Doctors Increasingly Open to Discussing ‘Miracles‘ in Patient Care, Challenging traditional medical Boundaries
NEW YORK – A growing number of physicians are challenging the traditional separation between science and faith, openly acknowledging and discussing instances they describe as “miracles” in patient recovery. This shift comes as healthcare professionals grapple with burnout and seek to address the holistic needs of patients, recognizing the powerful role hope and belief can play in healing.
The conversation is fueled by anecdotal evidence of remarkable recoveries defying medical expectations, prompting doctors to reconsider the limits of conventional treatment. Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health, argues that a belief in miracles doesn’t undermine scientific rigor but rather augments it.
“A doctor who believes in miracles is one who doesn’t shut the door on the seemingly impractical too soon, but continues to fight with all their tools and skills for the expected and also the unexpected cure,” Siegel writes.He points to patients like “Dick,” who overcame four cancers, severe heart disease, an occult bleed, and a neuromuscular disorder while continuing to smoke, living into his mid-80s with a resilient sense of humor.”I live on to take your phone calls,” the patient reportedly told his doctor.
Similarly,Siegel highlights the case of his parents,aged 100 and 102,who continue to thrive despite significant health challenges,including four years of dialysis for his father,multiple infections,and hip fractures repaired in their late 90s. His mother is currently surviving breast cancer as a centenarian, motivated by a determination to remain with her husband.
This openness to acknowledging seemingly inexplicable recoveries isn’t about abandoning evidence-based medicine, proponents say, but about recognizing the complex interplay between physical treatment, emotional well-being, and spiritual belief. A focus on combined spiritual and physical healing, they suggest, could foster greater connection and hope within a fractured healthcare system.
Siegel, author of The Miracles among Us: How God’s Grace Plays a role in Healing, believes doctors should openly discuss these occurrences, as they don’t diminish the value of science but rather expand the possibilities of healing.
