Respecting a patient's religious values: what does this require?

Abstract

An Orthodox Jewish father is approached by a physician to discuss potential treatment options for his critically injured infant son. The possibility that he might progress to a determination of brain death was raised. The father stated and a rabbi concurred that his religion only acknowledges cardiopulmonary death. This article will address the following ethical question: "what does it mean to respect another person's values?" An overview of brain death and culture will be presented. A concept analysis for respect will be presented and used to analyze the case. Recommendations for actions that nurse managers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals could take to promote their ability to respect a patient's values and beliefs will be made.