Running head: Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis Grand Canyon University: PHI 413V
Date1 BENCHMARK – PATIENT’S SPIRITUAL NEEDS
Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis
Patient’s Decision and Autonomy in Ethics It remains unclear, if James was included in the decision-making of his care. Before the decline of his health, he was fully healthy and capable to understand the extent of his illness and should his father truly make the decisions without any input from James, a disrespect to James’ autonomy would be very clear. Respect for autonomy is defined as “A principle that requires respect for the decision-making capacities of autonomous persons.” The consideration whether the decisions that would been made by James would be helpful or not, or if he is too young to take part of this process, is in questions but the exclusion from a bioethical standpoint makes Mike irresponsible. As stated by (Meilander, 2013 p 99), “Our task is not to judge the worth of this person’s life relative to other possible or actual lives. Our task is to care for the life he has as best we can.” As this is unrelated to James’ case and the disease process, Mike based his decisions solely on his faith and what he has witness from community members. Such decision-
making brings disrespect to James as a person and his autonomy. The physician should not allow
Mike to make the decision of treatment solely by himself and rather include James to prevent the
violation of patient autonomy. Ethical Decision Making and Patient Autonomy Sickness in the eyes of Christians should be seen as a way of God to work through them. Jesus replies “. Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”’ Ministers and healthcare workers are those, who receive a special call to care for the needy around us as part of their vacation in order to achieve a state of “shalom”. As stated by (Shelly & Miller, 2012 pp 141-142) “He gives to the sufferer the dignity of being united with him in his own suffering, and he gives to all of us the duty of 2
Date1 BENCHMARK – PATIENT’S SPIRITUAL NEEDS
Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis
Patient’s Decision and Autonomy in Ethics It remains unclear, if James was included in the decision-making of his care. Before the decline of his health, he was fully healthy and capable to understand the extent of his illness and should his father truly make the decisions without any input from James, a disrespect to James’ autonomy would be very clear. Respect for autonomy is defined as “A principle that requires respect for the decision-making capacities of autonomous persons.” The consideration whether the decisions that would been made by James would be helpful or not, or if he is too young to take part of this process, is in questions but the exclusion from a bioethical standpoint makes Mike irresponsible. As stated by (Meilander, 2013 p 99), “Our task is not to judge the worth of this person’s life relative to other possible or actual lives. Our task is to care for the life he has as best we can.” As this is unrelated to James’ case and the disease process, Mike based his decisions solely on his faith and what he has witness from community members. Such decision-
making brings disrespect to James as a person and his autonomy. The physician should not allow
Mike to make the decision of treatment solely by himself and rather include James to prevent the
violation of patient autonomy. Ethical Decision Making and Patient Autonomy Sickness in the eyes of Christians should be seen as a way of God to work through them. Jesus replies “. Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”’ Ministers and healthcare workers are those, who receive a special call to care for the needy around us as part of their vacation in order to achieve a state of “shalom”. As stated by (Shelly & Miller, 2012 pp 141-142) “He gives to the sufferer the dignity of being united with him in his own suffering, and he gives to all of us the duty of 2
