Physicians and Patient Spirituality

Letters7 November 2000Physicians and Patient SpiritualityJohn Graner, MDJohn Graner, MDMayo Clinic; Rochester, MN 55906 (Graner)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-133-9-200011070-00028 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Post and colleagues' assertion (1) that "the health care market presses providers in a more holistic direction … that includes attentiveness to patient spirituality," has an oxymoronic flavor to it, worthy of a comment from William Osler's alter ego, Egerton Yorrick Davis (2). The danger here, of course, is the bringing of any aspect of religion into the "marketplace." Because of this danger, we must be ever-diligent to prevent a misguided religiosity in the clinic or hospital. I have seen religious icons hanging in individual physicians' offices, perhaps in an attempt to announce to their patients that ...References1. Post SG, Puchalski CM, Larson DB. Physicians and patient spirituality: professional boundaries, competency, and ethics. Ann Intern Med. 2000;132:578-83. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Tigertt WD. An annotated life of Egerton Yorrick Davis, M.D., an intimate of Sir William Osler. J Hist Med Allied Sci. 1983;38:259-97. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Copp J. Faith and medicine: a growing practice. St Anthony Messenger. 2000;107:23-6. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: John Graner, MDAffiliations: Mayo Clinic; Rochester, MN 55906 (Graner) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPhysicians and Patient Spirituality: Professional Boundaries, Competency, and Ethics Stephen G. Post , Christina M. Puchalski , and David B. Larson Physicians and Patient Spirituality Christina M. Puchalski , David B. Larson , and Stephen G. Post Physicians and Patient Spirituality Gerald P. Bodey Physicians and Patient Spirituality John Graner Physicians and Patient Spirituality Fritz Baumgartner Metrics Cited bySpiritual, Religious, and Existential Aspects of Palliative CareGrounding Research and Medical Education About Religion in Actual Physician-Patient Interaction: Church Attendance, Social Support, and Older AdultsPhysicians and Patient SpiritualityFritz Baumgartner, MDReligion, Spirituality, and Existentialism Near the End of LifePatient perspectives on spirituality and the patient-physician relationshipPhysicians and Patient SpiritualityGerald P. Bodey, MD 7 November 2000Volume 133, Issue 9Page: 748KeywordsHealth care providersHealth care sectorHospitals ePublished: 7 November 2000 Issue Published: 7 November 2000 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2000 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...