Religion and culture

Religion, belief and culture should be recognised as potential sources of moral purpose and personal strength in healthcare, enhancing the welfare of both clinicians and patients, amidst the experience of ill-health, healing, suffering and dying. Communication between doctors and patients and between healthcare staff should attend sensitively to the welfare benefits of religion, belief and culture. Doctors should respect personal religious and cultural commitments, taking account of their significance for treatment and care preferences. Good doctors will understand their own beliefs and those of others. They will hold that patient welfare will be best served by understanding the importance of religion, belief and culture may to patients and colleagues. The sensitive navigation of differences between people’s religions, beliefs and cultures is part of doctors’ civic obligations and should follow the guidance of the General Medical Council and Department of Health. In particular, apparent conflict between clinical judgment or normal practices and a patient’s culture, religion and belief should be considered carefully. Doctors’ own religion or culture may play an important role in promoting adherence to this good practice. In all matters, doctors’ conduct should be governed by the law and arrangements for conscientious objection which are in effect