In addition to the topic study materials, use the chart you completed and questions you answered in the Topic 3 about “Case Study: Healing and Autonomy” as the basis for your responses in this assignment.
Answer the following questions about a patient’s spiritual needs in light of the Christian worldview.
- In 200-250 words, respond to the following: Should the physician allow Mike to continue making decisions that seem to him to be irrational and harmful to James, or would that mean a disrespect of a patient’s autonomy? Explain your rationale.
- In 400-500 words, respond to the following: How ought the Christian think about sickness and health? How should a Christian think about medical intervention? What should Mike as a Christian do? How should he reason about trusting God and treating James in relation to what is truly honoring the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in James’s care?
- In 200-250 words, respond to the following: How would a spiritual needs assessment help the physician assist Mike determine appropriate interventions for James and for his family or others involved in his care?
Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this assignment, we will be discussing a case study about a patient’s spiritual needs in light of the Christian worldview. The case study, “Healing and Autonomy,” will serve as the basis for our responses to the following questions:
1. Should the physician allow Mike to continue making decisions that seem to him to be irrational and harmful to James, or would that mean a disrespect of a patient’s autonomy? Explain your rationale.
2. How ought the Christian think about sickness and health? How should a Christian think about medical intervention? What should Mike as a Christian do? How should he reason about trusting God and treating James in relation to what is truly honoring the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in James’s care?
3. How would a spiritual needs assessment help the physician assist Mike determine appropriate interventions for James and for his family or others involved in his care?
Answer:
1. The physician should allow Mike to continue making decisions that seem to be irrational and harmful to James to a certain extent, as doing so would honor the principle of autonomy. However, the physician should assess the extent to which Mike’s decisions are irrational and harmful to James. If the physician believes that Mike’s decisions will result in severe harm to James, then the physician has a duty to intervene and provide the necessary medical care to James. The physician can also try to educate Mike about the benefits and risks of different medical interventions so that he can make an informed decision.
2. The Christian should view sickness and health as a part of God’s plan and recognize that sometimes, illness is a result of sin in the world. Medical intervention is a gift from God and should be used to help heal the sick and suffering. Mike, as a Christian, should trust God and believe that God will guide him in making decisions for James. Mike should also recognize that it is important to honor the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in James’s care, which means doing good and avoiding harm to James.
3. A spiritual needs assessment would help the physician understand Mike’s beliefs, values, and practices related to his religion. Through this assessment, the physician could identify the spiritual resources available to Mike and determine appropriate interventions for James that are consistent with Mike’s beliefs and values. This assessment would also help the physician understand the impact of James’s illness on Mike and his family, and identify any spiritual needs that need to be addressed.
