A time out for prayer

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Surgical Care
• Spirituality in Medicine

Background:

• Compassionate surgical care acknowledges the patient's holistic needs, including spiritual well-being.
• Patients often rely on faith and prayer for comfort and healing during medical treatment.
• Prayer is sometimes incorporated into the surgical Time Out procedure, particularly in faith-based institutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case study involving prayer during a surgical Time Out.
• To offer an ethical framework for evaluating the practice of incorporating prayer into the surgical Time Out.
• To ensure compassionate and ethically sound patient care in diverse healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of prayer integrated into the surgical Time Out.
• Application of core ethical principles: beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice, and fiduciary responsibility.
• Development of a framework for ethical evaluation of spiritual practices in surgical settings.

Main Results:

• The case illustrates a non-uncommon practice in faith-based hospitals.
• The proposed framework provides a structured approach to assess the ethical implications of prayer during Time Out.
• Ethical considerations involve balancing patient spiritual needs with professional medical obligations.

Conclusions:

• Integrating prayer into the surgical Time Out requires careful ethical consideration.
• The proposed framework aids healthcare providers in navigating the ethical complexities of spiritual practices in surgery.
• Upholding patient autonomy and fiduciary responsibility is paramount when incorporating faith-based practices into clinical care.