Faith_Care

Aboriginal faith community includes people of Canada. They include more than fifty cultural language groups within Canada (Linda, 2009). They rely on one grand creator. In the Aboriginal faith community, they believe health is holistic and is a balance of all aspects of life including physical, mental emotional, and spiritual. They have a holistic accepting about the nature and consider that all things are related to nature. They are seeing demise as a part of life cycle. They commonly accept most of the medical treatments .They use western medicine as a enhancing or complement to their herbal medicine (Linda, 2009). Immediate family is included in any medical treatment decision-making processes (Linda, 2009). It is said that ceremonial practices should be respected. The sacred herbs, medicines bags and pouches, and traditional blankets are not to be handled without permission (Linda, 2009). Elder people have a significant role in the healing expedition. The Christian Science faith community is based on the Bible and the teaching of Jesus (Linda, 2009). The emphasis of Christian Science is the practice of spiritual healing which is prayer based (Linda, 2009). The Christian Scientist has members and branches throughout the world. Christian Scientist believes that each individual has a unique spiritual journey. The individual or family will decide on procedures such as transfusions transplants, or organ donations. If a Christian Scientist is taken to a hospital involuntarily, they may refuse treatment and ask to be released to family for care (Linda, 2009). There are Christian Scientist nursing facilities that give treatment without the use of medications. Babies are born usually in hospitals and have a physician prior to birth which is the same as Christian’s. Some, like Christian’s may choose to have a home birth with a Midwife (Linda, 2009). It is important to talk to patient to ask about the level of care they want. They may wish to have contact with a Christian Science practitioner. It is important to offer time and quiet place for prayer. Respect their wishes to decline any care (Linda, 2009). Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded Sikh faith community in northern India in 1469, it is now the fifth largest religion in the world (Linda, 2009). Like Christian’s, Sikh believe in one God. The most important thing to Sikh’s is to seek the truth. Baptized Sikh’s have five articles of faith they have on them at all times: Kesh (uncut hair and beard) which shows respect for God’s creation of human form, Kunga (small wooden comb) to maintain hair and also symbolize cleanliness, Kirpan (small sword) represents self restraint as God witnesses each action of a person, Kashera (special cotton underwear) represents self-control and purity (Linda, 2009). Health in the Sikh faith community is directly related to spirituality, the connection between mind, body, and spirit are complex. Meditation is an important part of daily life. Many Sikh’s combine western medicine with herbs and other alternative therapies (Linda, 2009). The hair of the body is considered extremely precious so when a person of Sikh faith is a patient explicit permission must be given to cut, trim, or shave hair. Some may reject care if hair has to be cut in any way (Linda, 2009). The turban should not be removed from the head without explaining why and then the patient should be allowed privacy to remove turban on their own. Turban’s should not be in same place as shoes and must be handled with respect and clean hands (Linda, 2009). Articles of faith should be handled with clean hands and be kept on the person. If possible, the articles of faith should be kept on the patient even during a surgical procedure. Daily bathing should always be provided unless medically unable to perform (Linda, 2009). Assisted suicide is not encouraged, which is true with a lot of faith’s. Autopsies and blood transfusions are allowed. Abortion is up to the patient but is discouraged unless medically necessary and providing prolonging of life measures is discouraged if patient is in a vegetative state. Avoid interference with prayers and meditation if at all possible (Linda, 2009). When comparing these three religious faiths we can find out that each religion has their own faith and beliefs about the illness, treatment and cure. Christians request anointing with oil during illness or when close to death. Aboriginals do similar act which is called smudging. Smudging is burning sweetgrass, sage, cedar and tobacco. Traditional healers or medicine men are the ones who perform smudging techniques. Herbs used in smudging are considered sacred herbs (Linda, 2009). When a Christian Scientist goes to a medical facility they are likely to accept conventional medical treatment, this is the same as Christian’s. They may ask for medications and therapy to be kept at a minimum. Among Sikh faiths treatment is preferred from same sex as patient unlike Christian’s (Linda, 2009). Christian’s do not have a preference as to the sex of their health care provider. Unlike most Christian’s, a full medical history may be hard to get due to sexual issues being considered extremely private and could possibly not be discussed with the health care provider. A lot of Christian’s will give a full medical history to allow for the best possible treatment with no associated problems. Even though each faith has their own beliefs in extreme cases, all these faiths will accept medical treatment regardless of any religious discrimination. All these faiths are usually vulnerable to combine their own practices with western medicine to develop their health and treatment.