Rev. Julia Allen Berger, D. Min., on a make-believe chaplain’s portrayal

Chaplains in the Media

Opinions on the merits of watching NBC’s ER television show vary wildly among my colleagues. Some (this chaplain among them) love comparing the writers’ take on hospital culture to the real thing. Others say the last thing they care to watch at home is more hospital drama.

This season the character “Chaplain Julia” was introduced and I wondered if she would survive beyond a few episodes. So far, the fact that she and an ER physician are dating has kept her appearing, though that appears to be changing.

The chaplain character has been drawn with some accuracy and some outlandishness. Most offensive to me was a comment Julia made about her work: “Chaplaincy is just a hobby for me.” More realistically, she describes her low salary and her involvement teaching at a Complementary and Alternative Medicine conference on the effects of prayer and healing. One episode included Chaplain Julia holding an informal “blessing of the hands” service in the physician lounge, an event portrayed as meaningful to staff.

While some of Chaplain Julia’s theological comments and interventions have been formulaic, or even goofy, I found the January 17 ER episode, “Atonement,” to be exceptionally thought-provoking. The chaplain is called for a patient (who is also a physician) dying of metastatic prostate cancer. Formerly a prison physician in charge of executions, this man has had a conversion experience along the way and has sought out opportunities to positively impact the lives of his victims’ family members. Before he dies, he is seeking absolution – angrily. The chaplain’s non-directive responses only anger him more and he throws her out.

The chaplain – who describes herself as “seminary-trained, having studied Buddhism and spent time at an ashram” – wonders aloud if her “spiritually inclusive” approach has served the patient well. She muses that patients who seek certainty are much harder to help than those wrestling with doubt. When the chaplain refuses to revisit the patient (I wish she had said “I’m not the right resource” instead of what looked like running away.), an ER physician tries to offer the patient the grace he so desperately wants. The ending is ambiguous.

The writers of this episode pose realistic questions for chaplains and healthcare professionals. I find myself curious as to who came up with the idea of “Chaplain Julia” on ER – does anyone know if a chaplain somewhere served as an advisor? I recall the anecdote that a C.P.E. student chaplain was added years ago to the script of the pioneer hospital series St. Elsewhere at the initiation of a chaplain at Mass. General Hospital, reportedly the model for St. Elsewhere.

Among ER fans, what do we think about how Chaplain Julia is portrayed? Does she make us proud or make us cringe?

For another viewpoint on Chaplain Julia, see Nancy Berlinger's commentary posted on The Hastings Center Bioethics Forum at: http://www.bioethicsforum.org/hospital-chaplains-Julie-Dupree.asp.

Do you have thoughts about professional practice you’d like to share with your colleagues? Send an e-mail info@PlainViews.org.