Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative

Ethics and Morality in Society

Ethics can be defined as a set of moral concepts that are widely accepted in society. There is a significant difference between how Christians practice ethics and how scientists interpret morality. The case study depicts a circumstance in which there is a conflict between the scientific and Christian ways of living. The case study depicts a situation in which a couple with twin kids refused to allow doctors to provide necessary medical care to one of their sons due to their faith in divine intervention. The parents believed that the child could be healed through prayers in the healing services just like another believer had been healed. Unfortunately, the belief in divine healing did not work, and the condition of the son moved from bad to worse. From this issue, there are some ethical issues, Christian principles as well as values that can be derived and used as a lesson to the others.

Identification of Ethical Issues and Christian Principles and Values

There are some ethical issues, Christian principles as well as values that can be observed from the case study provided. The major ethical issues deduced from this case study are based on autonomy, beneficence, and justice. In health care, autonomy functions to honor the right of all patients to make their own choices (Lenk & Biller-Andorno, 2006). The major ethical issue here is whether the practitioners should allow the parents to make the wrong decision or to advise them to do otherwise. Beneficence is the principle that allows the patients to advance with moves that they perceive to be best for them. In this case study, the major ethical issue is whether the practitioners should allow the parents to proceed with the wrong choice taken or counsel them to do otherwise. And finally, justice implies the practitioners should give equal treatment to all patients regardless of their situation (Lenk & Biller-Andorno, 2006).

The Major Christian Principles

The major Christian principles in this case study are obedience to Christianity, exercising faith in times of temptations as well as practicing the same things that the Christians preach. Obedience to Christianity refers to the need to put God first in all circumstances. As such, Mike and Joanne are expected to take God as their first and immediate choice in all situations that they find themselves in. Exercising faith in times of temptation implies that Mike and Joanne are expected to rely on the divine healing more than the help they can ever find from the medical practitioners. Finally, the parents are expected to show the elements of faith and belief in divine healing during as they are taught in the church (Spiller, 2008).

Values from the Case Study

The values derived from the case study include spirituality, wisdom, rationality, and logics. Mike and Joanne exercised spirituality in opting to take the choice of divine healing at the expense of dialysis as taught by the Christian teachings. There is a need for wisdom to make a choice between what is right and what is necessary for such kind of situation especially when the human life is on balance. The case study has largely depicted a lack of rationality and logics in decision making especially on the side of Mike and Joanne. The above-discussed issues are some of the key ethical issues as well as Christian principles and values that are present in the case study presented (Spiller, 2008).

Decisions that are Irrational and Harmful to James

The decisions that have been made by the parents in the case study are largely irrational and prove to be harmful to Mike eventually. The biggest irrational decision made by James’ parents in the case study is that of considering taking James to a faith healing service at the expense of putting him through several rounds of dialysis. Just like the Christian teachings hold, “God helps those who help themselves,” the reliance on doctors for appropriate dialysis is one of the measures or efforts of helping James. It would have been rational to take James to dialysis while at the same time presenting his case for prayers since God is the supreme healer. The decision that was made by the parents on behalf of James has proved to be harmful since the failure of the faith healing service only provided room for further deterioration of the boy’s health. The choice of only using a few shots of dialysis to treat James had turned into a permanent situation in which only liver transplant could correct. Initially, the option of taking James for the dialysis would have been a much simpler option both financially and health-wise. However, deterioration of his condition after the attempt to heal him through prayers made the case more complicated as the brother was the only option left for kidney donation or otherwise, the boy would die. Transplant of kidneys is characterized by uncertainties, and there is no guarantee that James would walk out of it alive (Mellon, 2003).

Analysis of Ethical Issues and Christian Principles and Values

The presented ethical issues, Christian principles as well as values can be analyzed in accordance to four principles. There is a chance that the decisions made by the parents of James and Samuel as well as that made by the medical practitioners were morally right. From the side of the practitioners, it is clear that the medical team did not act ethically by the generalization principle. The case study shows that the medical practitioners did not make an attempt of counseling or advising the family of Mike and Joanne on the right course to take about the situation at hand. Had they told the parents of what to expect in case the faith healing service failed. The generalization principle holds that the decision taken should be in line with what any other person would have made in the same situation. Presumably, any other practitioner would have advised the couple.

The issues, in this case, have not considered the principle of utilitarianism. This is because the decision made by Mike and Joanne was not beneficial to all the parties affected. The option of faith healing service turned out to be disadvantageous to Mike and eventually dragged Samuel into the same situation. The ethical issues, Christian principles, and values that have been identified in this case study have failed the test of virtue ethics. The actions taken in this case study are not consistent with the virtues which are defined as the essential qualities of the existence of humans. The actions have led to the deterioration of the life of James and destruction of his kidney. Regardless of the immoral choices made in the case study, the doctors acted ethically by observing the principle of autonomy. This is because they did not interfere with the choice made by Mike and Joanne in opting to take James for faith healing service rather than taking the boy for sessions of dialysis (Mellon, 2003).

Christian Perspective on Sickness and Health

The Christian perspective of life and health is that life is God-given. As such, humans should turn to God in times of health and life needs. Christians believe that sickness is a satanic way of exercising temptation on humans. As such, the sick should turn to God through prayers for healing and good health. This is exactly what the Mike and Joanne did after discovering their son’s condition. Sickness is believed to be treatable through faith in God and practice of the religious ways of life (Chad Hatfield, 2006).

Conclusion

Conclusively, the issue of ethics, Christian principles and values are matters of moral existence that are expected in every society. The case study presents a situation of Christian morality ethical life and social relations. The decisions made in the case study depict a number of ethical misconducts since most of them especially from the side of the parents have failed the test of ethical principles. On the other hand, the medical practitioners acted ethically by observing the principle of autonomy. It would however been better if they advised the couple on how to deal with the situation at hand. Through proper advice, the life of James would not have deteriorated as presented in the case study.

References

Chad Hatfield, A. (2006). Sin, Sickness, and Salvation. Christian Bioethics, 12(2), 199-211. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13803600600805583

Lenk, C., & Biller-Andorno, N. (2006). Nanomedicine–emerging or re-emerging ethical issues? A discussion of four ethical themes. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 10(2), 173- 184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11019-006-9014-6

Mellon, B. (2003). Faith-to-Faith at the Bedside: Theological and Ethical Issues in Ecumenical Clinical Chaplaincy. Christian Bioethics, 9(1), 57-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1076/chbi.9.1.57.17378

Spiller, P. (2008). The Principles and Practices of a Christian Law Teacher. Christian Higher Education, 7(2), 85-97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15363750500326623