A Surgeon's Prayer Before Surgery

As physicians, we interact with patients during some of the most important moments of their lives -- at their births and at their deathbeds, at events bursting with spiritual significance. And yet most of us are afraid to talk about spirituality with our patients, much less discuss religion, out of fear that such conversations would be inappropriate.

I would like to share my prayer to my fellow surgeons who would like to pray for their patients before surgery.  Whether one is Christian, Muslim, Hindi or a Buddhist, I pray this prayer before performing their operation.

A Surgeon’s Prayer Before Surgery

God please guide my hands and all who will assist in the surgery.  Empower us to use our skills to restore our patients health and wholeness.  We ask you to remove any fear or anxiety from our patient and feel him with peace.

May his recovery be swift and his strength renewed and his health restored.

We also ask you to bless his family and friends.  Be with them as they await for the surgery to be finished and give them peace.  

Lord, make me a channel of your peace, that where there is hatred, May i bring love;

Where there is wrong, May i bring the spirit of forgiveness; 

Where there is discord, may I bring harmony; where there is error, May i bring truth;

Where there is doubt, may I bring faith; 

Where there is despair, may I bring hope;  that where there are shadows, I may bring light; 

That where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

We place our patient into your hands, lord, for you are the divine physician.

Emmanuel De La Cruz MD, PLLC
Plastic Surgeon