We Must Express Our Faith! The Impact of Religion and Spirituality on End-of-Life Surrogate Decision Making

Abstract

For many critically ill patients and their families, their religious faith and spirituality profoundly influence their experience of sickness and death, their perception and meaning of suffering, and their decisions regarding their care. Patients and families need to feel that their spirituality, religious faith, and deeply held beliefs are acknowledged, considered, and respected. To provide compassionate, holistic care requires that we companion our patients and their families through the fear and anticipatory grief of serious illness and death, to create and hold a sacred space for expressions of religion, faith, and spirit, and to maintain a trusting relationship without minimizing the patient or family's conviction of hope.