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Responding Wisely to Persistent Pain: Insights from Patristic Theology and Clinical Experience

Publication ,  Journal Article
Curlin, FA
Published in: Christian Bioethics
December 1, 2023

For most of the past generation, clinicians have been taught to treat patients' pain until the patient says it is relieved. The opioid crisis has forced both clinicians and patients to reconsider that approach. This essay considers how Christians in particular might assume and seek to overcome their experiences of persistent pain. Wise and faithful responses to pain, especially chronic pain, can take their bearings from how early Christians made sense of the place of both medicine and suffering in a faithful life. This results in not asking medicine to resolve persistent pain, especially not through the use of opioids. Resisting the impulse to medicalize chronic pain will require patience on the part of those who suffer, and both patience and fortitude on the part of the clinicians to whom they present.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Christian Bioethics

DOI

EISSN

1744-4195

ISSN

1380-3603

Publication Date

December 1, 2023

Volume

29

Issue

3

Start / End Page

196 / 206

Related Subject Headings

  • 5004 Religious studies
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5001 Applied ethics
  • 2203 Philosophy
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Curlin, F. A. (2023). Responding Wisely to Persistent Pain: Insights from Patristic Theology and Clinical Experience. Christian Bioethics, 29(3), 196–206. https://doi.org/10.1093/cb/cbad020
Curlin, F. A. “Responding Wisely to Persistent Pain: Insights from Patristic Theology and Clinical Experience.” Christian Bioethics 29, no. 3 (December 1, 2023): 196–206. https://doi.org/10.1093/cb/cbad020.
Curlin, F. A. “Responding Wisely to Persistent Pain: Insights from Patristic Theology and Clinical Experience.” Christian Bioethics, vol. 29, no. 3, Dec. 2023, pp. 196–206. Scopus, doi:10.1093/cb/cbad020.
Journal cover image

Published In

Christian Bioethics

DOI

EISSN

1744-4195

ISSN

1380-3603

Publication Date

December 1, 2023

Volume

29

Issue

3

Start / End Page

196 / 206

Related Subject Headings

  • 5004 Religious studies
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5001 Applied ethics
  • 2203 Philosophy