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David Fleenor

The Expanding Role of US Healthcare Chaplains in Clinical Ethics

Updated: Nov 23

Recently, I had the honor of participating as a respondent in the Transforming Chaplaincy webinar, "The Expanding Role of US Healthcare Chaplains in Clinical Ethics" (see video below). The webinar was a discussion about a recently published article of the same title on the essential contributions of chaplains in this area by Jeanne Wirpsa, Nina Redl, Karen Lieberman, and Krys Springer. This discussion was particularly relevant to a 2022 survey my colleagues and I conducted on the ethics education landscape in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs. The findings emphasized the need for greater structure in preparing chaplains for roles that require ethical insight and communication skills.


Poster show the title and co-presenters' pictures

Top 3 Takeaways

Here are the top three takeaways from the webinar, each highlighting how chaplains are uniquely suited for roles in clinical ethics:


  1. Chaplains as Communication and Mediation Experts


    Chaplains bring unique communication skills to ethics roles, including deep listening, conflict mediation, and facilitating dialogue between medical teams and patients' families. This skill set enables them to bridge communication gaps, ensuring that each voice is heard, often transforming challenging conversations into productive, values-based dialogues. This nuanced communication role is an invaluable asset in clinical ethics.


  2. Growing Need for Formalized Training


    The study discussed in the webinar found that while many chaplains feel a calling to serve in ethics roles, they often lack formal education in bioethics and clinical ethics, leaving gaps in foundational knowledge. While some chaplains acquire medical and ethical knowledge through years of experience, many participants expressed the need for a standardized ethics curriculum that could enhance their preparedness for ethical consultations and decision-making.


  3. Chaplains’ Unique Perspective in Ethical Consultations


    Chaplains bring a holistic view to clinical ethics, incorporating an understanding of diverse cultural, ethical, and religious frameworks. This perspective allows them to approach ethical dilemmas from a place of empathy, ensuring that decisions honor patients' cultural and religious values. Chaplains also play a critical role in promoting social justice and advocating for vulnerable individuals, ensuring that the patient’s full personhood is considered in decision-making.


Top 3 Questions

In addition to these insights, the webinar raised several important questions that chaplains and healthcare leaders can consider as the field evolves. These questions serve as both points of reflection and goals for future growth in clinical chaplaincy:


  1. Are chaplains adequately trained and equipped to handle the complexities of clinical ethics roles?


    While chaplains often receive valuable on-the-job experience, many enter clinical ethics work without formal ethics training. The field must consider how best to prepare chaplains, especially as their roles expand to include complex ethical consultations.


  2. Who should be responsible for providing chaplains with additional ethics training, and at what stage should this training occur?


    The timing and source of ethics training for chaplains remain unresolved. Should it be integrated into early academic training, CPE, or pursued later in a chaplain’s career? Defining these pathways could ensure chaplains receive the most relevant and effective training.


  3. Should clinical ethics work for chaplains require specialized certification, or can current training adequately prepare chaplains for these roles?


    As chaplaincy roles in clinical ethics become more defined, the need for a specialized certification in ethics may arise. Establishing such a certification would affirm chaplains’ expertise while setting professional standards to ensure consistent, quality care.


These questions emphasize the importance of continued growth and education in clinical chaplaincy. This webinar sparked an engaging conversation within the chaplaincy community, and I encourage anyone interested in the future of healthcare chaplaincy to view the full discussion on the YouTube video below. This session offers insights into the ways that chaplains are expanding their role in healthcare and elevating their work in clinical ethics.




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