A Case Study on Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative Paper Example

Under the "Case study: Healing and Autonomy", that focus more Christian narrative and the general Christian vision, Christian Biblical Narrative, and visions of James parents (Joanne and Mike) are clearly demonstrated. This brings out one pressing issue where James parents are struggling with developing the correct moral and ethical decisions in regards to their son's current health status. From the upbringing and their general belief, Joanne and Mike grew up in a strong Christian base background and as a result, they have an important role in making the decision for their son. However, even though they are practicing religious autonomy, what comes out clearly is that they are troubled in making a decision on whether to leave James's life in the hands of God the creator or in the hands of the physician.

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In the case study, the first religious autonomy tension was when their son started suffering from a streptococcus infection, this led to kidney failure and required a recommendation by the physician that their son was to undergo a temporary dialysis.in this case, what transpired was that James parents ended up ignoring the dialysis action and decided to place their faith in God. According to their knowledge of God, healing from God was much fulfilling than allowing their son to experience dialysis in general. However, the case study doesn't create a clear picture of whether the physician faced difficulties in realizing the religious autonomy. All that is brought into our knowledge is that the parents left with James to conduct the faith-based healing and later after two days returned when James situation was deteriorating. Faces of struggles is expressed in the story, with the father struggling with his faith for not pursuing an early treatment for his son and later tried to relate the whole scenario from a Christian school of thought that God was mad and through the sickness it was a form of punishment that was released to him or his son (Peterson,2010).

On the other hand, the second autonomy religious tension that is expressed in the study was a life and death situation. James was in great need of a kidney transplant and the only option that was remaining was James death or a kidney transplant from Samuel who was James brother. In this case, the father lived with a great dilemma on whether Samuel was to lose one Kidney or to stay with James hoping that a true miracle from God will take place.

Focusing on ethical and moral issues that the character is dealing with, such principle that come into play include autonomy, Beneficence, and Nonmaleficence. The doctor has a significant role to play in that they have the right to keeping the patient safe and not exposing them to harm; it also explains all the benefits and the risk to parents who is the decision maker; and respect to the Autonomy of the parents in coming up with some healthcare choices for James.

Part of the Beneficence principle

According to the Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative, Autonomy is identified as a principle that demands respects when it comes to the general decision-making capacities of an autonomous individual (Grand Canyon University, 2015). Through the action taken by James parents, it is important to note that the parents have decided to put James's life based on his god's hand and to go with faith which has a greater focus on healing. On the other hand, the physician has the greater responsibility of respecting the patient views and offering treatment to the patient in general. However, the decision that James father had made has led to the overall deterioration of James health.

With the deterioration in health status, the Nonmaleficence principle is coming into place creating a significant demand that individuals are not supposed to be subjecting others to harm (Meilaender, 2013). Parents are not supposed to take everything into their hands but are supposed to understand and have a better information on the health condition of that James is experiencing.

James 's parents and the physician need to work together in coming up with the best decision that will ensure improvement in James's new health condition. what should take place is working together to realize the perfect balance of medical and spiritual needs for James and the whole family. Additionally, it is significant for a family to realize that from a Christian aspect, medicine is used in serving God's purposes and call with everything being managed in the lights of the authority that was provided by Jesus. According to Bibler, Shinall & Stahl, (2018), Called to care: the general view of a Christian view of nursing consist of God works and quote for hope. Dwelling on the true story of Christ, trusting when we are seeing His real work and learning how he is working out his purposes: all are essential in making nurses live in hope. We have the responsibility of sharing this hope with colleagues and parents (Eph1: 20-23). We are not supposed to merely depend on hope in hope, rather we are supposed to be knowledgeable about God of hope who is capable of feeling us with joy and peace in believing, so that we may live in hope through the power of the holy spirit (Romans 15:13)

From the general nature, the status of James in great need of a kidney transplant, in this case, involve Samuel who is the twin brother. The ethical and the moral dilemma that is rising now is that should Samuel who is very healthy survive without a kidney that is responsible for saving the brother's life. From the Christian aspect, during creation, a human being was created with a perfect kidney. This is how he wanted every individual to be and should the creation face some interference through a kidney transplant. On the other hand, James and Mike are not supposed to live with the notion that God is after punishing them but they should understand that some of the health choices that we are making always have a great impact on the overall operation of an individual's health.

References

Peterson, E. A. (2010). A Review of "Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing" 2nd ed. Judith Ann Shelly and Arlene B. Miller (Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2006). 304 pp. Paper, $25.00, ISBN 083082765X. M.

Bibler, T. M., Shinall Jr, M. C., & Stahl, D. (2018). Responding to those who hope for a miracle: Practices for clinical bioethicists. The American Journal of Bioethics, 18(5), 40-51.

Gall, T. L., Charbonneau, C., Clarke, N. H., Grant, K., Joseph, A., & Shouldice, L. (2005). Understanding the nature and role of spirituality in relation to coping and health: A conceptual framework. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 46(2), 88.

Grand Canyon University. (2015). Biomedical Ethics in The Christian Narrative. Meilaender, G. (2013). Bioethics: A Primer for Christians. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans.

Meilaender, G. (2013). Bioethics: A Primer for Christians. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.