Center to Advance Palliative Care

Since every patient, especially ones on palliative care, is in some level of spiritual distress, I believe it makes sense to get the chaplain in early in the assessment process. The reason being so the chaplain can evaluate the spiritual state of the patient and family and develop a plan of care for them. This is especially important when the issues center around ethical questions, i.e., end-of-life decisions of withdrawal/withholding life support machines and education of the patient's church's position on these matters. The chaplain is uniquely qualified to enlighten and support family members making very difficult decisions. I can assure you that proselytizing is not in the list of services chaplains provide and, I believe, is grounds for dismissal if a chaplain tried it. It would constitute harrassment of the vulnerable.