NURSING PHI 413V Ethical and Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care Essay Assignments

Case Study: Fetal Abnormality

Jessica is a 30-year-old immigrant from Mexico City. She and her husband Marco have been in the United States for the last three years and have finally earned enough money to move out of their Aunt Maria’s home and into an apartment of their own. They are both hard workers. Jessica works 50 hours a week at a local restaurant and Marco has been contracting side jobs in construction. Six months before their move to an apartment, Jessica finds out she is pregnant.

Four months later, Jessica and Marco arrive at the county hospital, a large, public, nonteaching hospital. A preliminary ultrasound indicates a possible abnormality with the fetus. Further scans are conducted, and it is determined that the fetus has a rare condition in which it has not developed any arms and will not likely develop them. There is also a 25% chance that the fetus may have Down syndrome.

Dr. Wilson, the primary attending physician, is seeing Jessica for the first time, since she and Marco did not receive earlier prenatal care over concerns about finances. Marco insists that Dr. Wilson refrain from telling Jessica the scan results, assuring him that he will tell his wife himself when she is emotionally ready for the news. While Marco and Dr. Wilson are talking in another room, Aunt Maria walks into the room with a distressed look on her face. She can tell that something is wrong and inquires of Dr. Wilson. After hearing of the diagnosis, she walks out of the room wailing loudly and praying aloud NURSING PHI 413V Ethical and Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care Essay Assignments.

Marco and Dr. Wilson continue their discussion, and Dr. Wilson insists that he has an obligation to Jessica as his patient and that she has a right to know the diagnosis of the fetus. He furthermore is intent on discussing all relevant factors and options regarding the next step, including abortion. Marco insists on taking some time to think of how to break the news to Jessica, but Dr. Wilson, frustrated with the direction of the conversation, informs the husband that such a choice is not his to make. Dr. Wilson proceeds back across the hall, where he walks in on Aunt Maria awkwardly praying with Jessica and phoning the priest. At that point, Dr. Wilson gently but briefly informs Jessica of the diagnosis and lays out the option for abortion as a responsible medical alternative, given the quality of life such a child would have. Jessica looks at him and struggles to hold back her tears.

Jessica is torn between her hopes of a better socioeconomic position and increased independence, along with her conviction that all life is sacred. NURSING PHI 413V Ethical and Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care Essay Assignments Marco will support Jessica in whatever decision she makes but is finding it difficult not to view the pregnancy and the prospects of a disabled child as a burden and a barrier to their economic security and plans. Dr. Wilson lays out all of the options but clearly makes his view known that abortion is “scientifically” and medically a wise choice in this situation. Aunt Maria pleads with Jessica to follow through with the pregnancy and allow what “God intends” to take place and urges Jessica to think of her responsibility as a mother.

PHI.413V Week 1 Discussion Question 1: The ethos of scientism and postmodernism has exacerbated the perceived philosophical and cultural tension between science and religion. What is your perception of this tension? Use the lecture and the topic readings to support your response. NURSING PHI 413V Ethical and Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care Essay Assignments.
PHI 413V Week 1 Discussion Question 2: What aspects of the topic readings do you find the most interesting? What is your view of the analysis of disease and healing in the readings? Explain.

PHI’413V Week 2 Discussion Question 1: What is the Christian concept of the imago dei? How might it be important to healthcare, and why is it relevant?
PHI 413V Week 2 Discussion Question 2: As you reflect on Meilaender’s readings, what is his distinction between procreation and reproduction, as well as that of being begotten versus being made? Do you agree with his description? Why or why not?

PHI.413V Week 3 Discussion Question 1: Principalism, especially in the context of bioethics in the United States, has often been critiqued for raising the principle of autonomy to the highest place, such that it trumps all other principles or values. How would you rank the importance of each of the four principles? How do you believe they would be ordered in the context of the Christian biblical narrative? Refer to the lecture and topic readings in your response. NURSING PHI 413V Ethical and Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care Essay Assignments.
PHI 413V Week 3 Discussion Question 2: What do the four parts of the Christian Biblical Narrative (i.e., creation, fall, redemption, and restoration) say about the nature of God and of reality in relation to the reality of sickness and disease? From where would one find comfort and hope in the light of illness according to this narrative? Explain in detail each part of the narrative above and analyze the implications.
PHI 413V Week 3 CAT Question: In chapter 8 of Called to Care (2006), Shelly discusses the ideas of James Boice, who identified four social effects of trying to build a human society apart from dependence upon the loving Creator God. Please name these four effects by replying below.
PHI 413V Week 3 EXTRA Question: In chapter nine of Called to Care (2006), Shelly discusses the idea of defining hope through Mary Thompson’s definition (pg 171). What role does this description of hope have in a health care environment? How important do you think this topic is in care-taking?

PHI’413V Week 4 Discussion Question 1: How often do you engage with or witness death in your work? How has this experience or the lack of it shaped your view of death? Has it gotten easier or harder for you to accept the fact of death? As you explain, include your clinical specialty.
PHI 413V Week 4 Discussion Question 2: Reflect on the analysis of the sin of suicide and thus, euthanasia from the topic readings. Do you agree? Why or why not? NURSING PHI 413V Ethical and Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care Essay Assignments. Refer to the lecture and topic readings in your response.
PHI 413V Week 4 Discussion CAT Question: What are the five stages of loss and grief?
PHI 413V Week 4 Optional DQ (Extra Participation): The Pew Research Center has conducted surveys on end-of-life decisions finding “…most Americans say there are some circumstances in which doctors and nurses should allow a patient to die………Do you agree with some of the findings? Do you disagree?

PHI.413V Week 5 Discussion Question 1: What is your definition of “spiritual care?” How does it differ or accord with the description given in the topic readings? Explain.
PHI 413V Week 5 Discussion Question 2: When it comes to facilitating spiritual care for patients with worldviews different from your own, what are your strengths and weaknesses? If you were the patient, who would have the final say in terms of ethical decision-making and intervention in the event of a difficult situation? NURSING PHI 413V Ethical and Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care Essay Assignments.