Caring for a Hindu Patient
Birth - Hindu Preferences
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Noting the exact time of a child's birth is very important to Hindus in order to generate an accurate horoscope for the child
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Traditionally, Hindu children are named on the 10th day, although in America, they are named at birth
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Most Hindus do not approve of abortion, but approve and often use birth control
Law of Karma
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Each individual creates her or his own destiny by thought words or deeds - Law of Karma
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Illness accident and injury result from the karma one creates and are seen as a means of purification.
Dietary Practices
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While vegetarianism is recommended in Hindu scriptures, Hindus are free to choose their own diet
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Those who eat meat do not eat beef and pork
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Many do not meat on certain days of the week
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Indian food is often hot, spicy and fairly salty
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Yogurt and sweets are often eaten with meals
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Indian food often contains ghee (clarified butter)
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Hindu vegetarianism is of the lacto vegetarian
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NOT VEGAN
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When in doubt, serve vegetarian
Hospital Care
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The Hindu tradition does not approve of mercy killing, assisted suicide or suicide
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Prolonging life artificially is up to the individual; however, letting nature take its course is common in Hindu tradition
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Hindu families are traditionally close-knit and a Hindu patient in a hospital would want his relatives to visit him or her.
Hospital Visits
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If the patient is older than the visiting relative, the visitor would be expected to stand unless invited to sit by the patient since respect for elders is engraved in Hindu culture
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Hindu patients may want to have a image of a Deity or a religious object in their room; they may also want to recite a prayer
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One of the family members is likely to request permission to stay with the patient all the time
At the end of life...
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A Hindu would prefer to die at home
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If the patient has to die in the hospital, the patient may wish to be alone with relatives or a priest or Guru
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When death is imminent close relatives would give Ganga jal (holy water from the river Ganga).
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Both cremation and burial are common depending on local custom
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Mourning for the dead is natural, but public display of grief is not the norm
