Faith-to-faith at the bedside: theological and ethical issues in ecumenical clinical chaplaincy. 2003

Brad F Mellon
Chaplain Services, Frederick Mennonite Community, P.O. Box 498, Frederick, PA 19435-0498, USA. bmellon@frederick-mennonite.org

Chaplains who serve in a clinical context often minister to patients representing a wide variety of faiths. In order to offer the best pastoral care possible, the chaplain should first possess a set of personal theological convictions as a foundation for ministry. Second, he or she needs to be sensitive to the beliefs and practices of the patients. Third, it is vital to develop a relationship of acceptance and trust not only with patients under their care, but also with family members and caregivers as well. At times, situations will arise that are purely religious or theological. In a clinical setting, however, the questions and problems that arise more often are both theological and ethical. It is beneficial for the chaplain to be involved in an ethics committee, where the specifics of each case can be discussed, and staff can offer counsel to patients and their families. This study examines issues that chaplains face at the bedside, such as terminal care, life-prolonging treatments, dementia, persistent vegetative state, and euthanasia-assisted suicide. We will discover that those who are involved in clinical pastoral ministry will be called upon to be a comforter, mediator, educator, ethicist, and counselor.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010327 Pastoral Care Counseling or comfort given by ministers, priests, rabbis, etc., to those in need of help with emotional problems or stressful situations. Psychology, Pastoral,Pastoral Psychology,Care, Pastoral
D011368 Professional-Family Relations The interactions between the professional person and the family. Professional Family Relationship,Family Relationship, Professional,Family Relationships, Professional,Professional Family Relations,Professional Family Relationships,Professional-Family Relation,Relation, Professional-Family,Relations, Professional-Family,Relationship, Professional Family,Relationships, Professional Family
D012068 Religion and Medicine The interrelationship of medicine and religion. Religiosity Coping,Spiritual Coping,Medicine and Religion,Coping, Religiosity,Coping, Spiritual,Religiosity Copings
D002604 Chaplaincy Service, Hospital Hospital department which administers religious activities within the hospital, e.g., pastoral care, religious services. Hospital Chaplaincy Service,Service, Chaplaincy Hospital,Service, Hospital Chaplaincy,Chaplaincy Hospital Service,Chaplaincy Hospital Services,Chaplaincy Services, Hospital,Hospital Chaplaincy Services,Hospital Service, Chaplaincy,Hospital Services, Chaplaincy,Services, Chaplaincy Hospital,Services, Hospital Chaplaincy
D002835 Christianity The religion stemming from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus Christ: the religion that believes in God as the Father Almighty who works redemptively through the Holy Spirit for men's salvation and that affirms Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior who proclaimed to man the gospel of salvation. (From Webster, 3d ed) Stigmata,Christian Ethics,Christian Ethic,Ethic, Christian,Ethics, Christian
D002977 Clergy Persons ordained for religious duties, who serve as leaders and perform religious services. Chaplains,Clerics,Deacons,Imams,Ministers,Pastors,Priests,Rabbis,Chaplain,Cleric,Deacon,Imam,Minister,Pastor,Priest,Rabbi
D003657 Decision Making The process of making a selective intellectual judgment when presented with several complex alternatives consisting of several variables, and usually defining a course of action or an idea. Credit Assignment,Assignment, Credit,Assignments, Credit,Credit Assignments
D003956 Dialysis A process of selective diffusion through a membrane. It is usually used to separate low-molecular-weight solutes which diffuse through the membrane from the colloidal and high-molecular-weight solutes which do not. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Dialyses
D004995 Ethics, Professional The principles of proper conduct concerning the rights and duties of the professional, relations with patients or consumers and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the professional and interpersonal relations with patient or consumer families. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Professional Ethics,Ethic, Professional,Professional Ethic
D005065 Euthanasia The act or practice of killing or allowing death from natural causes, for reasons of mercy, i.e., in order to release a person from incurable disease, intolerable suffering, or undignified death. (from Beauchamp and Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics, 5th ed) Mercy Killing,Killing, Mercy,Killings, Mercy,Mercy Killings

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