There is an intersection of faith and medicine, acknowledging that at times spirituality and science don’t seem to see illness and mortality in the same light. However, faith and medicine don’t have to be in conflict — they simply require occasional careful navigation and knowing when to think literally and when to apply faith-based application to health care scenarios.
 
Medical professionals take the Hippocratic Oath that does not allow for them to bestow their personal beliefs on their patients. They are to provide the best medical care possible, no matter the religion, race, or culture of their patient while adhering to their own ethical code. Every physician also cannot be expected to understand all differing faith communities and the restrictions that each religion may adhere to. This bestows the responsibility on the people of faith to make the best morally satisfying choices for themselves in regard to their medical care.
 
According to a poll by Gallup, 92 percent of Americans believe in God. Of that 92 percent, 80 percent believe in the power of God or prayer to heal their illness. While there has not been significant research done to draw any conclusions on if prayer does effect the human body’s ability to heal, there is a correlation with lower heart disease in people that consider themselves religious. This can be attributed to the fact smoking and partaking in alcohol are typically frowned upon in most religions and leads to healthier lifestyles.
 
For those who do not practice the act of prayer in their everyday lives, being told that someone is praying for them before they undergo a serious medical procedure has shown to have an adverse effect. In a study done by the American Heart Journal, non-devout patients who were told that someone was praying for them made the assumption that they must be close to death and led to negative feelings. Of these cases, some patients took longer than normal to heal but there have not been any conclusions drawn to support it was a result of the negative feelings pre-operation.  
 
Some followers of faith may feel the need to put off taking medications or undergoing medical procedures while depending on prayer to alleviate the pain or symptoms. If your doctor strongly advises you and can show you legitimate scientific backing for why the medication or procedure should be issued, it is best practice to take it under consideration. However, prayer is a medication that can be used every day. There are numerous studies on how meditation and prayer lower blood pressure, soothe anxiety and can lead to lower stress levels. For preventative health care, a prayer a day just might help to keep the doctor away!
 
When attempting to make a decision on how to take care of your own personal health, consider the story of the Good Samaritan. In Luke 10:30-37, a good samaritan encounters a beaten man on the side of the road. Using the only tools available to him (oil and wine), he treated the man’s wounds. All the medical tools and medicines have been created by God and are here to help to heal us. If there are medicines available to aid you to recovery or prolong your life, use the tools that God has given your doctor to live your life to the fullest!