What if your elderly patient holds tightly to an amulet or charm during a painful procedure and asks if her may take it with her during surgery?

I would find a way for her to have it. If it gives her comfort and ease then she should have it. To take it away may cause her more harm. I can understand that in surgery that there could be concern about bacteria, but maybe there is a way to place it in a plastic bag and pin it to the bed so she can have it near. Things like this mean a lot to people.