Forgiveness at the Bedside: A Chaplain’s Role in Facilitating Forgiveness
Elizabeth Palmer, MDiv, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI

The spiritual need for forgiveness means that an interpersonal dimension of a person’s life has been broken. A health crisis can heighten this need as patients face unresolved issues within themselves. Observational studies, trials, and quantitative analyses have shown that unresolved forgiveness issues impact health outcomes. In fact, forgiveness is associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety; reduced substance abuse; higher self-esteem; and greater life satisfaction. Forgiveness also positively impacts patient motivation for rehabilitation (Harvard Health, 2021). In working with patients whose core spiritual need is forgiveness, a chaplain can assess and offer intervention. This paper will explore the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation; review the impact of forgiveness issues on a person’s health and wellbeing; illustrate the overall benefits of facilitating forgiveness as spiritual care intervention; and highlight the role of chaplaincy in multidisciplinary care through specific case studies.