May health care workers try to convert their patients?

[lovesMary]

What does Catholic teaching say about health care professionals actively evangelizing to patients who are under their care? I’m speaking specifically of attempts to convert a patient to Christianity, or specifically to Catholicism.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Health care professionals should respect the consciences of their patients and manage the patient’s medical care in a manner that reflects respect for the patient’s religious beliefs. If a patient is dying, a health care professional may certainly ask if the patient wants a member of the clergy to be called or would like a visit from the hospital chaplain. But a health care worker should not proselytize his patients, particularly patients who are opposed to conversion. The last thing a person in delicate health needs is the mental and emotional stress of fending off unsolicited proselytism by those who have power over his body.

It should be noted too that health care professionals who do not respect the religious beliefs and conscience of their patients, and who press upon patients unsolicited proselytism, could be subject to discipline by their employers if the patients and/or their caretakers choose to notify employers.

Recommended reading:

• [What’s the difference between proselytism and evangelism? (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=195646)
• [Ten Commandments for Health Care Professionals (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2006/0605fea3.asp) by Christopher Kaczor