Parental Use of Religion and Spirituality in Medical Decision-Making

Abstract

New medical technology has extended children's lives, creating challenges for parental decision-making. Many parents utilize religion or spirituality (R/S). This study examined the semi-structured interviews of 24 parents who made significant medical decisions. Major domains included drawing on guidance from an internal or personal R/S source; some described making decisions by surrendering decision-making agency to the Divine; being guided by beliefs in the afterlife, including that their child's suffering would be alleviated in death, and/or making their decision in a partnership with the Divine. Participants also describe being guided by external R/S sources. Participants spoke about receiving counsel from spiritual communities, that God worked through the medical team, and/or seeking guidance through prayer or spiritual writings. Parents use R/S to make medical decisions for their children, and many consider the chaplain to be part of the medical team. Chaplains have a role to play in helping to facilitate the use of religion/spirituality in medical decision-making for those parents who identify as religious/spiritual as well as those who are not currently utilizing their beliefs.

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