Prayer Before Surgery

Specialties Operating Room

Published

I work in a religiously-affiliated hospital institution and I really like that we say a prayer as a surgical team and invite the patient to participate (if so desired). I really like this small, but meaningful part of our pre-timeout processes, especially after a D.O.T, knowing we did this before the case. Does anyone else have experience with formal prayer with a surgical team and how did you feel about it?

I think that everyone's faith is personal. Many people don't believe in treating it like a dirty secret that must be hidden until you clock out like an ugly tattoo on your neck. I don't force my beliefs on coworkers or patients but I don't hide my light under a bush either. I worked for a christian facility and we prayed before shifts etc...it was by far the most cooperative and considerate group of coworkers I have ever had. The gossip and whiny "I'm special" drama was almost nonexistent. I know I would enjoy that type of experience again. Great ? OP.

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I have experienced this as a patient, and it made me very uncomfortable. I was at a publicly funded hospital not a religious hospital. Right before surgery, the surgeon came in to see me and told me the surgical team would say a prayer before my surgery. My first thought was why do you feel the need to pray? Is there something you aren't telling me? Is this surgery riskier than you told me? Are you not qualified to be doing this surgery? Maybe I should get another opinion. I had said my prayer before the surgery, but I want my surgical team to depend on their training and experience not prayer to get a successful outcome.

Even if the hospital is associated with a religious faith, they are probably treating medicare and medicaid patients. If they are, they are accepting public money and cannot push their beliefs on anyone. Most hospitals associated with a religious faith do not receive any funding from that faith.

It is not reasonable or fair to say that if a patient goes to a hospital associated with a religious faith, they must be fine with that faith's beliefs being forced on them. In many areas, that may be the only hospital. In other areas that may be the only hospital that does cardiac cases or orthopedic cases.

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I'm an atheist. I don't care who prays when as long as I'm not forced to participate. If a surgeon feels more confident about their abilities when they pray before operating on me, then by all means, pray away! I just don't care. It doesn't hurt anything.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I'm an atheist. I don't care who prays when as long as I'm not forced to participate. If a surgeon feels more confident about their abilities when they pray before operating on me, then by all means, pray away! I just don't care. It doesn't hurt anything.

I wish more atheists felt the same way as you and would speak up about it. All we ever hear from are the radicals who are offended by the sight of religious symbols, and who work tirelessly to take away the rights of religious people to practice their faith where they choose. Thank you for this.

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I have experienced this as a patient, and it made me very uncomfortable. I was at a publicly funded hospital not a religious hospital. Right before surgery, the surgeon came in to see me and told me the surgical team would say a prayer before my surgery. My first thought was why do you feel the need to pray? Is there something you aren't telling me? Is this surgery riskier than you told me? Are you not qualified to be doing this surgery? Maybe I should get another opinion. I had said my prayer before the surgery, but I want my surgical team to depend on their training and experience not prayer to get a successful outcome.

Even if the hospital is associated with a religious faith, they are probably treating medicare and medicaid patients. If they are, they are accepting public money and cannot push their beliefs on anyone. Most hospitals associated with a religious faith do not receive any funding from that faith.

It is not reasonable or fair to say that if a patient goes to a hospital associated with a religious faith, they must be fine with that faith's beliefs being forced on them. In many areas, that may be the only hospital. In other areas that may be the only hospital that does cardiac cases or orthopedic cases.

Did you say anything to the surgeon or the surgical team that it made you uncomfortable? Did you voice your questions? I am a Christian and as a part of a surgical team, I find it comforting that my surgeon prays before every case: for the patient, for the team, for recovery etc. Just because a surgeon wants to pray with a patient doesn't mean that he or she is pushing their beliefs on anyone.

I work for a Catholic hospital and I'm not Catholic. They have prayer every morning at 8:00 over the intercom system and have Mass that is shown on the tv and anyone can attend. Not ONCE have I been pressured to attend Mass or change my beliefs.

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I love it! It would mean a lot to me to have medical personnel pray over me. In fact, one of my husband's doctors prayed over him before transferring him to a different hospital and it really did bring him peace.

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Did you say anything to the surgeon or the surgical team that it made you uncomfortable? Did you voice your questions? I am a Christian and as a part of a surgical team, I find it comforting that my surgeon prays before every case: for the patient, for the team, for recovery etc. Just because a surgeon wants to pray with a patient doesn't mean that he or she is pushing their beliefs on anyone.

I work for a Catholic hospital and I'm not Catholic. They have prayer every morning at 8:00 over the intercom system and have Mass that is shown on the tv and anyone can attend. Not ONCE have I been pressured to attend Mass or change my beliefs.

Of course I didn't say anything. There is that power imbalance. I'm lying in a bed in a paper hospital gown talking to someone who is fully clothed, standing over me, and supposed to be a great surgeon. He's about to cut on me. I'm not going to say anything to upset him. It did increase my anxiety level.

I am a Christian. I'm fine with any and all medical staff praying with a patient IF THE PATIENT INITIATES IT. I'm fine if the surgeon prays each day for knowledge and skill. I'm fine if the surgical staff prays before an operation if the patient requests it. I'm not fine with public displays of faith by health care providers which force their beliefs on their patients.

The bottom line is not everyone shares your faith. The patient isn't paying you for your faith or to be converted or proselytized. You are being paid to provide health care. It is possible to practice your faith without forcing it on others.

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Specializes in Operating Room Scrub / FA.

I was hesitant to bring up this topic as it normally gets people upset and sometimes even angry. It's certainly not my intent. I find the different perspectives to be both helpful and refreshing. I think we all have our ideas about what is right and wrong, especially in the OR, but it's healthy to understand different points-of-view.

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I do not work in surgery but in rehab--I am a PCT. but I pray before I walk inside the hospital and I also pray before I do my blood draws- in my head to give me confidence and guidance.I also believe that religion is look down upon because a lot people think you are trying to force it down their throats and not everyone is like. Btw, I am not religious I just love God...is that a problem?

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Just because a surgeon wants to pray with a patient doesn't mean that he or she is pushing their beliefs on anyone.

How is that not "pushing their beliefs on anyone"??

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Specializes in ICU.

How is that not "pushing their beliefs on anyone"??

Exactly^^. I'd be very uncomfortable with it as a patient- I'd be nervous, thinking you weren't skilled enough and were asking your god for help!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I agree with the concern about the client "consent," and this illustrates the power imbalance inherent in professional helping relationships. Regardless of how they may feel about it personally, how many people are going to feel comfortable saying no to the surgeon who is about to operate on them?? If people really feel that they want to pray, what's wrong with doing it silently or privately, instead of making a production out of it? Jesus himself, in the Bible, advised his followers that, when they pray, they should go into their room, close the door, and pray privately, and not make a public display of their piety.

I think the above is worth repeating. The patient cannot give a truly valid consent in that situation as he is "at the mercy" of the surgical team. That makes it unethical unless the patient has asked for a prayer without it being suggested to him.

Personally, if I were a patient of this team ... I would not want a prayer, but would feel obligated to consent to it so as to not offend the surgical team.

...and I have worked for 2 Catholic hospitals even though I am not Catholic. Neither of those hospitals made me uncomfortable because they both were tertiary care centers who knew that their patients (and staff) did not all share their beliefs. One hospital in particular went out of their way to help everyone feel comfortable, regardless of their beliefs. It was a great place to work and/or receive care.

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