Mr. M: “Yeah. I think that would make it a little easier for me and for them. I’m not sure how to tell her.”
Student MD: “I’ll work with the team to set that up when it is convenient for your wife and any other family you want to be there. Anything else on your mind when you think about where things are going?”
Mr. M: “This may seem strange. I’m not sure if I should be talking about this with you, with doctors. But I have been thinking a lot, well, about God lately and how I haven’t been going to church the past few years like I did when I was younger. I’m not sure what to do, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
Student MD: “I’m glad you brought that up. It’s definitely appropriate to bring it up with your doctors. It sounds like your faith, your spirituality is more on your mind now with everything going on with your illness. And knowing about this is helpful for your physicians and others helping to take care of you. If it’s OK with you, I think it would be helpful to ask the hospital chaplain to come by to see you or come to our family meeting. They have a lot of experience dealing with these issues of faith people grapple with when they are dealing with a serious illness.”
Mr. M: “I think that would be OK - maybe they could come by to talk to me alone and then I’ll see about them coming to the family meeting.”
Student MD: “Anything else you wanted to bring up?”
Mr. M: “I think that’s enough for now! Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I feel better getting some of this off my chest.”
Student MD: “I’m glad. If it’s OK with you, I’ll discuss with team what we talked about, put a call into the hospital chaplain and arrange for that family meeting.”
Mr. M: “OK sounds good to me, thanks.”