Q: Is it ethical for a Christian Science practitioner or a Christian Science nurse to borrow money from a patient, or to counsel a patient about (or manage) his or her personal or financial affairs?
A: Although lending or even giving money between friends seems innocent enough, the relationship between a patient and a Christian Science practitioner or a Christian Science nurse must always remain above reproach. Both the practitioner and the Christian Science nurse provide professional services, and those boundaries must be kept intact as a protection to all parties.
Personal business and financial affairs should not enter the conversation unless the patient has asked the practitioner to pray about a specific situation in the patient’s experience. The patient has called for Christian Science treatment from the practitioner, and the practitioner shares spiritual ideas, inspiration, and treatment to bring healing to the patient’s situation. The practitioner should never borrow money from a patient or give advice about the patient’s personal affairs. In the case of a Christian Science nurse/patient relationship, the patient has asked for nursing care, and the same ethical standards apply.
