Healthcare Ethics: Impact of Religious Beliefs on Healthcare Practices

This essay explores the influence of religious beliefs on healthcare practices, examining how these beliefs can impact patient care and create ethical dilemmas. The author discusses the four key principles of nursing: beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy, highlighting that patient autonomy is often challenged by religious beliefs. The essay provides an example of how dietary restrictions based on religious beliefs can influence healthcare decisions. The author concludes that cultural and religious beliefs of both the patient and the healthcare provider should be considered to avoid ethical issues. The essay references several sources to support its arguments, including studies on the impact of religious beliefs on healthcare practices, the role of cultural background in patient care and the importance of considering cultural values and beliefs in healthcare settings.

Running head: HEALTH CARE ETHIC RELIGIOUS
Health Care Ethic Religious
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1Health Care Ethic Religious
Introduction:
Religious or cultural background of an individual impacts the healthcare belief of an
individual. The aim of this essay is to explain the ethical issue caused during healthcare
procedures. It is caused due to the cultural or religious background (Rumun, 2014)
Discussion
Religious beliefs of a person impacts of human health in different ways. There are 4 key
principles of nursing, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and autonomy (Holloway & Galvin,
2016). Autonomy of the patient is maintained in healthcare as it can violates the belief of some
communities and in some cases it is not followed, which I found ethically objectionable. The
procedures or the course of action followed, should be beneficence to every individual
irrespective of their caste and background and if not done it can raise ethical concern (Rumun,
2014). In addition, the procedure should be fair for every individual. I think all the four
principles should be followed to avoid any ethical issue. Some procedures or course of action
used in healthcare is ethically objectionable. For example, intake of cow meat improves health,
but in some communities (Hindu) the cow is considered as the sacred status and does not kill
them (Srinivasan, Kaplan & Dahl, 2018). Cultural background of the nurse can also cause
problem in their job. Hence in that case, they should give priorities to their patient and develops
the patient care, procedure or any course of cations that should consider the cultural values and
beliefs of the individual.

2Health Care Ethic Religious
Conclusion:
From the essay, it can be concluded that the religious beliefs of an patient as well as that
of the registered nurse can cause hurdles during the treatment of the patient. Hence before
conducting any procedures or course of action, cultural and religious beliefs of the person should
be considered to avoid any ethical issue.

3Health Care Ethic Religious
References
Rumun, A. J. (2014). Influence of religious beliefs on healthcare practice. Int J Educ
Res, 2(4), 37-48.
Srinivasan, M., Kaplan, E., & Dahl, A. (2018). Reasoning about the scope of religious
norms: Evidence from Hindu and Muslim children in India. Child development.
Holloway, I., & Galvin, K. (2016). Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. John
Wiley & Sons.