Physicians Respond to Religious Conflicts

Conflicts between U.S. doctors and a patient’s religious concerns are not uncommon, but most physicians strive to accommodate a patient’s beliefs.

Dr. Farr Curlin, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, conducted 21 one-on-one, in-depth interviews centered on open-ended grand tour questions, with physicians representing diverse religious backgrounds.

Curlin found doctors were most aggravated by patients who had no moral objection to a particular therapy but simply chose faith over medicine. I have had patients, recalled several physicians, who, when faced with a diagnosis for which there is effective treatment, chose instead to rely on faith and prayer.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found physicians may encourage patients to think of prayer as an adjunct to medicine, not as a substitute; if that fails, they often try to persuade the patient that therapy is something provided by God, or if that fails, the doctor may appeal to the patient’s religious community, such as family members or clergy for assistance.