Respecting a Patient’s Religious Values Near the End of Life. An accompanying edition of Elder Care reviews how different religions view the end of life. This Elder Care discusses issues to consider when clinicians interact with patients and families as death approaches, along with considerations for handling the body after death.

Near the end of life, it is important to recognize and integrate the patient’s and family’s personal values and customs into care planning. This can be facilitated by gaining an understanding of a patient’s religious values and incorporating their beliefs and rituals into the clinical setting. Open and honest communication is necessary to gain respect and understanding of how a patient’s values can be supported. Depending on the individual and family’s personal practices, adherence to religious laws and guidelines will vary. When available, work with hospital chaplains or local religious leaders to help provide comprehensive care.

Respecting a Patient’s Religious Values Near the End of Life

Christianity

The structures, beliefs, and rituals may vary in different Christian denominations. For example, receiving Holy Communion or the Anointing of the Sick can be important to Roman Catholics and Anglicans, while some Christians may only ask for a prayer at the end of life. Identifying if a patient has a local church community can be helpful, as they may wish to be visited by their own pastor or priest. After death, Christians in general believe the spirit has left the body. While the body should be treated with respect, they generally do not adhere to specific ritual washings or have a required time frame for burial.

Judaism

The patient may request visits by their rabbi and others affiliated with their religion. Often, in the orthodox Jewish tradition, a dying person should not be alone. Therefore, many friends and family may be present and will often pray and recite verses from the Psalms. Religious Jewish individuals may not be comfortable with physical contact, especially between members of the opposite sex. After death, the family often closes their eyes and covers the body with a white sheet as a sign of respect. Washing and preparing the body may also be desired prior to leaving the hospital, but staff should not wash the body without the family’s consent. Burial before the next sunset or within 24 hours is a common tradition and is often the practice for someone to stay with the body after death until the burial.

Islam

Muslims are encouraged to visit the sick. Therefore, family and friends may be at the bedside and wish to perform prayers aloud. In Islam, decision-making is often collective so it is important to ask the patient who they wish to be involved in decisions. Although handshaking may be allowed in some Muslim communities, physical greetings may be discouraged between members of the opposite sex.

If possible, accommodations to assure the body is facing Mecca (northeast in the U.S.) should be made as it replicates the body’s direction during prayer. After death, contact with professionals should be kept to a minimum. The body is commonly washed by family or friends, wrapped in a white shroud, and prayers are recited.

Burial soon after death, ideally before the next sunset or within 24 hours, is encouraged. Therefore, it is important to identify any barriers to quick burial early on, including upcoming weekends and holidays, issuing the death certificate, etc.

Buddhism

Most Buddhists in the U.S. have adopted usual greetings like handshaking; however, shaking hands or embracing Buddhist monks or nuns is usually not appropriate. Some Buddhists may prefer to be treated by same-sex clinicians.

Approaching death with a clear mind is important to Buddhists. Thus, some patients may refuse to sedate medications, even if in pain. Ask patients if they have a specific Buddhist priest they want you to contact.

Family, friends and monks will often recite mantras and sutras (certain Buddhist teachings). After death, the family may wish to spend time with the body as Buddhism teaches that a person’s spirit has not fully departed their body for several hours after death (even longer in some traditions). Therefore, healthcare providers should try to accommodate their spiritual practices, which may include not touching the body during this period and allowing them to perform religious rites.

Hinduism

Hindus believe their state of mind near death greatly influences rebirth. Therefore, the patient may have religious items around the bed, make offerings to others, and avoid medications that reduce their consciousness.

Near death, family members may come by to comfort the patient. They may be reciting prayers/readings and softly chanting mantras. When greeting Hindus who are visiting with the patient, it is typical and appropriate to address the eldest person first.

After death, some Hindus will prefer that non-Hindus not touch the body. If the family is not present and health professionals need to touch the body, they should wear disposable gloves and close the patient’s eyes, straighten the limbs, and keep jewelry or religious objects on the body.

After death, the family will want to wash the body, often with particular water brought from their temple, and then redress the body. Generally, clinicians should not wash the body but instead, wrap the body in a plain sheet. Cremation should occur as soon as possible. If the family is not present, contact the chaplain for guidance.

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