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Does prayer have the power to heal? There are now several studies purporting to show health benefits from religious beliefs and prayer. And in the United States at least, there's concern that evangelical doctors are prescribing religion to their patients. What's the evidence? Well it's thin. There have been almost no well-conducted studies which would lead you to believe that religion is the answer for a patient's prayers. So given there's little evidence, is it ethical for doctors to advise religion or prayer? Well according to a group of US medical researchers and hospital chaplains, it isn't: for three main reasons. The first is the potential for coercion - where the doctor uses his or her position of power and authority to coerce a patient into a line of action. The second is invasion of privacy. It is known, for example, that being married is good for a man's health. Is it any business of a doctor to recommend marriage as a course of action. much less religion? And the third is the potential for harm. If you believe that religion can save you from disease, the opposite must be true - namely that lack of religion or spiritual belief causes cancer - which is complete bulldust and can complicate people's already delicate psychological balance when they're seriously ill. So if the spirit's willing - keep it to yourself.
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