Fighting moral distress in healthcare

BY CHRISTINA GALEONE

CFP CORRESPONDENT 

Although Christopher Klofft, an associate professor of theology at Assumption University, doesn’t work in the healthcare industry as a doctor, nurse or medical technician, he is a moral theologian and bioethicist who is familiar with the topic of moral distress.  

“Catholic healthcare workers ... must cultivate a manner of life that is both virtuous and prayerful,” he said during his presentation at the 17th Annual Divine Mercy Medicine, Bioethics and Spirituality Conference. “Catholic Healthcare Associations would also do well to make the theological and spiritual development of healthcare workers a priority. And, in that regard, what we’re doing here with this conference is a very good thing – an opportunity for you to develop theologically and spiritually in order to do your work better…” 

His Feb. 11 presentation at the conference, which was sponsored by Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy and held entirely online Feb. 11-13, was called “Moral Distress Experienced by Healthcare Professionals.” Moral distress is generally defined as knowing the ethical thing to do and not being allowed to do it, he said. He focused on helping people face moral distress in the best way possible. 

There are various dangers associated with moral distress in a healthcare setting, he said. To begin with, such distress could lead someone to fear his or her work, and that could lead to mistakes. It could also lead to dangers such as becoming less responsive to others, losing sleep, and losing confidence. Additionally, there are moral dangers – including trying to justify something that is immoral, therefore reducing the ability to recognize immoral actions in the future. 

Despite the threats posed by moral distress, Professor Klofft pointed out that a well-formed conscience can empower healthcare professionals to respond much more effectively and confidently in such situations.  

“But it’s important to establish this at the outset – that according to Catholic moral tradition, we are always required to follow the dictates of our well-formed conscience,” he explained. “The conscience is God’s Spirit operating within us. The conscience is an actuation of our God-likeness, so that we are pulled towards what is true and good and away from what is evil.” 

Professor Klofft said that, in addition to reflecting upon all moral decisions after they have been made to determine whether or not they were truly made by a well-formed conscience, it’s also important for Catholic healthcare professionals to become virtuous Catholics who regularly receive the sacraments and pray consistently, in order to establish a closer relationship with the Holy Trinity. He also suggested joining a community of professionals with the same core values. And he stressed the importance of nurturing fortitude and other Christian virtues. In suggesting how virtues can be cultivated, he referenced the adage that people should dress for the jobs they want, instead of the ones they have. 

 “If we want to be good people, we simply cannot rely on some magical effect happening, in which we become good people,” he said. “But, rather, we must act as good people. And as we act as good people, we cultivate disposition, habits. And we find that as we continue to act as good people, it becomes easier to continue acting as good people.” 

As he concluded the presentation, Professor Klofft lamented that moral distress is “an occupational component of Catholic healthcare,” and complex issues will become even more prevalent. But he offered a peaceful, hopeful solution.  

“A solid basis in Catholic moral thought and a deliberately intentional approach to spiritual development serves as an armor against moral distress,” he said. “As we go forward in all of our respective roles – as educators, as theologians, as nurses, as doctors, as other healthcare professionals – let’s work towards this evangelization of culture by being the kinds of persons that fully embrace what God has revealed about what it means to be human.” 

Editor’s note: The 17th Annual Divine Mercy Medicine, Bioethics and Spirituality Conference will be re-broadcast May 13-15. More information about registering for it can be found at thedivinemercy.org/healthcare/.