Physicians and Patient Spirituality
Authors: Christina M. Puchalski
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2000)

Letters7 November 2000Physicians and Patient SpiritualityChristina M. Puchalski, MD, David B. Larson, MD, MSPH, and Stephen G. Post, PhDChristina M. Puchalski, MDGeorge Washington University; Washington, DC 20852 (Puchalski)National Institute for Healthcare Research; Rockville, MD 20852 (Larson)Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Cleveland, OH (Post)Search for more papers by this author, David B. Larson, MD, MSPHGeorge Washington University; Washington, DC 20852 (Puchalski)National Institute for Healthcare Research; Rockville, MD 20852 (Larson)Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Cleveland, OH (Post)Search for more papers by this author, and Stephen G. Post, PhDGeorge Washington University; Washington, DC 20852 (Puchalski)National Institute for Healthcare Research; Rockville, MD 20852 (Larson)Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Cleveland, OH (Post)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-133-9-200011070-00029 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:The example that Dr. Graner uses, of a physician who tells a patient that her daughter “will tell us whether she wants to go to heaven,” can be appropriate or inappropriate depending on the circumstances. If the physician says this to a patient with whom she has had no discussion about spiritual belief, then we would agree that this is inappropriate. If, on the other hand, the physician knows the family believes in heaven, then such a comment as was quoted in the article would be appropriate.This clinical example highlights the need for courses on spirituality in ...References1. Lo B, Quill T, Tulsky J. Discussing palliative care with patients. ACP–ASIM End-of-Life Care Consensus Panel. American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine. Ann Intern Med. 1999;130:744-9. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Puchalski CM, Larson DB. Developing curricula in spirituality and medicine. Acad Med. 1998;73:970-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Cohen CB, Wheeler SE, Scott DA, Edwards BS, Lusk P. Prayer as therapy. A challenge to both religious belief and professional ethics. The Anglican Working Group in Bioethics. Hastings Cent Rep. 2000;30:40-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Puchalski CM, Romer AL. Taking a spiritual history allows clinicians to understand patients more fully. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2000;3:129-37. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. The Medical School Objectives Project, Report I. Washington, DC: Assoc American Medical Colleges; 1998. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: George Washington University; Washington, DC 20852 (Puchalski)National Institute for Healthcare Research; Rockville, MD 20852 (Larson)Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Cleveland, OH (Post) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoDiscussing Palliative Care with Patients Bernard Lo , Timothy Quill , James Tulsky , and Physicians and Patient Spirituality: Professional Boundaries, Competency, and Ethics Stephen G. Post , Christina M. Puchalski , and David B. Larson Physicians and Patient Spirituality John Graner Metrics Cited ByPercepção de Acadêmicos de Medicina e de Outras Áreas da Saúde e Humanas (Ligadas à Saúde) sobre as Relações entre Espiritualidade, Religiosidade e SaúdeCommunicating about Spiritual Issues with Cancer PatientsReligious and Spiritual Issues in DSM-5: Matters of the Mind and Searching of the SoulPalliative Care Doctors Need Help with Spiritual WellbeingSpirituality as an Adjunct to Pain ManagementToward Competency-Based Curricula in Patient-Centered Spiritual Care: Recommended Competencies for Family Medicine Resident EducationSpiritualität in der OnkologieIntegrating Spiritual Assessment and CareSpiritual, Religious, and Existential Aspects of Palliative CareApplication of Community-Based Participatory Research Methods to a Study of Complementary Medicine Interventions at End of LifeTeaching Cultural Considerations at the End of Life: End of Life Nursing Education Consortium Program Recommendations 7 November 2000Volume 133, Issue 9Page: 748-749KeywordsCaregiversResidency ePublished: 7 November 2000 Issue Published: 7 November 2000 CopyrightCopyright © 2000 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...