Intervention and Ethical Decision-Making Essay
Intervention and Ethical Decision-Making Essay
Intervention and Ethical Decision-Making Essay
Intervention and Ethical Decision-Making
Healthcare providers like nurses need to understand different perspectives and worldviews that influence how patients and their families make decisions on proposed care interventions and treatment plans. The case study on “Healing and Autonomy” provides a chance for nurses and other providers to understand the application of biomedical ethics like autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice as well as the role of Christian beliefs and practices (Hoehner, 2020). Mike make decisions that appear irrational and detrimental to James’ health because of the principle of autonomy and his religious or Christian beliefs, especially the believe in miracle healing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the case and discuss aspects of spiritual needs analysis to help Mike and Joanne in making better decisions on the care of James.
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Allowing Mike to Make Irrational Decisions
The case study demonstrates an ethical and professional dilemma for the physician and the team behind the treatment of James. While the physician is professionally allowed to intervene for the sake of the patient, the bioethical principle of autonomy does not require him to influence any decision and action that patients or their surrogates can make. In this case, the patient is a minor who lacks competence and therefore, his father makes all decisions concerning care provision. The principle of autonomy mandates physicians to respect patients’ right to make informed medical decisions (Hubbard et al., 2019). Imperatively, the decisions that patients make are binding, whether detrimental or not to them, and healthcare providers cannot impose any alternatives. As such, the physician has no option than allow Mike to make decisions that appear not logical and harmful to the treatment of his son.
The core obligation of the physician is to offer the parents all the information and options that they need to make decisions about the care of their son. As the main custodian of his family based on the Christian teachings, Mike is expected to ensure the physical and wellbeing of his children, including James. The physician should respect the autonomy of the patient as it expected that Mike and Joanne will act in the best interest of their son. The implication is that the concept of patient autonomy overrides any good and beneficial decisions that the physician may consider as important to the minor patient (Johnstone, 2019). The physician should emphasize the need for better interventions and the effects of each decision that the parents make concerning the treatment of James like the recommended dialysis. However, he should not impose his views or decisions on the couple even if he feels that some of the decisions are irrational and not helpful to the boy.
Sickness, Health, Medical Interventions & Mike’s Actions
Religion plays a critical role in healthcare, especially how patients perceive and accept different conventional medicine’s interventions. The perception of Christians on sickness, health and medical interventions is essential in provision of care for diverse patient populations. Christians should consider sickness and health as two aspects of one’s life. This implies that Christians ought to understand God’s intention for sickness and health. They should not consider these two aspects as either punishment or blessing from God but part and parcel of one’s life and wellbeing. Christians should accept that sickness comes due to different aspects despite their religious interpretation like being a punishment from God or giving Him the chance to prove His power and greatness (Hoehner, 2020). Seeking health entails better living and following a lifestyle that reduces the risk for chronic and terminal conditions. Mike should not consider the present sickness of his son as lack of faith and trust or punishment from God but as a component of healthy living and its positive effects on human life.
Christians should not decline medical interventions but consider them as part of God’s response to address the problem of sickness and restore their health. Christians should consider medical interventions as a blessing from God because He bestows intelligence and knowledge. Christians are called to accept science and its biomedical uses to eliminate suffering and preserving the inherent dignity of human beings and sanctity of life. The biblical narration is emphatic that medical interventions, together with prayers lead to healing and restoration of health. Christians should consider medical interventions as God’s gift for healing His people. As asserted by Jesus, those who require medical interventions do so because of their health situations. They are sick and require a physician. Therefore, seeking medical interventions does not mean that one lacks faith but implies seeking remedies as taught by Jesus Christ.
As a Christian, Mike needs to maintain his faith in God and believe that He shall use the physician and the medical team to heal him. Mike should couple his belief by allowing the healthcare team to implement the suggested interventions, especially the kidney transplant as the only viable long-term solution to the problem. Mike should act in the best interest of his son and give the go-ahead for the physician to perform the kidney transplant. Under the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, the physician is interested in the best outcomes of James and his decisions are not aimed at harming him. Mike should focus on the beneficial aspects of the proposed intervention and believe that the physician and his team are God’s angels (Sabo, 2021). Mike needs to understand that delaying some of the actions and decisions will have significant effects on the health of his son. Mike should consider the implications of his actions based on the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. He should offer lasting solution to enable his son get better and improve his health.
Spiritual Assessment
A spiritual needs assessment is a critical process that allows patients to integrate their concerns and encounter the realities of their condition. The primary goal of a spiritual needs assessment is to enable physicians support patients through incorporating their religious beliefs and practices into plans of care. The assessment also encourages patients to use available spiritual resources to improve their overall health and wellness (Johnstone, 2019). Again, having these assessments leads to the development of a better therapeutic relationship between a physician and their patients. It also provides patients and their families a chance to renew their perspectives on health, grow their understanding of spiritual interventions and resiliency. Meeting the spiritual needs and concerns of patients lays the foundation for holistic care for patients and their families.
The present case demonstrates the need for a spiritual needs assessment because of the decisions that Mike continues to make based on his religious practices and beliefs. The current case shows that Mike may not appreciating the role of his faith in the situation and its impact on James’ health. As a Christian, Mike should be resilient knowing that his faith and trust in God are not in vein since He will heal his son. In this case, the physician can rely on certain tools that include FICA and HOPE models to conduct a spiritual needs evaluation on Mike and understand the best way to integrate his religious aspects into the care plan (Zumstein-Shaha et al., 2020). As a spiritual needs assessment would be critical for the physician to better help Mike and Joanne in this situation.
Conclusion
Religion, including Christianity, influences the perception people have concerning different aspects of health like sickness and medical interventions. Christians should accept help from physicians and medical providers, especially when situations presented are about life and death and all indications show that a physician can help. Further, physicians should maintain and respect the biomedical principles, especially the principle of autonomy, in their practice. They should provide all necessary information but never influence the decisions by patients based on this principle.
References
Hoehner, P. J. (2020). Practicing Dignity. An Introduction to Christian Values and
Decision Making in Health Care. GCU (Ed). Biomedical Ethics in the Christian
Narrative. https://1c.gcumedia.com/phi413v/practicing-dignity-an-inrtoduction-to-christian-values-and-decision-making-in-health-care/v1.1/#/chapter/3
Hubbard, R., & Greenblum, J. (2019). Parental decision making: The best interest principle,
child autonomy, and reasonableness. HEC Forum, 31(3), 233-240.
Johnstone, M. J. (2019). Bioethics: A nursing perspective (7th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences.
Sabo, A. (2021). Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian Values and Decision Making
in Health Care (1st Edition). Grand Canyon University – Digital Resources. https://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/grand-canyon-
university/2020/practicing-dignity_an-introduction-to-christian-values-and-decision-
making-in-health-care_1e.php
Zumstein-Shaha, M., Ferrell, B., & Economou, D. (2020). Nurses’ response to spiritual needs of
cancer patients. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 48, 101792.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2020.101792.
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Assessment Description
In addition to the topic Resources, use the chart you completed and questions you answered in the Topic 3 about “Case Study: Healing and Autonomy” as the basis for your responses in this assignment.
Answer the following questions about a patient’s spiritual needs in light of the Christian worldview.
1. In 200-250 words, respond to the following: Should the physician allow Mike to continue making decisions that seem to him to be irrational and harmful to James, or would that mean a disrespect of a patient’s autonomy? Explain your rationale.
2. In 400-500 words, respond to the following: How ought the Christian think about sickness and health? How should a Christian think about medical intervention? What should Mike as a Christian do? How should he reason about trusting God and treating James in relation to what is truly honoring the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in James’s care?
3. In 200-250 words, respond to the following: How would a spiritual needs assessment help the physician assist Mike determine appropriate interventions for James and for his family or others involved in his care?
Remember to support your responses with the topic Resources.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:
BS in Health Sciences 1.2; BS Nursing (RN to BSN ) 5.2
Assess for the spiritual needs and provide appropriate interventions for individuals, families, and groups.
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