world religions and health care

7/30/2019 World Religions and Health Care

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World Religions and Health Care

Addendum: Modesty and personal hygiene are highly valued. A bath is required at least daily, but generally not following a meal. Adding cold water to hot water is unacceptable (adding hot wate

cold water is acceptable). If a health care worker has prepared bath water that is too hot, it is generally better to discard the entire amount of bath water and start over so as not to offend the client.

World

Religion

Philosophy Dietary

Restrictions

History of

Traditional/ Herbal

Medicines

Treatments Refused Medical Issues Death

Hinduism Hindus believe in preventativemedicine. In particular, food isconsidered a medicine thatmaintains health. Vegetariandiet is preferred since they

believe that it is pure and doesntbring bad karma. Exercise andyoga are to be practiced daily tomaintain good health.

Western medication is not takenimmediately if they experiencepain in their bodies. Traditionalmedication is the priority.

Health encompasses threegoverning principles in the body:Vata is responsible for

movement.Pitta controlsmetabolism and heat.

Kapha supplies thebody structure and

solidity.When these three principles are

balanced, the body functionsnormally and health is optimal.Balanced vata creates energy andcreativity, balanced pitta createsoptimal digestion; balancedkapha provides strength,

stamina, immunity, and eventemperament. Imbalances ofthese principles cause illness anddisease.

Hindus shouldnteat meat of anykind, or fish oreggs, and they avoid alcohol.

Ayurveda which dealswith preventativemeasures particularlyadministering food andexercise as a daily

medicine. Apractitioner is called abaid.

Homeopathy. Apractitioner is called adoctor.

Western healthcarepractitioners should askpatients if they aretaking any ayurvedic orhomeopathic medicines

before starting othertreatments.

Hindus theorize thatan animal killed for amedicine might havebeen a personperhaps even a close

relativein anotherlife. Therefore,medications made ofanimal products arenot acceptable, sincethey invite badkarma.

Organ

transplant/organ

donation:

Hindus do notdonate their organs

because they are notsure how it will affectthem in theirupcoming lives.

Birth Control:

Birth control isfine, but sex is onlyacceptable withinmarriage.

Abortion:

It is not allowed by

them since it isconsidered as murderunless the mothers

life is in danger.

Autopsy:It is not desired, but

if the law requires one,Hindus will allow it.

Birth and death is pre-destined by asupreme God. Once a person dies,his/her spirit goes to God for 365 dain which time the person will be calaccount for his/her actions, and dec

in which form he/she will return in next life and how long he/she will lAlthough health and protecting life utmost importance, the length of apersons life cannot be changed. Eva patient is put on life supportequipment, death will still take placthe pre-destined time. The maximuamount of time a person can live is years, although, this can be exceederare occasions.

Hindus hope for a death that is natu

and peaceful. It is better to have a qdeath than to have a long illness andslow death.

Prayers are said when the person is

hospital and then right after the deaWherever a person dies, religious ri

are performed by a priest. The famwill wish to wash the family membebody following death (symbolizescleansing of the soul). The body iscremated and the remains are dispein water.


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World

Religion

Philosophy Dietary

Restrictions

History of

Traditional/

Herbal

Medicines

Treatments Refused Medical Issues Death

Buddhism Buddhists believe that the body,which is a temporary shell forthe spirit, should be treated withgreat respect and care so themind can concentrate onpursuing enlightenment. Somebelieve that people who arespiritually focused and whofollow a faithful regimen ofmeditation, diet, and exercisewill not become sick. If illnessdoes occur, many Buddhists

believe that 80% of the time itcan be cured using the mind

and 20% of the time it can becured using herbs. Somebelieve that exposing the bodyto the harsh natural elementswill strengthen the immunesystem. And some Buddhistsattribute sickness to laziness infaith or lifestyle.

Though some Buddhistscombine aspects of Westernhealthcare practices withEastern traditions, the modernWestern hospital is not reallyset up to address their needs.The ICU, especially, with itsbright lights, constant noise,and close monitoring of thepatient, does not have the quietenvironment in which the spiritof an ill person cancontemplate.

Buddhists arevegetarian andavoid alcohol andother stimulantssince theseproducts diminishclarity of the mind.The more completereason for beingvegetarian isethical. AllBuddhists adhere to

the first preceptwhich is I take the

now not tointentionally killany living being.

Western medicationis avoided since it isthought to weakenthe body. ThoughBuddhists may usesome traditionalEastern medicines(such as TraditionalChinese Medicine),some of thesetreatments containanimal products or

alcohol. SomeBuddhists are not

concerned by thiscontradiction, whileothers forego thesemedications. Thosewho use thesemedications maybelieve that sincethey are not likely tobe enlightened in thislifetime, they canalways work toward ahigher level in thenext life.

Organ

transplant/organ

donation:

As long as theorgans are not boughtor donated throughcoercion, there is noproblem. However,the organ is notusually allowed to betaken from aBuddhists body until

the religious teacherconfirms that the

spirit has left thecorpse.

Blood transfusion:

Giving blood, ifdone of outselflessness and freeof charge, is a verykind gift. Somemonasteries regularlydonate blood.

Birth control:

A personal issuefor Buddhists somesupport it, whileothers are opposed.Sex is condoned onlywithin marriage.

Death offers a unique last chance forenlightenment. The person does notbecome reincarnated immediatelyafter the body dies. Therefore,serious contemplation can occur inthe period between the death of thebody and reincarnation. For thisreason, the mind should not beclouded by drugs, and, if it isapparent that a person is close todeath, often Buddhists will ask thatthe patients medication or

painkillers be lessened or stopped.In order to get closer to

enlightenment, the mind and soulneed to be unhindered.

The approach of death is the timethat the family will contact thepatients teacher. Rites and ritualsare done before the death, or, if theteacher does not arrive in time,immediately afterwards. With an at-home death, the body may lieundisturbed for hours or even days.In a hospital, the family will usuallywant the body to remain undisturbedfor as long as the hospital permits.

So that the spirit of the dead bodywill be undisturbed, the number ofvisitors is often limited, and the griefof loved ones is not often openlyexpressed. Death is not separatedfrom life in Buddhism, and thefaithful may have an easier timeaccepting the lifecycle than those ofother religious beliefs. In many


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Abortion:

If an abortion isfor the greater goodof the mother and

unborn child, it isseen by some as the

best solution. Othersbelieve it is unnaturaland, therefore,wrong. Usually thepath of least suffering

is seen as the mostjust way to approachsituations such asthese.

Autopsy:

It is believed thatafter death, the soulremain near the bodyand communicatewith it for a period oftime. An autopsy is amajor disturbance ofthe body, and it coulddistract the soul.Different teachershave different ideasabout how long thesoul stays by thebody. An autopsy

may be permittedafter a religious

teacher determinesthat the soul has leftthe body.

traditions, the body of the deceasedis cremated after a certain amount oftimearound five daysand then amemory service is held 49 days after

the death.


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World

Religion

Philosophy Dietary Restrictions History of Traditional/

Herbal Medicines

Treatments Refused Medical Issues

Islam Historically, Muslim physicians andscientists made major healthcarediscoveries long before they wererealized in the West. Incombination with the will of God,Muslims believe that physicianshave the power to heal. The Koranstates that for every illness there is acure, so it is the challenge ofhealthcare professionals to searchfor those cures. The Koran alsogives explicit instructions for livinghygienically, including habits liketooth brushing, exercising,

breastfeeding, and hand washing.There is a high respect for

healthcare professionals in the faithphysicians are considered to beGods agents of healing and nursesto be the helpers of doctors.Muslims also believe thathealthcare is holistic.

During illness, Muslims areexpected to seek Gods help withpatience and prayer, increase theremembrance of God to obtainpeace, ask for forgiveness, givemore in charity, and read or listen tomore of the Koran. Muslimpatients do not consider illness to bea punishment from God.

Muslims follow theHalal diet, whichprohibits theconsumption of porkand alcohol. Also,there is a traditionaldiet that advises one-third food, one-thirdwater, and one-thirdair, as a form ofdietary moderation.

Traditional Arabicdoctors are known asHakims. The nameliterally means wise

and knowledgeableperson. The practice of

a Hakim usuallyincludes aspects ofherbal medicine,homeopathy,naturopathy,chiropractic, and othersimilar practices. Inmodern times, it is

considered to be noble tobecome a doctor or

healthcare professional.

Some Muslim physiciansbelieve that healthcarepractitioners should doeverything in their power tosave a life. Others do notbelieve in prolonging lifebeyond that which God hasordainedthere should be noattempt to artificially prolonglife (or misery). Healthcareprofessionals are believed tobe assisting God in the care ofpatients but should not try toreplace God. There is great

emphasis on the sanctity oflife, but also on the reality of

death and the will of God.

However, Muslims alsobelieve there is a cure forevery disease. Even theimplantation of a pigs heartmay be consideredacceptable, if it is a medicalnecessity. Also alcohol orpig-based medications can beused if there are not othercomparable alternatives andthe medications are deemedto be medically necessary.

Organ transplant/organ donation:

Providing that no sale of the organ is involand that the persons life is in jeopardy withoutransplant, organ transplants are acceptable franimals to humans or from one living person another. However, some Muslims take offencreceiving the organ of a dead person, since itinvolves the desecration of a dead body. Simsome people do not want to donate their organbecause of their belief in the sanctity of the bowhile other people are happy to do so becausehelps others.

Blood transfusion:

It is fineboth to give and receive.

Birth control:It is fine to take birth control.

Abortion:

Allowable in cases where the mothers lifejeopardy or in very limited circumstances in epregnancy due to medical or fetal indications

Autopsy:

In general, Muslims resist autopsies but wiconsent if there is a compelling reason for one

Sexual enhancing drugs:

Acceptable in order to fix an impotency prwithin a marriage but not in order to becomepromiscuous or to become disrespectful to onwife.

Euthanasia:

Physician-assisted suicide is considered m

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