Case Analysis

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Running head: Case analysis: 1 It’s in god’s hands”

Case Analysis 1: “It’s In God’s Hands”

Twaneshia Wilson

Baptist College of Health Sciences

Abstract

Mr. Adams is a patient who is being seen by Dr. Howard, the attending neurologist, who has a high belief in god. Mr. Adams has a theist worldview (the existence of a creator who is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent) while Dr. Howard is an agnostic. He was brought into the hospital due to weakness and having trouble speaking, which was later diagnosed as transient ischemic attack (TIA). Due to Mr. Adams medical history, he had other health issues that needed to be addressed to in order to help with the TIA. Mr. Adams was not in favor of the treatment plan that Dr. Howard decided and felt that God is in control and there was no use for medication. Dr. Howard spoke against his own belief to persuade the patient to take action for his treatment, which can later lead into a distrustful relationship between the provider and patient.

Case Analysis 1:

Mr. Adams was on the job when he started to have “sudden onset of right-sided weakness and difficulty finding words” ( Meador, p. 750). But when he made it into the emergency room his signs and symptoms were gone. Looking at Mr. Adams medical history he has other health issues as in diabetes, high cholesterol, and he was a cigarette smoker for the past 30 years. After completing Mr. Adams medical history and running tests he was diagnosed with TIA. Mr. Adams was admitted and was seen my Dr. Howard who was a neurologist. Dr. Howard suggested that Mr. Adams would need to do a complete 360 and change some habits in his life to avoid further problems with causing a stroke. He would need to lower his blood pressure and cholesterol, quit smoking, and exercise. All of these are risk factors for a stroke. Mainly high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Mr. Adams was not for any of the suggestions that Dr. Howard provided for him instead he responding by saying “Yeah, well, I handled this stroke OK, and you know, when the Lord wants to take me, He’ll take me whatever I do,” ( Meador p. 751) He felt that taking a bunch of medication was very much unnecessary. Dr. Howard not really happy about Mr. Adams response he speaks about god to him stating that Look, God is in control, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to take some responsibility for our lives. He gave us free will and allowed us to choose what to do. And now you’ve got a choice whether to save your life, and you can’t just palm that off on God” (Meador p. 751). After hearing that from Dr. Howard whose and agnostic, Mr. Adams agrees to the medication and referrals.

Discussion

Dr. Howard is aware of Mr. Adams worldview from what has been discussed/discovered. Mr. Adams has a theist worldview “the belief in one God as the creator and ruler of the universe, without rejection of revelation” (dictionary.com 2019). Dr. Howard is agonist who is a person that does not believe in existence or the nonexistence of god. Given the definition of both it is clear that the two have different perspectives of god. Dr. Howard spoke godly words to persuade Mr. Adams to his treatment, going against his beliefs to have the end result that he wants. This was misleading, and goes against the ethics of the medical field. How can the patient trust Dr. Howard going forward if he finds out that it is not his belief? Misleading the patient to believe that he has a theist worldview, it could damage the patient and physician relationship. Mr. Adams would likely stop his medication and not trust what any doctor tells him entirely. How can HP’s deal with religious conflicts in the medical field? Dr. Howard understood how Mr. Adams felt about god and obviously wants him to take the, medication to get better, but there could have been another alternative. Dr. Howard could have referred his patient to a chaplain to better assist him and stay true to his own beliefs. Hospitals employ chaplains to help patients and pray with them. They offer spiritual care and come from any faith group.

Conclusion

After reviewing the case Dr. Howard could have better assisted his patient by understanding his belief and being okay with his decision, although he wants the best for patient. If a patient has a religion where they feel that it’s in god’s hands and no medication is no use you should refer them to a chaplain, someone who will better assist the patient. Sometimes religion can have a negative effect on a patient’s health and their ability to get better. Any question that the patient may have or be in need the chaplain could help solve. This will establish a true trustful relationship between the doctor and patient.

References

Agnostic. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agnostic

Theist. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2020, from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/theist

When Patients Say, “It’s in God’s Hands.”. (2009). AMA Journal of Ethics, 11(10), 750-754. doi:10.1001/virtualmentor.2009.11.10.ccas1-0910