Religion and Health Care

Religion and health care: put these words together in the same sentence, and opinions are sure to fly. Join the April edition of Health Dialogues as we explore how religion affects health care: from making major life decisions, to choosing health practitioners, to religio-cultural attitudes towards health care, and much more.

The Role of Faith in the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Host Scott Shafer explores the role of religion and spirituality between medical staff and their patients. Guest: Dr. Steven Pantilat, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Palliative Care Program at the University of California, San Francisco.. Guest: Reverend Will Hocker, executive director of Sojourn Chaplaincy, a non-profit, multi-faith volunteer chaplaincy that serves San Francisco General Hospital..

• More: Christian Medical and Dental Associations : organization of Christian physicians and dentists.

UMMA Clinic

Reporter Deborah Baer visits the UMMA (University Muslim Medical Association) Community Clinic, the first Muslim-founded free clinic in the United States, located in South Los Angeles.

• More: UMMA clinic website

The Impact of Prayer on Healing

Can prayer help people heal? Scott Shafer speaks with two doctors about scientific literature on the subject. Guest: Dr. Larry Dossey, MD, physician and author of 11 books on consciousness, prayer, and healing, most recently: "The Power Of Premonitions.". Guest: Dr. Mitch Krucoff, MD, professor of medicine and cardiology at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Krucoff was the lead investigator of the MANTRA II randomized study, which looked at the effects of prayer on patients undergoing heart surgery..

• More: Aligning a Medical Treatment Plan with God's Plan : Los Angeles Times article about faith leading some to suffer more in the end.
• More: The Biology of Belief : Time Magazine article by Jeffrey Kluger.
• More: Most Americans Believe in a Higher Power, Poll Finds : Washington Post article includes link to Pew Religious Survey.

Provider Conscience Rule

Reporter Mina Kim examines the Provider Conscience Rule passed by former President Bush in December 2008. What does it do, and how does it affect Californians?

Faith-based Wellness Outreach

Hospitals and Clinics aside, what do religious institutions do to improve the health of their communities? Host Scott Shafer speaks about two faith-based partnerships that work to help the underserved in their communities. Guest: Bev DeKoven, member of Congregation Shir Hadash social justice committee.. Guest: Gloria Crowell, co-chair of the Allen Temple Baptist Church AIDS Ministry..