The Ethics of Healing
January 21, 2010
by Marta Garcia
As someone who works within the healthcare system, there are dozens upon dozens of laws and regulations that I must adhere to just to run an activities program in a skilled nursing environment. And, there are hundreds more that regulate every other aspect of that environment. One such example, and one of the better known ones, is HIPAA. How does HIPAA affect my job? Because of what I do, I have access to the personal and medical information of all my patients. Due to HIPAA, I cannot share that information with anyone who does not care for that patient nor anyone who does not have consent to have that information. One may ask, “Marta, you do the fun things! Why do you need to know the medical and personal information of a patient?” I need to know these things so that I can tailor an activities program specific to that person. I may not ask a blind person to paint, but I may use the paints and brushes as a sensory stimulation exercise.
How does this relate to a Pagan healer? Although there are few if any governmental regulations for holistic healing and none for Pagan healers, as such, we have to develop our own ethical guidelines. Do we work on someone without their consent, even if we know they need the healing? Do we work on a child without the parents’ consent? Do we recognize when a person needs healing versus a person needing energy for a smooth death? Do we recognize when it is ok to perform a healing or do we leave that person well enough alone? Do we do work on animals as they cannot ask us to do healing work on them? Do we share with others that we have done a healing work on a particular person? These are just some of the questions that a healer must ask him/herself before starting their own practice. A good healer will have a set of ethics set up before their practice begins. Yes, they may develop their ethics over time and they may change them as well. I can only say that, over the years, my ethical guidelines have become more stringent.
To help the reader develop their own guidelines for their healing practice, here are some of my own ethical guidelines:
- I do not work on any adults without their consent.
- I do not work on children without parental consent.
- I do not work on animals (aside my own) without their owner’s consent. Unless it is a wild animal and I know for certain that I can be of help to that animal.
- I do not share anything I learn about the person being worked on with anyone except that person. Unless the person I am working on gives their consent for me to share that information and lets me know who I can share it with.
- I only share anything I learn about the child being worked on with the parents of that child.
- Always ask if the person asking for the healing work has gone to the doctor. And ask if they were prescribed any medications (and if the person is taking them). If they have not, I always recommend that they do. There are things that a doctor can do that I cannot.
- Before using herbs, oils, ointments, astringents, etc., I ask the person if they are allergic to anything.
- Know the difference between a person needing a healing and a person needing a psychopomp. As a healer, one must know the difference. There are times when we can help with healing and there are times we cannot.
- When asked to do a healing for an adult third party, I ask for consent from the third party before I begin. Unless it is an emergency, the third party is in a coma, or if the query is coming from a child’s parent or an animal’s owner.
These are just a few of my own personal ethical guidelines. It may seem that there is much that I do not allow myself to do in regards to healing. However, these guidelines come from hard learned lessons and experiences - either my own or those learned by the healers who have gone before me. In all honesty, each healer’s ethical guidelines are going to be different. And one set of guidelines is no better than another. It is just a matter of what that healer is willing to live with.
I suggest to current and potential healers that they ask fellow healers about their ethical guidelines. I also suggest that you ask your personal doctor about his or her ethical guidelines. And if you are looking for a healer? Ask that healer what their ethical guidelines entail. This will tell you much about that person and will keep you out of trouble.