While drawing on many case studies from the Children's Hospital patient population, the authors help clinicians and other professionals expand their knowledge of the customs and rules for care of the sick, attitudes and beliefs about illness and death, and religious observances in the hospital setting. They provide insight into the basic beliefs, traditions, and practices that influence how people from a wide variety of cultures and religions respond to the U.S. health care environment. Honoring Patient Preferences provides health care professionals indispensable suggestions for meeting Joint Commission on Accreditation standards and includes a CD-ROM containing the entire text of the book. Key-word searchable, this resource can be posted on any computer network, giving easy access to this essential information to those who need it most.