Twenty-five
Priests serving as Chaplains in Catholic health institutions across the country
were advised to be firm, fair and maintain their neutrality in the discharge of
their duties as custodians of medical ethics in order to enhance quality health
delivery.
Mr.
George Adjei, Director of Health at the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS),
who underscored the relevance of the Chaplains health institutions, urged them
to strive to understand basic hospital practices, finance and human resources
management and the rules governing the institutions in order to effectively
help in management and addressing staff issues within the facilities.
He
made the appeal at a two-day workshop for Catholic Chaplains of Hospitals in
Ghana at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Koforidua, organised by the Directorate of
Health (DOH) at the NCS.
Very
Rev. Fr. John Kwaku Opoku, Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science
and Technology (KNUST), addressing the topic: “The Chaplain as a Custodian of
Catholic Medical Ethics”, said Chaplains have a responsibility to ensure that
ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-malfeasance and justice were
observed and preserved at hospitals.
Fr.
Opoku, who also Pastors St. Paul’s Parish at Amakom in the Archdiocese of
Kumasi, stressed that Chaplains must sensitise hospital staff on the principles
of medical ethics, including confidentiality, disclosure and informed consent
as well as offer ethics consultation services to the staff.
He
emphasized the need for institutionlising Ethics Committees in hospitals,
noting that “it is critical that Chaplains are members of hospital ethics
committee,” and added that Chaplains must assist patients and their families to
complete advance directive, advocate for families in ethical dilemmas and act
as intermediaries between patients, their families, communities and health
workers.
He
observed that it was the duty of Chaplains to identify ethical issues, ensure
their full application, and point out on the human value aspects of
institutional care.
Fr.
Opoku, noted that Chaplains’ role in the healing ministry, sustenance, guidance
and bringing reconciliation to the wellbeing of the patient and their
stakeholders was indispensable to quality healthcare delivery.
Similarly,
Very Rev. Fr. Dr. John Prempeh, SVD, Priest in residence at the St. Charles
Lwanga Parish at Abeka, Accra, speaking on: “Promoting the Pro-life concept
among Catholic Health Managers and Workers”, charged health workers to make the
life of their patients supreme in all they did.
He
entreated healthcare professionals including Chaplains to refuse to aid
abortion or the procurement of abortion, refuse euthanasia to patients who may
even ask for it, adding that the sanctity of life was so sacred that nobody
should be allowed to take it.
He
observed that human beings were created in God’s image and are blessed with the
breathe of life, noting that human beings were not a mere human creation but gifts
of God given in creation to be used well, and stressed that “it is only God life
who has the power to truncate life”.
On
abortion, he noted that direct taking of human life, cannot be excused on the
bases that the pregnant woman wants it, entreating all to protect and preserve
life from conception to its end.
He
therefore charged all health professionals to respect the dignity of life and
promote pro-life.
Rev.
Msgr. Alex Bobby-Benson, Director of Matthew 25 at Koforidua, ably supported by
Sr. Brigid Agbenyo, HDR, Administrator of the St. Vincent de Paul Day Care
Centre for the Aged in Tema, jointly took Chaplains through the roles and that
of the Health Care Teams in Managing Pain and End of Life among patients.
Msgr.
Bobby-Benson, lectured that palliative care, (aimed at reducing suffering among
patients), was a relatively new concept in Ghana, and urged Chaplains to work
with the Heath Care Team to make a difference in the lives of the patient and
their families.
He
noted that palliative care was time consuming and a challenging area to go
into, but entreated Chaplains to be committed and passionate in offering the
care, since it has rewarding benefits to the patients and their families.
“Chaplains
have a duty to help people die with dignity and peacefully,” he added.
Mr.
Lawrence Ofosu Adjare, Coordinator, Health Systems Management at the DOH,
treated the topic: Chaplain’s Role in Management of Institutions, and advised
Chaplains to be interested in team dynamics, medico-legal issues, conflict
resolutions and disciplinary procedures at the Hospitals.
To
enhance the role of Chaplains, he called for continuous professional
development, clarified roles and long term development plans and high level
policy commitment among Chaplains.
Ms.
Alberta Asiedu of the DOH, updated the Chaplains on SECAM’s HIV interventions,
from a recent Conference she attended in South Africa.
Most
of the Chaplains at end of the workshop agreed they have been enriched with new
insight about their roles.
*The Participants at the Workshop
