Medicine and religion

Medicine and religion

Medicine and religion are deeply intertwined than commonly presumed. In contrast, autonomy is one of the most acknowledged concepts that, on detailed assessment, becomes problematic to define in physician and patient decisions. While James’ physician is obliged to provide the best possible medical care to his or her patient, they have to respect Mike’s decision even though it might harm the patient:

1. James is a minor, and thus legally, his Medicare decisions reside with his parents.
2. Mike’s recovery is dependent on organ donation, of which the only compatible kidney is his brother’s Samuel, another minor.
3. The medical ethics guidelines dictate that a patient retains the right to refuse treatment.

In his regard, the consequences of Mike’s decision are fully protected by the law, and therefore, they reserve the right to rely on whatever possible treatment intervention they deem suitable.

Post, Puchalski & Larson (2000) researched the ethics, professional boundaries, and ethics related to patient and physician spirituality concerning religion. They noted that patients often resolve to providence or religious beliefs when confronting serious illnesses. Therefore, irrespective of their beliefs or perspective, physicians are obligated to find the best way to respect and support the patient’s belief system where necessary as this may improve their decision making capability. Safeguarding patient autonomy is an ethical responsibility that physicians must always uphold where necessary.

1. In 400-500 words, respond to the following: How ought the Christian to think about sickness and health?

According to Swihart & Martin (2020), Christian Science maintains that illness is an illusion that prayer can repress. Therefore, Christians ought to perceive health and sickness through the lens of metaphysics, in that spiritual powers can reform the mind and body and impact recovery. The idea that our wellbeing is manifested through a higher power shapes how Christian think over modern medical treatment. However, this should not obscure Christians from our environment’s realities and lead to rejection of medical intervention. Alternatively, a more positive and recommended view of Christianity over medical interventions should recognize physicians as the vehicles through which providence manifests.

Religions provide a cushioning reason that parents may deploy to deny their child medical services and seek alternative intervention. As a Christian, Mike should retain his faith in God, gauge the realities surrounding James’ health condition while monitoring his health and allow the physician to undertake his or her care responsibilities. Since the nephrologist has determined that James has about one year before the disease becomes fatal, Mike should allow some time for alternative donors before resolving to Samuel as a donor. By allowing time for another donor, Mike allows himself to exercise faith while simultaneously ensuring that James reserves a recovery chance. Mike should focus on hope, which requires rusting in the future from a Christian view. Mike can sustain hope through prayer, readings, and meditation in times of stress, among other practices.

The patient retains the autonomy to reject treatment proposed by the physician as an extension of benevolence. Similarly, a physician retains the autonomy to refuse to extend a medical intervention to the patient because he or she believes that the specified treatment might inflict more harm on the patient than the principle of no maleficence. Patient’s rights are a class of human rights adopted in a particular context of medical treatment (Olejarczyk & Young, 2019). The application of patient rights as per the principle of beneficence and no maleficence warrants the consideration of ethical guidelines to specific medical circumstances like James’. In light of these ethical principles and patient rights, Mike’s perspective of God should shift. While physicians are obligated to ensure utmost care for their patients as per their judgment and abilities, their actions require higher power to be successful. Therefore, Mike’s trust should rest on divine power’s ability to ensure James’s recovery and the future health of Samuel, assuming he becomes the donor.

The concept of religion rests on practices, beliefs, and rituals, normally embodied within an organization or an institution. On the other hand, spirituality is mostly associated with an individual’s deepest values, sacredness in our existence, and a transcendent relationship with a higher power. Therefore, spirituality defines a belief system constructed on intangible aspects of life that affect meaning and vitality to life’s happenings. Research suggests that spirituality impacts patient response to treatment and recovery. When patients battle illnesses, religious and spiritual elements always suffice into their decision making process and the way they cope. Therefore, conducting a spiritual needs assessment will enable Mike to align or reconcile his religious notions with physician practices. A spiritual assessment also allows the physician to reinforce hope and provide meaning, peace, connection, strength, and comfort.

Mike is confronting the possibility of losing one James or risking Samuel’s future health to save James, and this evokes a search for meaning leading him to question or doubt his faith. Spirituality shapes Mike’s perspective and decision regarding the health of two children. Therefore a spiritual evaluation allows the physician to recognize and integrate Mike’s cultural, religious, and spiritual stance in advancing optimum care to James.