A new NHS advice from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says healthcare workers looking after dying patients in their final days must ask them about their spiritual beliefs in order to offer the best care.
The advice suggests “doctors must not be afraid to do God”, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Medics should ask dying patients if they want their pets by their side in their final moments.
Officials said in many cases a patient may not want painkillers as they die, but a priest, family member or “their cat or dog by their bedside”.
“Control of pain and other distressing symptoms is very important for dying people, but good end of life care goes far beyond that. It includes asking about the dying person’s spiritual, cultural, religious and social preferences,” said Sam Ahmedzai, emeritus professor of palliative medicine and a specialist member of Nice’s quality standard committee.
The health watchdog suggests medics should not be afraid to talk about personal beliefs with the dying, such as God or religion.
It comes after research found the “spiritual wishes” of terminal patients were recorded in just one in seven cases.
The Church of England welcomed the advice.
