Benchmark - Patient's Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis

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Applying the Four Principles: Case Study

Part A

Medical Indications

Beneficence and Non-maleficence

Patient Preferences

Autonomy

It implies working for the best interest of the receiver of the action. James parents wanted the best for him. They made decisions to best interest of James.

· James had elevated blood pressure which required temporary dialysis.

· The physician suggested immediate dialysis to save James.

· James would require kidney transplant within a year or he will die.

James’ parents made the decision for James because he was a minor. He could however, be involved in the decision-making process.

· Joanne and Mike inform the physician they are skipping the dialysis and place their faith in God. They decide to take James to faith and healing service.

· They return a week later when faith failed to heal James.

· Mike and Joanne turned to a nephrologist.

· Mike wonders whether to go take one kidney from Samuel or wait for a miracle.

Quality of Life

Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Autonomy

Contextual Features

Justice and Fairness

James condition was worse but after undergoing dialysis he improved.

· Mike and Joanne decide to forego the dialysis and instead look for a solution elsewhere.

· Mike and Joanne decide to donate one of their won kidneys to James.

The legal, social and familial setting enabled them make decisions regarding the health situation of James.

· Physician let Mike and James decided what was to be done with James.

· Mike is in a dilemma whether to he should have his other son Samuel lose a kidney for James.

Part B

Question 1

The Beneficence principle is the most pressing according to the Christianity view of the global issues. The principle matters because parents will tend to act with the best intentions about their children. (Beever, & Brightman, 2016). Whenever Mike and Joanne decided on their son's condition, it was the best interest according to them. They do not trust the dialysis, and they have high hopes their son will be healed through prayers and by believing in God. They prefer prayers to treatment because their beliefs show them that their son will be healed through prayers. We cannot blame Mike and Joanne, for taking this direction, even though their son's condition continues to deteriorate. The parents acted in good faith. When they noticed their son's condition is not improving, they decided to take him back to the hospital, which is a good thing. Beneficence is essential to Christians because they believe that there is an order to creation which brings peace. Since Mike and Joanne were the patients' advocate, they made a decision by sticking to their spiritual beliefs in the hope that the decision will pay off. Even though it didn't pay off, nobody can fault their choice. In the current world, Christians are faced with hard decisions, and the choices they make in these decisions are expected to reflect their Christianity beliefs.

Question 2

Christians rank the four principles such that Beneficence comes first. The second principle is non-maleficence; then justice and fairness come in third. The last principle based on Christianity beliefs autonomy. (Gillon, 2018). Beneficence is ranked the first because, according to Christianity views, parents are supposed to love their children and act in their best interests. In our case study, it is Beneficence that proved how Mike and Joanne care for their sons what they thought the best practice was concerning their health situations. Only they cared about their sons, and they had to influence what happens to them. The principle of non-maleficence, which comes second shows that parents need to ensure that no matter what happens, they should not put their children to harm. It relates to everyone, not just parent. We should not harm those whom we care for. The third principle is justice and fairness. Christians are expected to observe justice and fairness in all their endeavours for a just world. Lastly, Christians need to give others the freedom of making decisions that are best suited for them. This relates to the principle of autonomy. The privilege of making decisions help to promote equity in the world. Mike and Joanne had the freedom of making decisions for themselves.

References

Gillon, R. (2018). Principlism, virtuism, and the spirit of oneness. In Healthcare Ethics, Law and Professionalism (pp. 45-59). Routledge.

Beever, J., & Brightman, A. O. (2016). Reflexive principlism as an effective approach for developing ethical reasoning in engineering. Science and engineering ethics, 22(1), 275-291.