Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis

In addition to the topic study materials, 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 autonomyExplain 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 study materials.

 Solution:

Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis

Harmful decisions and patient autonomy

At times, physicians are faced by several ethical challenges, most of which involve the patient’s right of autonomy and their ethical obligation to do no harm and advocate for their patient’s best interests (McDougall &Notini, 2014). The physician attending to James is facing such a dilemma. The father, Mike, is contemplating declining treatment in hope that God will heal James. There are instances in which physicians are legally allowed to override a parent’s autonomy. Physicians have a legal and ethical obligation to advocate for the patient’s interests, especially when the parent’s medical decisions pose harm, are imprudent, or are neglectful(McDougall &Notini, 2014).

In the first incident, the parent’s refusal to have the child treated resulted in escalation of the medical problem. Now, a dialysis is no longer enough and James needs a kidney transplant or else he will lose his life. The parent’s refusal to have Samuel tested if he is a match puts James in serious risk. If Mike should refuse treatment, harm is imminent. The required kidney transplant has been proven to have efficacy.