Question 1
In light of the fact that Mike’s decisions touching on James’ health condition seem to be considered as being irrational and harmful, the physician ought to create a leeway through which to engage with Mike on the decisions that he makes with regard to James’ condition. Hickey & Lyckholm (2004) argue the importance of having to promote patient engagement as one of the ways through which to ensure that the decisions made with regard to treatment remain effective. Although it would be essential to maintain Mike’s faith, what is eminent is the fact that lack of rationality in the decisions made would mean that James’ condition would not change. The physician would have a key responsibility towards ensuring that Mike understands the importance of making rational decisions.
In any given health scenario, the physician has a key responsibility towards promoting and protecting the interests of his or her patients while seeking to ensure that the decisions made reflect on positive outcomes (Case, 2016). In the case of James, what is clear is that both Mike and Joanne ought to understand that the decisions that they make would have a great impact on the quality of care that James receives. That would mean that the physician, although would accord Mike the opportunity of making the decision touching James’ condition, may need to act as a platform through which to offer necessary guidance. The ultimate outcome is that this would ensure that the quality of care offered to James remains effective.
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Question 2
A Christian ought to consider sickness and health on the basis of wellness and treatment as some of the ways that would define their connections towards religion (Sullivan, 2016). Christians have a key responsibility towards their religion but this should not blind them to the fact that they are likely to suffer from a wide array of health conditions. In that view, it is important for Christians to develop an in-depth understanding on the fact that their trust in God may be of value for them, especially in their times of sickness. However, it is equally important for them to take up action in ensuring that they engage in effective treatment approaches that can be seen from modern medical medicine.
On the question of how Christians ought to think about medical interventions, one of the key challenges that a majority of Christians today experience is that they often place much of their hope in religion while ignoring the fact that some of their conditions can be handled through medical interventions. Although the Bible reflects on faith in God as one of the key expectations for a Christian to achieve healing, Christians ought to embrace the fact that indeed they are expected to build on their trust in modern medicine. Modern medicine provides Christians with an avenue for having to establish a realistic approach to effective treatment of diseases and illnesses. That would mean that Christians should also be willing to embrace modern medicine regardless of the fact that they have a faith that would define their connection to God.
In the case of James, Mike has a key responsibility towards praying for his son’s healing, which is part of expressing his faith as a Christian. However, this does not mean that Mike should focus much of his attention towards religion and ignoring the fact that James may need medical interventions. Mike should allow James to go through medical interventions, which would seek to create a leeway for him to get better. That would also mean allowing Samuel to give his brother a kidney in the event that this would remain as the only option to consider. Mike and Joanne would have a key responsibility towards ensuring that they ask their friends to pay with them on the matter of healing for their son James. Mike ought to allow his son, James, to go through modern medicine approaches while at the same time put his trust in God on the fact that He would heal him from the condition.
Question 3
A spiritual needs assessment plays a key role towards ensuring that persons are able to create a balance between their spiritual and physical needs while ensuring that they meet all the necessary expectations from both realms (Corcoran, Brandt, Fleming, & Gu, 2016). By embarking on a spiritual needs assessment, the physician would be in a rather effective position allowing him/her to help Mike understand that James’ condition is not spiritual. Instead, Mike would be able to understand that this is health condition that can be treated through modern medical interventions to achieve best possible outcomes.
The physician would also be in a position to ensuring that Mike is able to get a clear understanding of what is expected of him during the entire period of healing for his son, James. That means that the physician would recommend that Mike should focus more on praying and maintaining hope that his son would be able to achieve the best possible outcomes. That would help create a standard through which to create a balance between both spiritual and physical needs. Additionally, this would also mean that Mike would be able to maintain his principles in honoring what is expected from a Christian perspective.
References
Case, A. I. (2016). Faith healing: Religious freedom vs. child protection. Skeptical Inquirer .
Corcoran, B. C., Brandt, L., Fleming, D. A., & Gu, C. N. (2016). Fidelity to the healing relationship: a medical student's challenge to contemporary bioethics and prescription for medical practice. Journal of medical ethics , 42 (4), 224-228.
Hickey, K., & Lyckholm, L. (2004). Child welfare versus parental autonomy: medical ethics, the law, and faith-based healing. Theoretical medicine and bioethics , 25 (4), 265-276.
Sullivan, M. (2016). The patient as agent of health and health care: Autonomy in patient-centered care for chronic conditions . Oxford University Press.
