Human rights, bioethics and spirituality in comprehensive patient health care

Abstract

Contextualization: at the beginning of the Human Hystory there was a clear interconnection between science and religion. However, events in modern Western society have created a rift between them and the segmentation of patient care. Problem: Studies show that the lack of attention to the spiritual needs of the patient leads to dissatisfaction with the care received. They also prove that support for their beliefs is correlated with better health outcomes. Objective: to understand the correlation and benefits of integrating spirituality in patient care, to evaluate whether there is support in Human Rights and Bioethics that ensures its practice, in addition to the training of professionals. Method: exploratory research based on the analysis of publications on the subject available in the quality scientific literature. Results: It was observed that in environments where spirituality is a relevant aspect, there is a better quality of life, better health and greater longevity. Spirituality has a value recognized by the WHO for the quality of life for the individual and is supported by Human Rights and Bioethics for its attention. Thus, there are already laws and health policies in Brazil for their implementation and practice. Conclusions: In a society where Human Rights and Bioethics prevail, it is essential to ensure the autonomy and desires of the individual, making it inconceivable to offer the patient care that is based only on their biological aspects. But, despite existing health laws and policies, the spiritual dimension is still neglected in patient health care. Not only due to prejudice and misinformation, but also the need for new studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of spirituality as a predictor of risks to the individual's health. However, the findings of the present article demonstrate that there are sufficient benefits to support the importance of the patient's spirituality and the training of health professionals for this practice.