Praying with a patient constitutes a breach of professional boundaries in psychiatric practice

Pool, R.; Cook, C.C.H.

Abstract

The extent to which religion and spirituality are integrated into routine psychiatric practice has been a source of increasing controversy over recent years. While taking a patient’s spiritual needs into account when planning their care may be less contentious, disclosure to the patient by the psychiatrist of their own religious beliefs or consulting clergy in the context of treatment are seen by some as potentially harmful and in breach of General Medical Council guidance. Here, Professor Rob Poole and Professor Christopher Cook debate whether praying with a patient constitutes a breach of professional boundaries in psychiatric practice.

Citation

Pool, R., & Cook, C. (2011). Praying with a patient constitutes a breach of professional boundaries in psychiatric practice. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(2), 94-98. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.096529

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2011
• Deposit Date: Nov 11, 2011
• Journal: British Journal of Psychiatry
• Print ISSN: 0007-1250
• Electronic ISSN: 1472-1465
• Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 199
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 94-98
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.096529
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1503402