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Prayer, Faith and Doctors mrnashzarim@gmail.com
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Religion isn’t often talked about in medicine, but should it be? I asked
New York psychiatrist Dr. Robert Klitzman, author of “When Doctors
Recent Posts
Become Patients,” to tell us about his experiences with patients, prayer
and faith. — Tara Parker-Pope March 24 Prayer, Faith and Doctors
7 comments Should doctors be aware of their patients’
religious beliefs?
By Robert Klitzman, M.D.
March 21 The Wretched Life of the Insomniac
“I will pray for you,” a senior psychiatrist told my patient. 51 comments A new book explains the unique challenges
posed by insomnia.
His comment surprised me. I was in training, and the patient was a petite March 21 Big Race Ahead for Cyclists With
Latina woman who had remained despondent despite medication, 11 comments Diabetes
Team Type 1 includes four athletes with Type 1
psychotherapy or anything else I did. Would he really pray for her? diabetes.

March 20 Formula Freebies Cut Breastfeeding

Occasionally, as a trainee, I would spot a
54 comments Time
hospital chaplain, but at the medical school Hospitals undermine efforts to promote
where I was trained and others, nothing breastfeeding by giving women formula
about religion or spirituality is ever taught. samples.

Science is supposed to be logical, rational and March 20 Looking for a Few Good Cookbooks
247 comments Help food writer Mark Bittman pick the best
objective, while spiritual beliefs are irrational, recipe guides ever.
subjective, elusive and hard to describe. Not
surprisingly, research suggests that doctors
tend to be less religious than their patients.

But then, a few years ago, I became a patient

myself and began to look at these issues
differently. My sister died in the Sept. 11
World Trade Center attacks, leaving me
Dr. Robert Klitzman. (Charles Manley)
stunned and depressed. As I recovered, I
began to wonder about other doctors who had
become patients. I ended up interviewing more than 50 of them. I soon
learned that when doctors get sick with serious disease, they also tend to
reconsider their spiritual beliefs.

Several doctors I spoke with were religious before they became patients,
but they were admittedly even more so once they faced serious illness.
Others changed more dramatically. “Patients used to ask me to pray for
them, and I’d pooh-pooh it,” one elderly physician told me. After he got Comments of the Moment
sick, he “realized how important prayer was.” TV in a preschooler's room? Are there
really people who do this?”
Often these doctors expressed a hodgepodge of beliefs, drawing on the — Gayle
Does TV Belong in a Child's
organized religion in which they were raised, and adding elements of Bedroom?
Eastern philosophy or New Age beliefs.
“I'll take the fondue pot.”
— karen
That said, some physicians weren’t changed by illness, remaining skeptical
Putting Your Kitchen on a Diet
and disillusioned with organized religion. “I see it helps my patients,” one
doctor told me. “I wish I had it in my life more…But I don’t.” It could not “While waiting to cross the street at 54th and
Broadway a few years back a quart of milk hit
always be willed. me in the head - weird stuff happens.”
— Tim Meyers
Some doctors felt that prayer can directly alter the physical process of Falling Object Creates Real
healing through God’s intervention. My view is that prayer and faith give Drama on Broadway

vital strength and motivation that can help patients cope and continue to
fight. HEALTHY CONSUMER FAMILY MATTERS
A Health Boost? The Teenage Mind
Does it matter whether you and your doctor share the same spiritual
beliefs?

I would argue that your doctor’s personal beliefs don’t matter. What
matters is that your doctor recognizes that your beliefs are important to
you. Training cannot convince doctors to become more spiritual. But it A lawsuit says the health
claims of so-called "probiotic"
can, I hope, make them more aware of the range of views that their
yogurts dupe consumers.
patients have. Religion is a huge area that many doctors don’t know much Will Cholesterol Pills Save Your
Life?
about, yet this is what our patients are thinking about. I hadn’t Resistant Bacteria, Football
appreciated the extent of that, until I myself became a patient. Players and Gay Men
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Thinking back to the senior psychiatrist who told my patient he would WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE BODY WORK
Hillary's Health Plan The Cure for Exhaustion
pray for her, I now realize how astute he was. I saw her as a little,
depressed woman. What he picked up on was that Catholicism would be
important to her. That was the way to connect with this woman who so far
had rejected our efforts to help her. At the time, to me, it seemed an odd
thing to say. In retrospect, it was quite empathic.
Eating hot peppers may do Patients with persistent fatigue
As an intern, alas, I was usually too busy to discuss these issues with more than just spice up your got an energy boost from low-
patients — not yet aware of their significance. But I hope now that future diet. intensity exercise.
An Omnivore Defends Real Life or Death Fitness
doctors will do better. It will help patients. And their doctors, too. Food Rating Home Exercise
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Dr. Klitzman is an associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia
University Medical Center. Tara Parker-Pope is on vacation. IN SCIENCE TIMES
In Sisters, Love and an Urge to Wring Her
E-mail this Share Neck
The publishing world was shocked to learn that
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7 comments so far...
About Well
Healthy living doesn't happen at the doctor's
1. March As a medical student and an atheist, I’d like to hear from the readers office. The road to better health is paved with the
24th, here on whether you’d like a promise from me that I’ll pray for you if small decisions we make every day. It's about the
2008 my prayers would be without belief. I could see my self “sending good choices we make when we buy groceries, drive
8:53 am thoughts” out, but I would not feel comfortable promising to pray to our cars and hang out with our kids. That's the
a particular deity in whom I have no personal faith. Does it matter? focus of Well, The Times's new health blog. Join
columnist Tara Parker-Pope as she sifts through
— Posted by Liz
medical research and expert opinions for practical advice to help
readers take control of their health and live well every day. You
2. March Deep down inside I am a very pessimistic agnostic, and yet the can reach Ms. Parker-Pope at well@nytimes.com.
24th, closest to religious I ever become is when I pray with my patients,
2008 which I do whenever requested. I have seen it work very well in the
8:57 am sense of enhancing a patients well being and morale, and once or
Monthly Archives Select Month
twice I would attest that it has kept someone off of mechanical
ventilation. What We're Talking About
When I have a pateint who is ill, I will take help from any source -
Aging Well Body Work
seen or unseen - to make him or her better, or at least comfort them
in their remaining time. Cancer Family Matters
— Posted by Chet M
House Calls Medicine Cabinet

On Your Mind Safe Travels

3. March I completely disagree with this article. It is too easy to alienate
24th, patients, rather than uplift them, when using religion. For example, The Healthy Consumer The Week
2008 what if the patient is an agnostic, or atheist? What if the patient Weigh In What's On Your Plate
9:16 am believes in a different God?
Also, studies have not shown a benefit to prayer, and physicians need
to concentrate on evidence-based medicine. Where is your evidence
that this helps patients? What study are you using to form this Comprehensive reference and special reports about diseases,
opinion? conditions, tests, injuries and surgeries.
— Posted by Elizabeth Alzheimer's Disease Weight Control

Sleep Apnea Rheumatoid Arthritis

4. March I’m a hospital chaplain and seminary student, and I always wonder Prostate Cancer Osteoarthritis
24th, what doctors and nurses think when I introduce myself to a patient,
2008 talk with them, sometimes pray with them. I’m glad to hear that Headache, Tension Diabetes, Type 2
9:20 am some doctors recognize the necessity of spiritual care for their
Cholesterol Breast Cancer
patients, but this is a reminder that it doesn’t have to be the doctor
who offers to pray if they are uncomfortable doing so - there is a Back Pain Heart Attack
chaplain in nearly every hospital, one who is comfortable with
Browse All 3,000 + Topics >>
patients of all faith backgrounds. This chaplain is also available for
doctors and nurses too, if they need spiritual support.
— Posted by Emily

5. March It may also help doctors if they realise that some ailments have nytimes.com/health
24th, spiritual or demonic roots which science may not readily have an
2008 answer for.
9:33 am
— Posted by funlola o

6. March In response to Liz’s query to readers, and as a believing (but often

24th, struggling & challenged Catholic), I would like to let her know that I
2008 would not want an insincere offer of prayer — from her, an athiest —
9:35 am merely to identify and attempt to bond with me. I would probably see Practical blood pressure advice
through that; and even an unconscious perception of insincerity and Also in Health:
doubt in her would prevail to impact my relationship with my Complex causes of diabetes
physician. Reminder to smokers: your lungs are aging
Take the weekly health quiz
Instead, I would a prefer sincere, “I wish you a speedy and complete
recovery” or, “I wish you strength and fortitude.” “May your faith
heal you and give you courage,” would likely well suffice.
Feeds
— Posted by Gustavo

7. March Prayer does send out positive waves which according to different Popular Tags
24th, researches does heal patients.Religion doesn’t really matter. I guess it aging alcohol alternative medicine autism babies back
2008 is the faith that counts. Numerous studies suggest that persistent pain bacteria books brain breast cancer calories
9:38 am repetition combined with faith works miracles. So personally, I would cancer cellphones children cholesterol coffee colds
prefer a doctor who can reorganize my thoughts and pray with
utmost sincerity for me ( Though it is awfully difficult to find one) depression diabetes diet doctors exercise food
heart attack heart disease infection inspiration Internet
— Posted by Lopez
kids medical errors menopause
nutrition organic pain pink ribbon
Add your comments... pregnancy psychology readers restaurants safety sex
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