1. Selected Religious-Cultural Views on Health Issues Many denominations own and operate health care facilities and make significant financial contributions to health care. It is important for the nurse to be cognizant of the employers and the clients views in order to serve both effectively.

2. Religious/Cultural Issues:AMISH Healing practices: may use a combination of folk, herbal, and Western medical care. Diet & Medications: General diet with no alcohol and NO NARCOTIC DRUGS allowed. Blood & Vaccines : No restrictions Birth Control: The Amish believe that the fundamental reason for marriage is for the procreation of children. Women are expected to have children until menopause, unless illnesses arise that require sterilization (uterine cancer, for example.) Abortion & artificial insemination: are both inconsistent with Amish beliefs. Right to Die: believed to be a personal matter Autopsy, Organ Donation: Although autopsy is acceptable, the Amish prefer to bury whole bodies in their own private cemeteries

3. Religious/Cultural Issues:BUDDHIST Practices: Buddha and his Eight-fold Path are worshipped. Healing Practices: Usually use a combination of Eastern & Western medicine Adherence to the teachings of the Buddha is an important factor in healing and recovery. Diet & Medications: Although many Buddhists are vegetarians, the avoidance of extremes is important here. Food and medication should be used in harmony to bring peace to the pt. Blood & Vaccines: anything that may prolong life is encouraged Birth Control: Individual choice Abortion: Buddha forbids the taking of life Artificial Insemination: personal choice Right to die, Autopsy, Organ Donation: personal choice

4. Religious/Cultural Issues:ROMAN CATHOLICISM Healing practices: Use all modes of healing, but observe the sacraments during illness: ie, confession, communion, prayer, blessing by a priest, last rites Diet & Medications: It is believed that all things are given by God for the good of the pt. The sick are not required to fast on Holy Days (Lent, Good Friday, etc.) Blood & Vaccines: Permitted Birth Control: Marriage is the conjugal sacrament and should be both love-giving and life-giving. Only natural means of birth control are permitted such as the rhythm method and abstinence. All products of conception must be baptized. Abortion & Artificial Insemination: Both are always seen as wrong, even insemination between a husband & wife Right to die: Catholics are required to take ordinary means to preserve life, but not to take extraordinary means (these terms are often debated.) Autopsies & Organ donation: both are permissible as long as the body is shown respect.

5. Religious/Cultural Issues:CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS Healing Practices: Christian Scientists believe that all healing (physical & moral) comes from God & His son, Jesus, through prayer, willpower & the use of the human mind as a curative agent. Diet is general to the geographic area; no medications are permitted Blood transfusions are not sought by members and vaccines are permissible only when required by law Birth Control: left to individual judgment Abortion: not done as it would require medication & surgical intervention Artificial insemination: very rare Right to die: Will not seek medical intervention to prolong life, although members will pray fervently for recovery of the ill. Autopsies: Done only when required by law Organ Donation: not preferred

6. Religious/Cultural Issues: Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints) Healing Practices: Western medicine is used (If a Mormon has an accident while wearing his special blessed underwear, called a garment, this garment may be removed by health care personnel. The elderly may refuse to part with their garment. Any practicing Mormon will want to resume wearing their garment ASAP.) Diet: the diet is called The Word of Wisdom and prohibits the use of alcohol, hot drinks (except herbal teas), and tobacco. Medications: no restrictions. Blood & Vaccines: no restriction Birth Control: Prohibited, unless health of the mother is compromised or if genetic disease would be passed on. Abortion: Prohibited except to save the mothers life. Artificial insemination is acceptable only from husband to wife. Right to die: When death is inevitable, efforts are made to promote a peaceful & dignified death. Autopsies & Organ Donation: permitted

7. Religious/Cultural Issues:Hindu Practices:Many Gods are worshipped including Brahmin, Krishna, Ram, Shiva. Worlds oldest religion with 719 million practitioners. Hindu scripture is called the Vedas and reincarnation & karma are central to the Hindu philosophy Healing Practices:Some use Western medicine, some Eastern, some believe only in faith healing, some believe illness is a punishment from a God. Diet: the eating of meat is forbidden, perhaps because of the belief in transmigration of the soul Medications: no restriction Blood & Vaccines: acceptable Birth control: acceptable, as is sterilization Abortion & Artificial Insemination: no official policy exists Right to Die: No religious custom or restriction. All life is seen as an endless cycle. Autopsies & Organ Donation: acceptable

8. Religious/Cultural Issues: Islam (Muslim) Practices: Worship Mohammad, holy book is called the Koran. Religion based on the Five Pillars of Faith, including prayer five times a day facing Mecca. Healing Practices: Use both Western & Eastern medicine, faith healing is not acceptable Diet: No pork, no alcohol or other intoxicants. Fasting is required from sunup to sundown during the holy month of Ramadan for all people, (boys aged 7, girls aged 9, & over. The elderly, pregnant and ill are not required to fast, but to feed a poor person to make up for the lack of fasting, and to fast later on in the year when the health status has changed.) Medications: no restrictions Blood & Vaccines: no restrictions Birth control: acceptable Artificial Insemination: From husband to wife only Abortion: strong objection (Mohammad condemned the policy of burying alive unwanted baby girls.) Right to die: ANY ATTEMPT TO SHORTEN ANY LIFE IS PROHIBITED! Organ Donation: acceptable Burial of the dead is compulsory following strict rules.

9. Religious/Cultural Issues: Jehovahs Witnesses Healing practices: Use Western medicine, the practice of faith healing is forbidden. Diet & Medications: no restrictions Blood products: strictly forbidden as are any vaccines made with human serum Birth control: left to the individual, but sterilization is strictly forbidden Abortion & Artificial Insemination: forbidden Right to die: a matter of individual conscience Autopsy: only if required by law Organ Donation: forbidden

10. Religious/Cultural Issues:JUDIASM (JEWISH) Healing practices: Medical care from physicians is expected according to Jewish law. Many prayers for the sick are found in the Jewish liturgy. The holy book is called the Torah. Diet: Strict dietary laws are observed. No pork or shellfish are allowed, milk can never be mixed with meat dishes (ie, cheeseburgers are taboo.) In order to be kosher, an animal must be slaughtered and prepared in a ritual way. Medications: no restrictions Blood & Vaccines: although there is a prohibition against ingesting blood (raw meat, blood pudding) the transfusion of blood intravenously is allowed, as is vaccination. Birth control: It is said in the Torah that Jews should be fruitful and multiply, so it is mitzvah to have at least two children; since the Holocaust, larger families are encouraged, to replace those who were lost in the death camps. Abortion: allowed only to save the life of the mother Artificial insemination: permitted under certain circumstances, a rabbi should be consulted in each individual case. Right to die: Death with dignity is encouraged. It is important for a Jewish family to know the exact time of death of a loved one as an exact one year series of mourning rituals takes place. The body is ritually washed & clothed in a simple white shroud. Embalming and cosmetic treatment of the body is forbidden. Autopsy: permitted, although all body parts must be retained for proper burial. Organ donation: considered so complex an issue that a rabbi should be consulted in each case.

11. Religious/Cultural Issues: NATIVE AMERICAN Healing practices: In the United States, there are over 2 million Native Americans from over 300 tribal units. Most use a combination of Western and cultural medical care (ie, the medicine man or tribal healer is consulted, along with the physician.) There are many theories of the causation of disease, both natural and supernatural. When dealing with any Native American client, communication is the key. Ask! Be supportive! Offer TLC! Respect the culture!

12. Religious/Cultural Issues:7 th DAY ADVENTISTS Healing practices: Adventists own & operate one of the worlds largest religiously operated health systems including a medical school. The sect also believes in Divine healing & in anointing the sick person or dead body with oil. Diet: the church encourages a vegetarian diet and alcohol is forbidden Medications: no restrictions Blood & Vaccines: no restrictions Birth control: individual choice Abortion: permitted to save the mothers life, or in the case of rape or incest only Artificial insemination: only between husband & wife Right to die: believes in the medical ethic of prolonging life as long as possible Autopsies & Organ Donation: Acceptable