End of Life Care among Muslims, Hindus, and Christians in Central Texas

In this study, I attempted to examine how religion, as well as other various social factors, affect end of life care decisions among Central Texas Christians, Hindus, and Muslims. First, interviews were conducted with religious leaders at places of worship in each religious tradition. Next, respondents from each congregation were given religiosity surveys and answered questions in group interviews. Outside of religion, it became clear that family input and age of the patient play a large role in decisions individuals make. Muslims in this study put the most focus on predestination of human decisions, as well as the hope family members have in medical professionals. Hindus felt that no decision could be made without understanding the suffering and pain of the dying person. Both Hindus and Christians believed the agent behind physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia changed the morality of the action. Going forward, more research on the practical aspects of religious morality in the field of medicine should be aspired towards.