Quantitative Research for Chaplains and Health Care Professionals

Download Quantitative Research for Chaplains and Health Care Professionals PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 0429788754
Total Pages : 129 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (297 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Quantitative Research for Chaplains and Health Care Professionals by : Kevin J. Flannelly

Download or read book Quantitative Research for Chaplains and Health Care Professionals written by Kevin J. Flannelly and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-05-21 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book takes readers from very basic research concepts, such as ‘causality’ and ‘variables’, to the application of different types of statistical analyses. The first two chapters introduce the scientific method and causality, and assess the degree to which the major types of research designs used in health care studies allow researchers to make causal inferences. The book concludes with a detailed description of the seven critical factors that must be controlled to draw causal inferences from experimental studies. The rest of the book covers levels of measurement, i.e. nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales; operational definitions; risk factors, independent and dependent variables, and other kinds of variables; how to calculate and interpret measures of central tendency and variability; the normal curve; commonly used measures of association and what they mean; criteria that have been suggested for inferring causality from nonexperimental research; and different types of t-tests. This book provides fundamental and practical knowledge about research methodology that is essential for health care chaplains, and students and professionals in other health care fields and the social sciences. The chapters in this book were originally published as articles in the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy.

Evidence-Based Healthcare Chaplaincy

Download Evidence-Based Healthcare Chaplaincy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN 13 : 178450923X
Total Pages : 434 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (845 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Evidence-Based Healthcare Chaplaincy by : George Fitchett

Download or read book Evidence-Based Healthcare Chaplaincy written by George Fitchett and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This book was released on 2018-07-19 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research literacy is now a requirement for Board-Certified chaplains in the US and a growing field in the UK. This reader gives an overview and introduction to the field of healthcare chaplaincy research. The 21 carefully chosen articles in this book illustrate techniques critical to chaplaincy research: case studies; qualitative research; cross-sectional and longitudinal quantitative research, and randomized clinical trials. The selected articles also address wide-ranging topics in chaplaincy research for a comprehensive overview of the field. To help readers engage with the research, each article includes a discussion guide highlighting crucial content, as well as important background information and implications for further research. This book is the perfect primary text for healthcare chaplaincy research courses, bringing together key articles from peer-reviewed journals in one student-friendly format.

Dignity Therapy

Download Dignity Therapy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : OUP USA
ISBN 13 : 0195176219
Total Pages : 216 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (951 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Dignity Therapy by : Harvey Max Chochinov

Download or read book Dignity Therapy written by Harvey Max Chochinov and published by OUP USA. This book was released on 2012-01-04 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maintaining dignity for patients approaching death is a core principle of palliative care. Dignity therapy, a psychological intervention developed by Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov and his internationally lauded research group, has been designed specifically to address many of the psychological, existential, and spiritual challenges that patients and their families face as they grapple with the reality of life drawing to a close. In the first book to lay out the blueprint for this unique and meaningful intervention, Chochinov addresses one of the most important dimensions of being human. Being alive means being vulnerable and mortal; he argues that dignity therapy offers a way to preserve meaning and hope for patients approaching death. With history and foundations of dignity in care, and step by step guidance for readers interested in implementing the program, this volume illuminates how dignity therapy can change end-of-life experience for those about to die - and for those who will grieve their passing.

Professional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Should Become More Scientific

Download Professional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Should Become More Scientific PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1136416870
Total Pages : 280 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (364 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Professional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Should Become More Scientific by : Larry Van De Creek

Download or read book Professional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Should Become More Scientific written by Larry Van De Creek and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-04-03 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Does the scientific process belong in pastoral counseling? Professional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Should Become More Scientific: Yes and No examines the widespread ambivalence among pastoral caregivers and educators over the growing inclusion of science in pastoral care and counseling methodologies. Twenty-three seasoned professionals in the field give candid and sometimes emotional accounts of their interest in—and reservations about—the role scientific research plays in their profession. Some authors look at the issue from a historical perspective; others voice additional concerns. A few make concrete proposals on how chaplaincy can become more scientific. The result is a unique insight into the relationship between the secular and the religious. The question of whether science belongs in pastoral care and counseling is moot; pastoral care already makes extensive use of psychological testing and psychotherapeutic skills—all products of scientific thinking. But as technology becomes more dominant and health care delivery reflects a more corporate perspective, pastoral caregivers and educators are divided on whether the changes represent the significant opportunity to improve a ministry or the surrender of the ministry’s very essence. The essays collected in Professional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Should Become More Scientific: Yes and No go a step farther, breaking down the issue of faith versus science into more specific questions for pastoral caregivers, such as: Can what you do be measured? Do you have an obligation to embrace the challenge of change? Is becoming more scientific a necessity for staying in touch with your health care peers? How cost effective is the pastoral care you provide if it doesn’t include the scientific process? Could a reluctance to incorporate science into your counseling cost you your job? Professional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Should Become More Scientific: Yes and No presents thoughtful and thought-provoking debate that is a must-read for all pastoral caregivers and educators.

Spiritual Care in Practice

Download Spiritual Care in Practice PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN 13 : 0857008765
Total Pages : 322 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (57 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Spiritual Care in Practice by : George Fitchett

Download or read book Spiritual Care in Practice written by George Fitchett and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This book was released on 2015-02-21 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These diverse case studies make a compelling case for the importance of effective spiritual care in healthcare and provide unprecedented insight into the essential role of the chaplain within the healthcare team. Presented alongside critical reflections and responses from professionals within chaplaincy, psychology, psychiatry and nursing, they provide an honest and detailed look into how healthcare chaplains actually work with the people in their care and reveal the vital role of narrative and imagination in effective transformative practice. From a 16-year-old with a belief that God would enable a miraculous recovery from paralysis, to an African man with a history of psychosis and depression whose cultural belief in witches complicated his treatment, to a dying Jewish man, aggressive and isolated due to his traumatic life experiences, each case includes insight into the patient's needs and chaplain's perspectives, discussion of spiritual assessments and spiritual care interventions, and accounts of significant encounters and dialogues. The nine paediatric, psychiatric and palliative case studies and reflections in this ground-breaking book will enable chaplains to critically reflect on the spiritual care they provide and communicate their work more effectively, help healthcare professionals develop a clearer understanding of the care chaplains deliver, and provide an informed perspective for those who develop policy around spiritual care and need to make the case for chaplaincy services.

Charting Spiritual Care

Download Charting Spiritual Care PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030470709
Total Pages : 244 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (34 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Charting Spiritual Care by : Simon Peng-Keller

Download or read book Charting Spiritual Care written by Simon Peng-Keller and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-08-10 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access volume is the first academic book on the controversial issue of including spiritual care in integrated electronic medical records (EMR). Based on an international study group comprising researchers from Europe (The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland), the United States, Canada, and Australia, this edited collection provides an overview of different charting practices and experiences in various countries and healthcare contexts. Encompassing case studies and analyses of theological, ethical, legal, healthcare policy, and practical issues, the volume is a groundbreaking reference for future discussion, research, and strategic planning for inter- or multi-faith healthcare chaplains and other spiritual care providers involved in the new field of documenting spiritual care in EMR. Topics explored among the chapters include: Spiritual Care Charting/Documenting/Recording/Assessment Charting Spiritual Care: Psychiatric and Psychotherapeutic Aspects Palliative Chaplain Spiritual Assessment Progress Notes Charting Spiritual Care: Ethical Perspectives Charting Spiritual Care in Digital Health: Analyses and Perspectives Charting Spiritual Care: The Emerging Role of Chaplaincy Records in Global Health Care is an essential resource for researchers in interprofessional spiritual care and healthcare chaplaincy, healthcare chaplains and other spiritual caregivers (nurses, physicians, psychologists, etc.), practical theologians and health ethicists, and church and denominational representatives.

Spirituality in Healthcare: Perspectives for Innovative Practice

Download Spirituality in Healthcare: Perspectives for Innovative Practice PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9783030044190
Total Pages : 223 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (441 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Spirituality in Healthcare: Perspectives for Innovative Practice by : Fiona Timmins

Download or read book Spirituality in Healthcare: Perspectives for Innovative Practice written by Fiona Timmins and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-05-29 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a condensed but comprehensive up-to-date overview of spirituality and its application to health care. The need for healthcare workers to provide spiritual care or meet patients’ spiritual needs is gaining increasing importance in nursing and midwifery policy at local, national and international level. Internationally, there is a growing belief in spirituality as a valid dimension of care. The book highlights a range of examples and case studies facilitating the practical application of the recommendations discussed. In addition to presenting new psychological perspectives, various activities throughout will encourage readers to form their own opinion on the issues covered. The suggestions for further reading and useful websites will also help readers interested in exploring specific areas in more depth. Combining contributions by authors from various disciplines, the book offers a valuable tool for qualified professional healthcare workers in practice, including nurses, social workers, doctors and chaplains. With its handy format, this practical pocket guide offers a faithful companion for practitioners.

Professional Chaplaincy

Download Professional Chaplaincy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317956842
Total Pages : 136 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (179 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Professional Chaplaincy by : Larry Van De Creek

Download or read book Professional Chaplaincy written by Larry Van De Creek and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-03-24 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Choose innovative strategies for ministering to patients, families, and staff in a time of change! In the scramble to cut health care costs and the need to make every penny count, the hospital chaplaincy program is at serious risk for being trimmed or eliminated. Professional Chaplaincy: What Is Happening to It During Health Care Reform? offers a clear look at the current situation and positive suggestions for showing administrators just how essential chaplaincy is. This essential volume includes original research showing the specific consequences of the new emphasis on economic rationalism, as well as moving firsthand accounts of the effects of downsizing and budget cuts. An Australian case study catalogs and analyzes the outcomes of a drive for cost efficiency in a hospital chaplain department. A thorough literature review provides opportunities for chaplains and administrators to investigate the value of pastoral care in hospital settings. Professional Chaplaincy includes practical suggestions for ways to respond to budget cuts, such as: redefining the scope of your ministry strengthening community ties ministering to staff worried about heath care reform efforts offering new programs to enrich spiritual life documenting pastoral care visits researching the value of chaplaincy to the well-being of patients and families Professional Chaplaincy offers positive ways that hospital chaplains can take action in response to the new health care paradigm. This informative book will assist you in developing future plans for maintaining and improving your hospital ministry.

Learning from Case Studies in Chaplaincy

Download Learning from Case Studies in Chaplaincy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Eburon Uitgeverij
ISBN 13 : 9463012818
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (63 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Learning from Case Studies in Chaplaincy by : Martijn Stoutjesdijk

Download or read book Learning from Case Studies in Chaplaincy written by Martijn Stoutjesdijk and published by Eburon Uitgeverij. This book was released on 2020-12-01 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The recent production of case studies in chaplaincy care combines the narrative nature of chaplaincy with the rigors of research demanded in contemporary care settings. The contributions in this volume from both practitioners and academic researchers join reflections on the challenges and promises of case study research in chaplaincy care with the results of specific case studies. Based on reflections on methodology and professionalization in chaplaincy, the volume hopes to contribute to answering the question of how and why chaplaincy works. As such, the book aims for a wide readership of scholars, chaplains and policy makers. Learning from Case Studies originated from the first international conference on case study research in chaplaincy care that was held in Amsterdam in 2019. “This book is a valuable Western European contribution to the international emerging fi eld of chaplaincy research.” Prof. dr. Anne Vandenhoeck, Director of the European Research, Institute for Chaplains in Health Care, KU Leuven, Belgium “This significant book represents a step-change in research into effective chaplaincy practice. Building on previous work, led by Fitchett and Nolan, chaplains and academics offer new case studies, but also develop this critically reflective approach together. Chapters on methodology show how case studies, especially when analysed comparatively, provide important evidence for how and why chaplaincy works.” Rev. Dr. Andrew Todd, Director of the Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology, Anglia Ruskin University, England “At the heart of chaplaincy are stories, and this collection combines reverence for the stories themselves alongside a critical exploration of how these cases engage with the important issues of our times: what it means to be a profession and to have a professional identity and the need for research that recognises the integral relationship between practice and evidence. This book provides a significant contribution to the current conversations in the spiritual care field.” Cheryl Holmes, OAM, CEO Spiritual Health Association, Australia

Chaplaincy in Hospice and Palliative Care

Download Chaplaincy in Hospice and Palliative Care PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1784503290
Total Pages : 210 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (845 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Chaplaincy in Hospice and Palliative Care by : Karen Murphy

Download or read book Chaplaincy in Hospice and Palliative Care written by Karen Murphy and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This book was released on 2017-07-21 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hospice chaplains have traditionally played a unique part in palliative care, providing human compassion and support to help ease life's final chapter. This book thoughtfully tackles the question at the heart of modern hospice chaplaincy: do chaplains have a distinctive role in an increasingly secular society? A comprehensive look at why and how this work needs to be done, each chapter will be a rich resource for hospice chaplains and anyone working within a hospice multi-disciplinary team. Taking the form of reflections by chaplains and other professionals, they examine the tension between sacred and secular space, explore how spiritual care works in a changing society, and look at what voice a chaplain has within the hospice team. Essential reading for chaplains, this insightful book reflects on the important work undertaken by hospice chaplaincies and explains why they continue to be a vital resource for end-of-life care.

The Chaplain-Researcher

Download The Chaplain-Researcher PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Eburon Uitgeverij B.V.
ISBN 13 : 9463014047
Total Pages : 336 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (63 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Chaplain-Researcher by : Niels den Toom

Download or read book The Chaplain-Researcher written by Niels den Toom and published by Eburon Uitgeverij B.V.. This book was released on 2022-10-07 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In March 2016 the Dutch Case Studies Project began in which about fifty chaplains participated as co-researchers in collecting practice-based evidence on what chaplains aim for, how they pursue it, and with what results. The chaplain-researchers produced case studies which were discussed collaboratively in research communities which were chaired by academic researchers. The engagement of chaplains in research can be understood from the development in the profession of integrating research into chaplaincy. While it is presumed that research benefits chaplains’ practices, so far the impact of research on chaplains’ practice had not been studied. Based on mixed-methods (observation, interviews, survey, focus groups), this dissertation describes, analyzes and reflects on the perceived change of chaplains’ professionalism as a result of their participation in the Case Studies Project. This practical theological research provides insight in the value of the double role of chaplain-researcher for chaplains’ professionalism.

Hospital Chaplaincy in the Twenty-first Century

Download Hospital Chaplaincy in the Twenty-first Century PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1351930435
Total Pages : 344 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (519 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Hospital Chaplaincy in the Twenty-first Century by : Christopher Swift

Download or read book Hospital Chaplaincy in the Twenty-first Century written by Christopher Swift and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-03-02 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The place of religion in public life continues to be a much-debated topic in Western nations. This book charts the changing role of hospital chaplains and examines through detailed case studies the realities of practice and the political debates which either threaten or sustain the service. This second edition includes a new introduction and updated material throughout to present fresh insights and research about chaplaincy, including in relation to New Atheism and the developing debate about secularism and religion in public life. Swift concludes that chaplains must do more to communicate the value of what they bring to the bedside.

Parish Nurses, Health Care Chaplains, and Community Clergy

Download Parish Nurses, Health Care Chaplains, and Community Clergy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1136401474
Total Pages : 289 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (364 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Parish Nurses, Health Care Chaplains, and Community Clergy by : Larry Van De Creek

Download or read book Parish Nurses, Health Care Chaplains, and Community Clergy written by Larry Van De Creek and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-11-12 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understand the roles of these three unique professions and how collaboration can make each more effective!This is the first book to clarify the roles and interprofessional dynamics of these three professions and describe how they can best work together. Here you’ll find theological perspectives on each profession, practice models of collaborative programs, and new resources to aid your professional growth. In addition, this book gives you a thorough historical overview of parish nursing and an introduction to health care chaplaincy as well as insightful analyses of the relationships of clergy and congregation to health care institutions.Parish Nurses, Health Care Chaplains, and Community Clergy: Navigating the Maze of Professional Relationships is a vital addition to your reference shelf. This unique book, written by experts in all three fields, provides: the necessary background to be an effective parish nurse, including information on spiritual formation, clinical pastoral education, and more instruction on starting a parish health ministry effective ways that the disciplines can work together in congregational health ministries to provide the best possible spiritual care successful practice models that your ministry can emulate an examination of the health care institution’s role in forming the spiritual care team resources to use to increase your ministry’s effectivenessParish Nurses, Health Care Chaplains, and Community Clergy is a must for practitioners, educators, and students who will be entering these vital professions!

Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare

Download Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN 13 : 0199571392
Total Pages : 518 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (995 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare by : Mark Cobb

Download or read book Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare written by Mark Cobb and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2012-08-09 with total page 518 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spirituality and healthcare is an emerging field of research, practice and policy. Healthcare organisations and practitioners are therefore challenged to understand and address spirituality, to develop their knowledge and implement effective policy. This is the first reference text on the subject providing a comprehensive overview of key topics.

Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling

Download Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN 13 : 155635889X
Total Pages : 149 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (563 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling by : Larry VandeCreek

Download or read book Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling written by Larry VandeCreek and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2008-04-01 with total page 149 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Larry VandeCreek, DMin, the author of A Research Primer for Pastoral Care and Counseling (now Part One of the current volume), is the retired Assistant Director in the Department of Pastoral Care, University Hospitals of The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. He also served as Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Neurology. His research interests and publications focus on quantitative research that elucidates the religious/spiritual needs of hospital patients and the impact of pastoral care. Hilary Bender, PhD, STD, is a clinical and research psychologist in private practice in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is a Boston University Professor Emeritus and is on the faculty of the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. His specialty in research and clinical work is the ""all-but-dissertation"" phenomenon and working with the many doctoral students who have completed all requirements for their degrees but the dissertation and become unable to make this final step. Merle R. Jordan, ThD, is the retired Albert V. Danielsen Professor of Pastoral Psychology at the Boston University School of Theology. He is a Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and a Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He is the author of Taking on the Gods: The Task of the Pastoral Counselor. Margot Hover, DMin, is an Association of Clinical Pastoral Education supervisor and the coordinator of pastoral research at Duke University Medical Center, Raleigh, North Carolina. She has received the ACPE Research of the Year Award and the Council on Ministry in Specialized Settings Research Paper of the Year Award. She is also the author of Caring for Yourself When Caring for Others.

Case Studies in Spiritual Care

Download Case Studies in Spiritual Care PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1784507059
Total Pages : 290 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (845 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Case Studies in Spiritual Care by : Steve Nolan

Download or read book Case Studies in Spiritual Care written by Steve Nolan and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This book was released on 2018-07-19 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through a rich variety of case studies, this book provides insight into the patient's needs and the chaplain's perspective, as well as discussions of spiritual assessments and spiritual care interventions. Case studies such as a request to baptise a child complicated due to his admission for 'psychiatric reasons', as well as work with military veterans, such as a female transgender veteran who has been alienated from her faith, show the breadth and complexity of work that chaplains undertake daily. Each section also includes critical responses to the case studies presented from a chaplain and related healthcare professional. This book will enable chaplains to critically reflect on the spiritual care they provide, and provide an informed perspective for healthcare professionals and others involved in chaplaincy services.

Medicine, Religion, and the Body

Download Medicine, Religion, and the Body PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : BRILL
ISBN 13 : 9004179704
Total Pages : 312 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (41 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Medicine, Religion, and the Body by : Elizabeth Burns Coleman

Download or read book Medicine, Religion, and the Body written by Elizabeth Burns Coleman and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2010 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the ways in which the body is sacred in Western medicine, as well as how this idea is played out in questions of life and death, of the autopsy and of the meanings attributed to illnesses and disease. Ritual and religious modifications to, and limitations on what may be done to the body raise cross cultural issues of great complexity philosophically and theologically, as well as sociologically - within medicine and for health care practitioners, but also, as a matter of primary concern for the patient. The book explores the ways in which medicine organises the moral and the immoral, the sacred and the profane; how it mediates cultural concepts of the sacred of the body, of blood and of life and death.