Dr. Regina McQuillan:

Yes. It is a question of whether one expects a loving or a vengeful God. If someone is a Buddhist, it comes down to how committed he or she is to that religion and the notion of dying with a clear conscience in the face of an aggressive fatal illness. I suspect that one cannot do the latter. There is then the old dilemma about what people believe and what they want. An issue may arise where a patient is of one religion, while his or her family is of a different one. We must consider how to manage matters in such circumstances. Religion is important but so is people's spirituality and what it is that gives meaning to their lives. One is trying to figure this out for people.

A resource which the HSE has developed is a guide for people of different cultures. I should know the name of the document, but I cannot recall it. I am involved in trying to develop it into an app in order that it will be available to those who need it. The document is a guide on culture and religions and provides information on the beliefs, etc., that are important to people at different stages of their lives. It should be easily accessible for health care staff. One is obliged to ask people who are their next of kin, what gives meaning to their lives and whether they are religious and want to see a priest. I have dealt with Bosnian Muslims who did not want to see imams because they stated they were all Arabs. Although they are Muslims, they saw the cultural identities of the imams overtaking their religious identities and also colouring any support they might provide.