From Medical Shame to Sacred Healing

From Medical Shame to Sacred Healing

Shame and guilt represent widespread but inadequately addressed phenomena in healthcare encounters that significantly impact patient experience and clinical outcomes. While medical practice has advanced dramatically in diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, the psychological and spiritual dimensions of illness—particularly the corrosive effects of shame and guilt—remain systematically underexplored despite growing evidence of their profound influence on healing and recovery.

Objective: To synthesize current research on medical shame and guilt while examining how theological perspectives, particularly those derived from twelve-step recovery models and the pioneering work of Dr. Julian Ungar-Sargon, can transform healthcare's approach to these universal aspects of human suffering.