 Secularists want to stop hospital chaplaincies in UK, but ethicist counters: "It is hard to overstate how helpful that chaplain was to the patient and the clinical team."(United Kingdom)—Daniel Sokol is a medical ethicist at St George's, University of London, and Director of Applied Clinical Ethics at Imperial College London. Admitting that as a non-believer he was skeptical of pastoral care in UK hospitals, after experiencing numerous examples of chaplains playing a key role in patient health, he is now disagreeing with the National Secular Society's call to end NHS funding for hospital chaplains in the UK.
Secularists reportedly believe money currently spent on hospital chaplaincy could be better spent.
As reported on the BBC, referring to a particular case where a patient asked for prayer while in the hospital, Sokol said, "It is hard to overstate how helpful that chaplain was to the patient and the clinical team. As a non-believer, I was skeptical of pastoral care. My experiences as a hospital ethicist have changed my views."
"Pastoral services can make a world of difference to some patients, relatives and healthcare staff," he added. "There are too many patients and too few healthcare workers. Consultations are expeditious. At times, the patient is not viewed as a person but a disease or a constellation of symptoms, shuttled efficiently from one specialist to another. Hospital chaplains can usually spend more time with patients and contribute to the ideal of a holistic approach to patient care. The patient feels valued as an individual."
Read about poignant, specific hospital situations witnessed by Sokol that aided in his decision by following the link provided.
Used by permission www.breakingchristiannews.com / Daniel Sokol - BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7990099.stm
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