Michael S. Goldstein

In the following viewpoint, Michael S. Goldstein asserts that spirituality is becoming an important element of conventional medicine. He contends that medical schools and conventionally trained physicians have begun to study and embrace the healing powers of prayer and other religious practices. However, he also maintains that many issues, such as whether government funds can be used to pay for these treatments and how to evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual care, need to be addressed before spirituality can be fully integrated into conventional medicine. Goldstein is a professor at UCLA’s School of Public Health and the author of Alternative Health Care: Medicine, Miracle, or Mirage", the source of the following viewpoint.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What is a “healer,” as defined by the author...