Should I run the code or preach the gospel?: a qualitative reflection of Christian critical-care doctors and nurses

Abstract

Doctors and nurses are bound to their oath: to serve the patients and provide them with the highest standard of professional care. However, as every medical personnel will understand, there are times when, despite best efforts, the patient is still dying in their duty shift. Dying is a human thing, and medical workers are more familiar with this than anyone else ever. But then, there are Christian medical workers. Christians are called to share their faith. But when?–or rather, when else? The patient is now critical, and it is unknown where the precious soul is going based on their faith. When the patient–who, based on the medical personnel’s best knowledge, does not know the Savior–finally dies, Christian medical caregivers may feel devastated: they may think they just lost the patient here on earth and there in eternity. This research aimed to identify the potential stress among Christian medical workers due to their inability to save terminal/critical patients and not having the chance or courage to share the gospel.