M.Doty.PHI413.Wk5.Benchmark
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Benchmark, Patient’s Spiritual Needs
Melissa Doty
Grand Canyon University
PHI 413 Ethical and Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care
Dr. Steven Ledbetter
November 5, 2023
Benchmark, Patient’s Spiritual Needs
When in healthcare there are many aspects of healing that need to be addressed. The
physicians are primarily focused on the physical healing needs of the patient, while the other
staff involved with direct patient care are offering a more holistic care plan for the patient.
When
offering a holistic care plan this can oftentimes include other family members to be involved in
the aid of healing the patient. As healthcare workers in any aspect of dealing with patient care we
need to take the needs of the patient into consideration with what they want and need along with
the family members' thoughts.
Patient’s Spiritual Needs
Parental Decisions and Patient Autonomy
The question here is if the physician should let the father, Mike, continue to make
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decisions for his child, the patient, even though his previous decisions have actually physically
hindered the child’s healing process.
This is where the spiritual healing needs to be directed to
all members of the family that are involved with direct patient care.
The patient is a minor,
legally he is not allowed to make his own medical decisions, however he should still be involved
in his own care.
The healthcare team should get together along with a chaplain or other spiritual
advisor the parents deem worthy, and they can have a care conference.
In the care conference the
physician can lay out all the medical facts of the patient's condition in front of all the family
involved and the spiritual leader. The spiritual leader can then answer any non medical questions
the family may still have and they all can
decide together what the best thing for the patient,
James, would be. James should also be informed of what is happening in terms that he can
understand as well, along with his twin brother.
They both need to be able to understand the
situation and voice what their concerns are as well.
Christian View of Sickness and Health
One of the overall beliefs in Christianity is that God will never give you more than you
can handle. When someone gets ill it is not a punishment from God, it is taken that the person is
strong enough to handle what has been given to them.
There was a reason in God’s plan for that
person and why they were given that diagnosis.
It could be to provide inspiration to others, to
pass on a message for humanity, or just to carry out His plan.
In Christian views, God has a plan
for each and every one of us as humans.
Of course, being healthy is also a blessing that most of
us wish that we can hold on to and try to stay as healthy as we can.
There are blessings to be
found in both sickness and health.
Christian Views on Medical Intervention
There is nothing in the bible about medical interventions, since this a fairly new concept
from when the bible was written. There are many different takes on how to interpret what the
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bible suggests to be done.
Each situation is very different and each Christian branch has their
own views on what types of medical interventions are seen as Christian.
There are branches of
Christianity that are extreme and they will not recommend any types of medical interventions
because it is not what they foresee as what God wants.
They put their whole belief and trust in
God as what will happen. Overall, the general Christian population is not opposed to having
medical interventions being performed.
Their whole idea of creating no harm to another human
being is held true.
It is not humane to let a human suffer, there are times when a medical
intervention needs to occur to help save that patient’s life in emergent situations. The Christian
belief in medical intervention is overall a positive view as long as there is no harm being done.
It
is when it comes to taking someone off of life support or end of life choices is when things begin
to get a bit muddy.
Mike as a Christian
As a Christian, Mike wants to be able to put his trust in God and not be let down. He
knows that God has a plan for everyone, but he doesn’t want to lose his child either. As a
Christian, I think he should seek out a spiritual leader from his church and invite them into the
conversation about the health of his son. He will trust the leader’s advice and he will have that
spiritual support and guidance he is seeking.
Spiritual Assessment
When it comes to a life and death situation, such as this one, Mike wants to be true to his
faith and also do what is right as a parent and what he feels is right in God’s eyes.
A spiritual
assessment would be very beneficial to Mike and his family at this time of need. Mike is seeking
guidance and feels torn inside about what is the right decision for his child and also in his beliefs.
He needs to have a spiritual leader help guide him through this tough situation so that Mike feels
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comfortable with his decision and hopefully in the end will not have any regrets. When it is this
dire the care team will need to set up a care conference and include all spiritual leaders, social
work, parents, and the children to ensure that everyone is fully educated on what is actually
happening and what the prognosis is.
They can all be provided with feasible options as well to
choose from.
Mike can then feel comfortable with his decision and he will have a leader there
with him and his family to pray and discuss the options.
He can see where he may be doing
more harm than he thinks and that is not what God wants for his son either. Maybe the reason
that God blessed them with twins was so that one could save the other.
All options need to be
brainstormed and looked at before a final decision is given.
Results
This situation, or any situation involving a sick child, is almost impossible to get through
with a clear head. It puts parents in the toughest positions of their lives and they have to make
impossible choices on the care of their child. In the end they want to ensure they did the right
things for the child and if they pass away, they as a parent did everything they could for them and
they do not have any regrets in the choices they made. Mike is torn between his faith and desire
to please God and do His will and what he needs to do to save his son. He is unsure if it is a test
from God, or what God is testing him on.
Ultimately when it comes down to this type of
dilemma, Mike needs the support of a spiritual leader and guidance to help him make the best
decision for his son and his family.
It’s an unthinkable position to be in, but ultimately Mike
needs to make a decision that in the end he will not have any regrets with.
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References
Habgood, J. S. (1985). Medical ethics--a Christian view. Journal of Medical Ethics, 11(1), 12–13.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1136/jme.11.1.12
PERRY, L. (2022). Frightfully Askew: What asymmetry in art can tell us about the way we view
sickness and health, life and death. American Scholar, 91(2), 119–123.
Shelly, J. A. (2000). Spiritual care : a guide for caregivers. InterVarsity Press