Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis

#1 PHI-413V READ Topic 5 Overview to complete the assignment for this topic

PHI-413V Topic 5 Overview

Intervention and Ethical Decision-Making

Different models of ethical decision-making suggest different steps and priorities, but the important thing to note is that all models are attempting to organize all of the relevant information in a case so that nothing is left out of consideration. Still, the way in which all of the relevant details in a case are considered will always take place within the context of a worldview. As such, the most important determinant of a bioethical decision is not a methodology but the worldview context in which the methodology is functioning.

Consider, then, how the Christian biblical narrative determines the values that are deemed relevant or important in a case and how different worldviews would impact the decision-making in different cases. In addition, the clinical encounter with patients will require one to at least be familiar with what a patient would need in terms of spiritual care. It is not always expected that health care providers be experts in regards to spiritual care.

However, it is important that they at least be facilitators capable of recognizing a patient’s worldview, as well as the persons and resources that would meet a patient’s spiritual needs. Examine carefully the methods and goals of a spiritual needs assessment in helping to determine a patient’s spiritual needs.

As has been clearly seen in previous topic overviews, the Christian worldview revolves around Jesus Christ and one’s relationship with God through him. The spiritual needs of Christians will be met by the persons and resources that enable one to see oneself as a child of God, and which bring hope, peace, and joy inthe midst of suffering and uncertainty.

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#2 Review “Case Study: Healing and Autonomy” to complete the assignment for this topic.

PHI-413V-RS-T3T5CaseStudyHealingAndAutonomy.docx

Case Study: Healing and Autonomy

Mike and Joanne are the parents of James and Samuel, identical twins born 8 years ago. James is currently suffering from acute glomerulonephritis, kidney failure. James was originally brought into the hospital for complications associated with a strep throat infection. The spread of the A streptococcus infection led to the subsequent kidney failure. James’s condition was acute enough to warrant immediate treatment. Usually cases of acute glomerulonephritis caused by strep infection tend to improve on their own or with an antibiotic. However, James also had elevated blood pressure and enough fluid buildup that required temporary dialysis to relieve.

The attending physician suggested immediate dialysis. After some time of discussion with Joanne, Mike informs the physician that they are going to forego the dialysis and place their faith in God. Mike and Joanne had been moved by a sermon their pastor had given a week ago, and also had witnessed a close friend regain mobility when she was prayed over at a healing service after a serious stroke. They thought it more prudent to take James immediately to a faith healing service instead of putting James through multiple rounds of dialysis. Yet, Mike and Joanne agreed to return to the hospital after the faith healing services later in the week, and in hopes that James would be healed by then.

Two days later the family returned and was forced to place James on dialysis, as his condition had deteriorated. Mike felt perplexed and tormented by his decision to not treat James earlier. Had he not enough faith? Was God punishing him or James? To make matters worse, James’s kidneys had deteriorated such that his dialysis was now not a temporary matter and was in need of a kidney transplant. Crushed and desperate, Mike and Joanne immediately offered to donate one of their own kidneys to James, but they were not compatible donors. Over the next few weeks, amidst daily rounds of dialysis, some of their close friends and church members also offered to donate a kidney to James. However, none of them were tissue matches.

James’s nephrologist called to schedule a private appointment with Mike and Joanne. James was stable, given the regular dialysis, but would require a kidney transplant within the year. Given the desperate situation, the nephrologist informed Mike and Joanne of a donor that was an ideal tissue match, but as of yet had not been considered—James’s brother Samuel.

Mike vacillates and struggles to decide whether he should have his other son Samuel lose a kidney or perhaps wait for God to do a miracle this time around. Perhaps this is where the real testing of his faith will come in? Mike reasons, “This time around it is a matter of life and death. What could require greater faith than that?”

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#3 Doing a Culturally Sensitive Spiritual Assessment: Recognizing Spiritual Themes and Using the HOPE Questions

Read “Doing a Culturally Sensitive Spiritual Assessment: Recognizing Spiritual Themes and Using the HOPE Questions,” by Anandarajah, from AMA Journal of Ethics (2005).

#4 End of Life and Sanctity of Life

Read “End of Life and Sanctity of Life,” by Reichman, from American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, formerly Virtual Mentor(2005).

#5 Making the Case for Ethical Decision-Making Models

Read “Making the Case for Ethical Decision-Making Models,” by Cooper, from Nurse Prescribing (2012).

#6 Medical Record – Spiritual Assessment

Read the “Medical Record – Spiritual Assessment” located on The Joint Commission website (2018).