It was reasonable for the nurse to ask the question because some people derive comfort from prayer and would welcome it. And if not, they can always decline. No harm done--except in the overheated imaginations of some Mudcatters. In fact the woman in question was not put out by the request.

It seems that very few people are. Certainly not most of the people who have actually had serious health problems.

Actually it appears that the only ones who are offended and shocked by the shear effrontery of such a question are, for instance, charmers whose normal greeting for unexpected visitors is "Fuck off" .

Wonderful role models for us all, it's true.