to you? And do you think they have crossed the line and should therefore consequently lose their job?

Please share :)

I don't know if they should, but I might think it was nice of them. They definitely shouldn't lose their job though.
 
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Judy02

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Right now, my thoughts are that I think it's ok to tactfully and subtly start to bring the subject up, and if the patient is happy to discuss it, then take the conversation further. However, if a patient isn't comfortable about discussing it, and requests they stop, then I absolutely believe their request should be respected. Repeatedly harrassing patients about it, when they say they are not happy or comfortable discussing it, under the label of "evangelicism" I don't think is right.

It's hard, and I feel for some dedicated Christians working in the medical field out there. I think, very rarely would I be comfortable bringing it up, as it's such a legal battlefield, and there's a great risk of losing your job. Unless I strongly felt convicted by the Holy Spirit to do so, I'd be very reluctant to bring it up.

Although, interestingly, my dad used to be a Prison Officer and shared his faith a lot in the workplace. Maybe times were different then, or it's easier in those sorts of workplaces, I don't know...maybe it's more controversial in health care settings because sick people are already very vulnerable, and it's easy for those bringing the subject of God up, to abuse that position...
It's difficult to know though, without assessing each situation. The way some people go about it, can vary.
 
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Alexander Nevsky

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Doctors should be encouraged, not just permitted to do so. However this would be something expected only in a Christian country. Would you expect a doctor in Iran or Saudi Arabia to be permitted to express his Christian beliefs? Of course not. Why would someone then expect something like that in an increasingly militant anti-Christian country (just like in most countries in the West)?
 
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theFijian

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Doctors should be encouraged, not just permitted to do so. However this would be something expected only in a Christian country.

Indeed the last time I took my car for its MOT the mechanic offered to say a prayer.
 
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Judy02

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Yeah, I heard about a GP from the south where he is apparently being investigated by the GMC...from what I heard, I'm not sure he was out of line. The problem is, that the general public never know enough about the situation, and why the patient chooses to complain. As patients can already be very vulnerable anyway, I can just see how bringing religion or faith into medical treatment could very easily be abused...tough issue.

I can't imagine a consultant I go to see at hospital, where I am seriously ill and already feeling very distressed and desperate, telling me that the reason I am so ill all the time is because I won't convert to Islam, going down very well! ;)

I know the OP question, is about Jesus, but I am trying to appreciate, empathise and understand how a non believer might feel...if some doctors just impose their faith, without attempting to even do anything medically about the problem, then that's a worry. I doubt most sensible people here, would think it would be ok, if someone went to see a doctor about the fact they think they have diabetes, all the symptoms point to that fact, it runs in their family etc, and the doctor does nothing except say they need to "pray more". In fact, I would question, whether they should be practicing medicine and being paid for that at all...
 
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Alexander Nevsky

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I know the OP question, is about Jesus, but I am trying to appreciate, empathise and understand how a non believer might feel...if some doctors just impose their faith, without attempting to even do anything medically about the problem, then that's a worry. I doubt most sensible people here, would think it would be ok, if someone went to see a doctor about the fact they think they have diabetes, all the symptoms point to that fact, it runs in their family etc, and the doctor does nothing except say they need to "pray more". In fact, I would question, whether they should be practicing medicine and being paid for that at all...

I agree. That is just common sense. Doctors take an oath and they need to assist their patients in every possible way. The incident mentioned before however had to do with a patient suffering from mental disease symptoms.

 
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Should the appropriate situation arose, yes of course pose the question. The concern would be not the appropriate situation. In the news recently we have had a couple of cases where the situation was entirely appropiate and the liberal nazi thought police didnt like it. ;)

Which situations were these, where it was appropriate?
 
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I agree. That is just common sense. Doctors take an oath and they need to assist their patients in every possible way. The incident mentioned before however had to do with a patient suffering from mental disease symptoms.


And they need physical treatment just as much in that case as in any other case. As theFijian said (help I am agreeing with him :D) leave the spiritual side of things to the Chaplancy staff, that is what they are there for.
 
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theFijian

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The incident mentioned before however had to do with a patient suffering from mental disease symptoms.

Why would a mental disease(?) make any difference as opposed to any other kind of disease?
 
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Alexander Nevsky

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Why would a mental disease(?) make any difference as opposed to any other kind of disease?

Because mental disease is mainly the symptom (in most cases) of lack of any sort of meaning in ones life. There is no doubt that Godlessness is the main reason for depression, being one of the most common disease in the West today. Honestly do you really believe that 1 in 4 people taking anti-depressants in the UK have become depressed due to genetic malfunctioning of their brains' neurotransmitters?
 
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theFijian

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Because mental disease is mainly the symptom (in most cases) of lack of any sort of meaning in ones life. There is no doubt that Godlessness is the main reason for depression, being one of the most common disease in the West today. Honestly do you really believe that 1 in 4 people taking anti-depressants in the UK have become depressed due to genetic malfunctioning of their brains' neurotransmitters?

So Christians don't suffer from mental illness? Conversely all non-christians must suffer from mental illness? "Mental disease is mainly the symptom of a lack of meaning in ones life?"

Honestly do you have any clue about mental illness?
 
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[Judy02] I doubt most sensible people here, would think it would be ok, if someone went to see a doctor about the fact they think they have diabetes, all the symptoms point to that fact, it runs in their family etc, and the doctor does nothing except say they need to "pray more". In fact, I would question, whether they should be practicing medicine and being paid for that at all...

lol... Yeah that wouldn't go down to well.

It works both ways. Some patients are very open about their faith and I have had many a discussion about faith with a few patients whilst I was nursing. Sometime I would see a Bible on their side table and it would open a door to discuss their faith. However, I was always aware of the circumstance and very careful. In fact in most of those instances I would simply tell the patient that I would say a prayer for them (when at home). I have worked with patients with terminal disease and they have encouraged me no end with their faith..

In re to the chaplains. They do a fantastic job, but are obviously not always available. When they do their rounds I often see patients politely declining their offers of conversation or prayer. They, of course, absolutely respect that :)
 
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Catherineanne

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Hi :)

Apologies for not putting up a link, I found the article recently online (Mail).

Do you think it is ever justified for a doctor, nurse or even a police officer to bring their faith in Jesus into the workplace?

So for example, if a nurse is comforting a patient and feels it necessary to share with that patient her love for Jesus and even perhaps offering prayer. Would that offend you personally if it happened to you? And do you think they have crossed the line and should therefore consequently lose their job?

Please share :)

I would not like it. Doctors and nurses are professional health care workers, not priests. The only person I want talking to me about God in such a situation is my priest or an Anglican chaplain.

I had a Moslem doctor a couple of years ago try to convince me that Mohammed is found in the Bible, and who even told me which verse it is, and quoted it to me. When I reported him for that, and several other things, I got an apology for the other matters, but this was not mentioned. As far as I am aware, nothing happened to him as a result of any of his inappropriate language.

So if Moslems get away with it, there is no reason for Christians not to, but I personally don't want either. If a professional is unable to maintain professional boundaries, then they shouldn't be practicing. If a nurse sees a Bible beside my bed, I don't want her to say, 'Oh a Bible, how lovely' , with the ulterior motive of talking to me about Jesus. My faith is quite frankly not her concern or her business.
 
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Catherineanne

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Because mental disease is mainly the symptom (in most cases) of lack of any sort of meaning in ones life. There is no doubt that Godlessness is the main reason for depression, being one of the most common disease in the West today. Honestly do you really believe that 1 in 4 people taking anti-depressants in the UK have become depressed due to genetic malfunctioning of their brains' neurotransmitters?

That is complete and utter nonsense. Depression takes away meaning; it is not lack of meaning that causes depression.

I have a mental illness, caused by inappropriate behaviour from my parents onwards, through many, many years. I am not how God made me; I am emotionally damaged by those who ought to have known better. I have never been without God, or anything remotely Godless; it is he who keeps me going in a very difficult situation.

Really, your comment is so misinformed words fail me in communicating just how wrong it is.
 
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Catherineanne

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I can't imagine a consultant I go to see at hospital, where I am seriously ill and already feeling very distressed and desperate, telling me that the reason I am so ill all the time is because I won't convert to Islam, going down very well!

On the contrary, if you made such a complaint in the UK, in my experience it would be totally disregarded.
 
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