Faith - False Hope -

I've had several patients die this month, and I ache for their loved ones who remain. Even for those who have a belief in a Higher Power, the loss can be overwhelming. I see this particularly when the caregiver/loved one is the only family member and has been relied on so much - they basically lose their lives in service, then really don't have a life to move forward with. Lost. As well, I see this with divided families - death can really tear a family apart, rather than unite, which is heart-breaking. 

I've heard these phrases over and over again - "We have faith," and "God will provide." While these sound powerful, as a Latter-day Saint, I am taught faith without works is dead - and the faith may be in behalf of those caring for the loved one, whose works make them competent in their roles, and I should go to God with a specific request, not an open-ended request. I see this often - "We believe in miracles," and so when the patient does not survive, or has been on life-support for weeks, without any improvement, the fault becomes the medical team's, which is a heavy heavy burden. Watching someone decline over weeks, then watching family members be difficult and outright mean or in denial, causes undue harm to not only their loved-one, but also to providers and caregivers. "We have faith," "We believe in miracles," may be simply that their loved on no longer suffers and life-support is withdrawn.