Healthcare providers/organizations, be knowledgeable about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the context of religion/spiritual/non-religion identities

Legal and Ethical Compliance: Healthcare organizations have a legal and ethical obligation to protect patients' rights, including their freedom of religion. Organizations that fail to address religious discrimination face potential lawsuits and a damaged reputation.

Case Scenarios

Two real-world case scenarios highlight the detrimental effects of religious non-inclusion in healthcare:

The Jehovah's Witness Child: A widely-cited ethical dilemma involves a child whose parents, who are Jehovah's Witnesses, refuse a life-saving blood transfusion due to their religious beliefs. In many cases, the child's life is at risk because the parents' beliefs prohibit the necessary medical intervention. This places the healthcare team in a difficult position, caught between respecting parental autonomy and a professional duty to save the child's life. The detrimental effect is the potential death of the child due to a conflict between medical necessity and a deeply held religious belief. In such situations, courts have often intervened, granting temporary custody to the state to allow for the medical procedure.

Religious Discrimination Against Healthcare Workers: Studies have shown high rates of religious discrimination against Muslim healthcare professionals. In the UK and USA, Muslim doctors have reported being passed over for career advancement, facing patient refusals for care based on their faith, and encountering difficulties in getting accommodations for prayer. This kind of discrimination leads to significant psychological distress, including burnout, depression, and job turnover. It also creates a less diverse workforce, which ultimately harms patient care. The detrimental effect here is the psychological and professional harm to the individual, as well as the loss of valuable talent from the healthcare field.

Steps to Prevent Similar Incidents

To prevent these types of incidents, healthcare organizations must take proactive and systemic steps:

Mandatory Training and Education: Implement mandatory DEI training that specifically addresses religious and spiritual diversity. This training should educate all staff—from front-desk personnel to senior physicians—on the beliefs and practices of various religions, including non-religious identities. It should also focus on unconscious bias and microaggressions.

Sample Answer

Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related to religion and spirituality is crucial for healthcare providers and organizations to deliver person-centered care. Failure to understand a patient's or employee's beliefs can lead to significant harm, both physically and psychologically.

Here's why it's so important:

Improved Patient Outcomes: A patient's religious or spiritual beliefs can impact their healthcare decisions, including dietary restrictions, views on blood transfusions, or even acceptance of certain medications. Culturally competent care ensures that providers understand and respect these beliefs, leading to better communication, trust, and adherence to treatment plans.

Patient and Staff Safety: Religious practices, such as prayer times or a preference for a specific gender of a provider, can affect a patient's comfort and safety. Similarly, accommodating staff needs (e.g., providing space and time for prayer) prevents discrimination and fosters a more inclusive work environment, which in turn reduces staff turnover and burnout.