Case Study: Healing and Autonomy

Introduction

Balancing both physical and spiritual life is essential for any Christian to have a problem-free life. For a good number of Christians, believing and putting their faith in God can positively impact their health and wellbeing (Shelly & Miller, 2006). However, it can be a challenging for some individuals to make a proper decision regarding their health while still true to their spiritual beliefs. In the present case study, Joanne and Mike are put in a situation where they have to make a tough decision concerning James their son who is suffering from acute glomerulonephritis. James condition requires immediate medical attention but his parents would not agree to this as they want to follow and trust in God to heal their son just like they had seen a close friend getting well through a healing service. This paper will look at the major insistent issues in this case study, analyze if James parents should be allowed to make a decision that is hurting him and finally look at how readings say about such a situation involving Christians and health.

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Pressing Issues

In the "Case study: Healing and Autonomy", there are several issues relating Christian vision and Christian narrative present. Every Christian knows that God can heal as He is the one who created all human being, therefore, all life comes from Him. The Bible is the book with numerous evidence of how God can heal even the most severe conditions such as Leprosy. Therefore some Christians tend to believe in Him like Joanne and Mike did. Additionally, some churches have followers who do not rely on medication for healing such as Jehovah Witness believers. Another pressing issue in this case study is the issue of faith. By having faith in God and believing in a healing service Joanne and Mike choose not to take James to the hospital when they initially learn his condition. However, when James is not healed, Mike assumes that perhaps his faith is not enough and we can see him saying maybe he should trust in God entirely to heal his son. Many Christians too do have such a perception that James has that mainly because they see many successful examples in the bible such the case of Job. Another issue is related to organ transplant. Samuel is the only one who can donate to his twin a kidney but the parents see it as to the right to force him to donate this organ.

James Parents and the Physician

Being firm Christians, Joanne and Mike make the decision to refuse medical treatment for their son and instead they go for a healing service and unfortunately James condition get worse as the healing service fails to function. The physician sees the decision by James's parent to be inappropriate and irrational and he is right since he has been given the mandate to protect the life and health of any patient. Consequently, it is important for the physician to take an action that will ensure James receives treatment. However, he will face various obstacles as the laws gives the parents the power to choose what is best for their children. Nevertheless, in James case the decision made is not in the best interest of the patient and the "ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence" allows the physician to do everything necessarily to save the life of a patient (Johnstone, 2015). Therefore, it is not right for children to be given a "death sentence" by the parents since they may have a different faith from one their parents have.

Christian Narrative Analysis

When discussing issues to do with organ donation, patient autonomy, and treatment refusal, the Christian narrative is key. Since the beginning when man sinned against God, illnesses and suffering consequently followed him. However, since God loves humankind unwavering, he gave them the knowledge to make medicine and treat people. The act of treating was there even in times of Jesus as from the gospel of Luke we learn that he was a physician and as Jesus was using miracles to heal people, Luke was treating others. In regard to Christian narrative, it neither wrong nor sinful to accept medical treatment since the work of doctors is only to treat but God is the one who heals. Therefore, Joanne and Mike opt to have allowed the physicians to treat their son and trust in God to heal him.

Patient autonomy is another important discussion to have in relation to the Christian narrative. Parents are God chosen and it is always good to respect and obey what they say. However, it also their responsibility to ensure that the decision they make is the best for their children and it pleases God. Moreover, throughout the bible, there is no single scripture that warns us against doing an organ donation, rather, this act can be only be interpreted as one filled with love. Choosing to have an organ transplant should not be an indication of lack of faith or trust in God (Meilaender, 2013).

Health and Sickness

Being sick or healthy to a Christian is all God's plan. Christians should be thankful and trust in God in either condition. God loves us and sometimes sickness comes as a test of our faith in Him. For instance, Job went through all kind of suffering but the outcome we see in his case is that he got closer to God. Therefore, when we are sick, we should call upon God and when are healthy we should be thankful to him always (Meilaender, 2013). As a Christian, Mike should have allowed the doctors to treat his son by having faith that as Job and other believers were healed, he would be healed too. Mike should reason that God is going to work through the hand of the doctors who are His servants here on earth.

References

Johnstone, M. J. (2015). Bioethics: a nursing perspective. Elsevier Health Sciences.

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

Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to care: A Christian worldview for nursing (2nd ed.) Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.