Summary of Essential Practice Points: Christian Science

1 Beliefs about the treatment of illness:

Christian Scientists do not normally subscribe to medical intervention due to the opposite approaches to the cause and cure of illness. However, there is no church policy mandating members' health care decisions. Members may be in hospital only for childbirth, following accidents or due to family pressure. It is important that healthcare workers discuss with such service users what level of care they are willing to accept. (Fulltext of Essential Point 1 in Beliefs about the treatment of illness)

2 Religious contacts and religious practices:

It will be necessary to source the name of a religious or personal contact from the person who can be contacted for religious support as necessary. (Fulltext of Essential Point 2 in Religious contacts and religious practices)

3 Death-related religious rituals:

There is no specific ritual surrounding preparation for death in Christian Science. (Fulltext of Essential Point 3 in Death-related religious rituals)

4 Cleaning and touching the body:

The normal washing and preparation procedure can be carried out. It is a religious requirement that, wherever possible, female staff should handle females after death. However, there is no similar requirement for male patients. (Fulltext of Essential Point 4 in Cleaning and touching the body)

5 Initiation ritual/infant baptism:

Infant baptism is not necessary even in the case of threat to life. (Fulltext of Essential Point 5 in Initiation ritual/infant baptism)