Why Study Religion and Spirituality in Bioethics? Results of a Survey of Courses in Graduate Bioethics Programs in the USA.

The critical relevance and importance of considering religion and spirituality (R/S) in academic and public discourse on bioethical issues and in the illness experiences of patients and families is difficult to deny. Yet, little is known about the nature and scope of R/S education in graduate bioethics training. We therefore conducted a literature review and survey of bioethics programs in the USA and a content analysis of relevant syllabi of courses.