Case Study on Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative.
This assignment will incorporate a common practical tool in helping clinicians begin to ethically analyze a case. Organizing the data in this way will help you apply the four principles and four boxes approach.
Based on the “Case Study: Healing and Autonomy” and other required topic study materials, you will complete the “Applying the Four Principles: Case Study” document that includes the following:
Part 1: Chart
This chart will formalize the four principles and four boxes approach and the four-boxes approach by organizing the data from the case study according to the relevant principles of biomedical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
Part 2: Evaluation
This part includes questions, to be answered in a total of 500 words, that describe how principalism would be applied according to the Christian worldview.
Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials.
APA style is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
ANSWER
Case Study on Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative
Part 1: Chart (60 points)
Based on the “Healing and Autonomy” case study, fill out all the relevant boxes below. Provide the information by means of bullet points or a well-structured paragraph in the box. Gather as much data as possible.
| Medical Indications
Beneficence and Nonmaleficence |
Patient Preferences
Autonomy |
| · James stands to benefit from dialysis if done in time and the physicians indicated that to his parents.
· The doctors’ advice prioritized medical options and requested Joanne and Mike to return James to the hospital as soon as possible. · The physicians also shared information on the possible organ matches for James’ kidney transplant |
· The patients are under the care of their parents because they are minors. Therefore, they cannot make independent decisions on their health without the input of their parents. The autonomy of James and Samuel is therefore passed to their parents Mike and Joanne.
· Mike and Joanne who make decisions on behalf of their 8-year-old child James suddenly decide that the boy does not need to undergo dialysis but rather believes in God and will be fine. · Even though obliged to respect this decision, it must be noted that from a medical standpoint it is not the right decision |
| Quality of Life
Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Autonomy |
Contextual Features
Justice and Fairness |
| · The physicians took note of the importance of faith in the healing process and accepted a request from the parents to try faith healing. Even though the faith healing did not work, accepting it was a sign of care for the quality of life for the patient from the physician’s side (Huxtable, 2013).
· The physicians were categorical on what Joanne and Mike needed to do to offer James the best health outcomes. They shared including the possibility of using Samuel as a donor to James’ kidney transplant process. |
· . There is a limited supply of kidney donors because every few can match the specifics of recipient James. Both parents of the patient do not have matching organs. Follower church members also do not have organ matches for James. This leaves the parents with only two options, permit Samuel, James’s brother to donate or wait in hope that an external donor will be available before the year elapses. |
Part 2: Evaluation
Answer each of the following questions about how the four principles and four boxes approach would be applied:
- In 200-250 words answer the following: According to the Christian worldview, how would each of the principles be specified and weighted in this case? Explain why. (45 points)
| Medical Indications
Medical indications will be an integral part of treating James because all decisions made by the physician must adhere to his religious beliefs and health needs. The physicians will have to advise accordingly on how faith can be maintained even as medical procedures are adhered to. Patient Preferences Patient preferences would be used to allow Joanne and Mike to pursue faith healing before continuing with the dialysis. Christians who believe in faith healing consider it an integral part of their health care process. Physicians would be compelled to respect the decisions of the parents to pursue faith healing with James’ condition. Patient preferences would also be relevant in establishing whether James’ brother Samuel is the one that donates a kidney to him or if he has to wait for external donors. Quality of Life The quality of services offered to James will have to take into consideration the faith concerns of his family because this will precipitate a holistic recovery from his condition. Contextual Features Christian worldview on contextual features supports the need for fair distribution of health care services to all that seek it (Hauerwas, 2018). The norms used by physicians to assist patients should take care of the norms with which patients arrive to seek health care. The principle of contextual features will be a key part of the decision to treat James. Christian principles will assist physicians to understand that James should receive a fair share of health care services. Even in his quest for an external kidney donor, James should adhere to the regulations set by the health care provider. |
- In 200-250 words answer the following: According to the Christian worldview, how might a Christian balance each of the four principles in this case? Explain why. (45 points)
| Patient Preferences
A Christian will allow Joanne and Mike to take James to the faith healing process but insist on ensuring that the boy is properly treated according to medical standards. The balance between faith and health care can be delicate for Christians. Christians have to decide what will work best for them. The belief in faith healing is key in the Christian faith but Christians should not neglect scientific health care methods. The two methods can be combined to effectively provide holistic healthcare to James. Medical Indicators Christians believe in not harming because Christian principles prioritize protecting life and treating people with compassion. A Christian would ensure that all required medical needs and options for James are provided comprehensively. Quality of Life A Christian would prioritize the holistic nature of quality of life covering all important aspects including social and religious aspects. This will enable advice based on medical needs combined with faith-based needs. Contextual Features Christians believe in fairness and justice for all therefore James’ condition would be treated with utmost consideration of these principles (Christen et al., 2014). A Christian would ensure that James gets the best possible health care at the hospital to give him complete and effective outcomes. The limitation of kidney donors would place the principles of Christian at crossroads because of the tough decisions involved. James being a young boy with most of his life still before he deserves a kidney more than most older people. Prioritizing James over other people might expose the fairness of a Christian. |
References
Christen, M., Ineichen, C., & Tanner, C. (2014). How “moral” are the principles of biomedical ethics?–a cross-domain evaluation of the common morality hypothesis. BMC medical ethics, 15(1), 1-12.
Hauerwas, S. M. (2018). How Christian ethics became medical ethics: The case of Paul Ramsey. In Wilderness Wanderings (pp. 124-140). Routledge.
Huxtable, R. (2013). For and against the four principles of biomedical ethics. Clinical Ethics, 8(2-3), 39-43.
