title: Dealing with requests for faith healing treatment.
abstract: Faith healing practices are common in the Indian subcontinent, for remedying physical as well as psychiatric disorders. Patients and/ or their family members often resort to such treatment, especially when dissatisfied with the usual medical care or when the patient has a terminal illness. The application of the principles of medical ethics varies across cultures and time, and with the ethical principles to which a society subscribes. This write-up explores the various options available to healthcare professionals faced with patients and/or their family members who express a wish for faith healing services. The options discussed include outright rejection of faith healing practices, maintaining a distance or neutrality, endorsing such practices, and exploring the belief system of the patient and/or the family members. The various options are viewed from the lens of the principles of medical ethics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai, 600044 India,. sidsarkar22@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Siddharth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai, 600044 India,. dr.hiramalini.seshadri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hiramalini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seshadri
mesh_terms: D003469:Culture; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D029221:Faith Healing / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D012068:Religion and Medicine