The UK government's universal health care system warns a baptist nurse "that she could be disciplined after a patient complained that she had offered to pray for her."
-- From "Doctors and nurses demand right to pray for patients" by Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor, The [UK] Telegraph 6/29/09
Guidance given by the NHS suggests staff could be sanctioned if they offer spiritual help to anyone who does not share their beliefs, according to the sponsors of a motion at the British Medical Association’s (BMA) annual representatives meeting in Liverpool.
The doctors will argue that the rules need clarifying to distinguish between those who try to offer religious support to patients as part of a programme of care and zealots who might target the infirm as potential converts.
The debate, which comes after the case of a nurse, Caroline Petrie, who given a warning earlier this year, will take place on Wednesday.
. . . a Department of Health document warns explicitly that disciplinary action could be taken against health staff discussing prayer with patients.
The NHS guidance says: "Members of some religions ... are expected to preach and to try to convert other people. In a workplace environment, this can cause many problems, as non-religious people and those from other religions or beliefs could feel harassed and intimidated by this behaviour.
"To avoid misunderstandings and complaints on this issue, it should be made clear to everyone from the first day of training and/or employment, and regularly restated, that such behaviour, notwithstanding religious beliefs, could be construed as harassment under the disciplinary and grievance procedures."
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