Assisting Terminally ill Patients with Pastoral Care (Raboan Discussion Forum)

Yogyakarta – Wednesday (10/11) Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities Universitas Gadjah Mada (CBMH UGM) held a Raboan discussion forum. CBMH UGM presented topic Pastoral Care for Terminal Disease Patients. This topic is carried by Imanuel Eko Anggun S., M.Sc who is an alumni of UGM Bioethics Masters Program. Meanwhile, the discussion forum was led by Puri Swastika GKD, SE, M.Sc as moderator.

Pastoral Care is a form of patient assistance that has long been applied in the health sector. However, in Indonesia, the service from the hospital is still not widely known by the patient and the patient’s family. According to Anggun’s research, there are still many patients who do not know or even hesitate to ask for spiritual assistance. As a result, this service does not run optimally in hospitals. Although spiritual assistance is needed especially for patients with severe disease or terminal illness.

According to Anggun’s research Pastoral Care has benefited terminally ill patients. They receive encouragement, support, blessings, and the last energy of patients to undergo their healing period. Patients can also feel light, happy, calm, and excited. In addition, pastoral care was also responded positively by the patient’s family. The family felt grateful, happy, no longer discouraged, felt strengthened, and helped a lot.

Another problem with spiritual service is that many still think that Pastoral Care is a form of spiritual service carried out by religious leaders. Anggun mentioned that Pastoral Care also can be done in the form of assistance by doctors and nurses. So that the sensitivity of doctors and nurses is also very needed to help treat patients.

Watch the full video here