Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis

Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis

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

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?” Benchmark – Patient’s Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis

 

MORE INFO 

Patient’s Spiritual Needs

Introduction

When we have a health problem or illness, we often turn to our belief system to help us make sense of it and give our lives meaning. The term “spiritual needs” refers to the ways in which people satisfy their spiritual needs through religious or other beliefs. If you are an adult patient and your doctor asks what your spiritual needs are during treatment, you may want to share them with him or her so that they can be met as needed.

Many people have a spiritual or religious belief system.

Many people have a spiritual or religious belief system. Religious beliefs are based on faith, and they can be very different from each other. Some people don’t have any sort of spiritual beliefs at all; others may be more interested in religion than anything else, but not necessarily affiliated with any particular denomination or sect.

Belief systems can be very personal and private—some believe in God, others do not (and some don’t care). Some feel that it matters deeply how their beliefs are expressed; others find these things less important than just living their lives without judgment or expectation of reward or punishment after death (although this doesn’t mean they won’t pray).

A belief system helps people make sense of the world and gives their lives meaning.

Religious beliefs are an important part of the lives of many people. Many patients with cancer find comfort in their faith, and religious groups offer support as well.

Religion can provide a person with a sense of meaning and purpose that helps him or her deal with illness and treatment. The positive effects may include:

• Finding hope in heaven after death;

• Feeling connected to others who have gone before;

• Having someone to talk to about difficult issues (e.g., death);

• Having rituals that provide structure (e.g., weekly prayer meetings).

Patients frequently look to their belief system to help them cope with illness and its treatment.

The majority of patients have a belief system, which is an important aspect of their lives. Research has shown that for many people, religion and spirituality provide them with a sense of meaning and comfort that helps them cope with illness and its treatment.

Religion is an important part of many people’s lives, but it’s not the only source of meaning or comfort they can turn to when they’re sick or feeling down. To make sure you understand what your patient needs from you in these moments, try asking questions like: “What do you believe?” Or: “How do your religious beliefs help guide your daily life?”

Health care providers can enhance the quality of care for patients by understanding and responding to their spiritual beliefs.

Patients frequently look to their belief system to help them cope with illness and its treatment. Health care providers can enhance the quality of care for patients by understanding and responding to their spiritual beliefs, which may include:

• Concerns about death or loss of control over life circumstances (e.g., being in a vegetative state)

• A need for support from family members or friends during stressful times (e.g., surgery)

End-of-life issues are often the most challenging for health care providers, patients, and families to address.

When it comes to end-of-life issues, health care providers, patients and families often feel that they have no choice but to “deal with it on their own.” But this can be a recipe for disaster.

Communication is key: A good relationship between patient and provider means that you understand what the patient wants for his/her care at this time in life. It also means that you know how best to support them when they express concerns or need help coping with decisions about their medical treatment options or end-of-life care arrangements (e.g., do I have enough time left on my life support machine?). In addition, if there are other family members involved in these types of conversations—such as siblings or spouses—it’s important that everyone understands what each other’s roles are so any misunderstandings can be minimized before they arise (or resolved quickly).

The challenge is intensified if the patient is not being treated by a physician he or she knows well and trusts.

The challenge is intensified if the patient is not being treated by a physician he or she knows well and trusts. The experience of trusting a doctor to take care of you can be very difficult, especially if you’ve had negative experiences with previous doctors. You may feel that your trust has been violated again and again, as it has been in your life so far.

If this happens to you, it will be even more difficult for you to voice concerns about spiritual needs during treatment because they may seem irrelevant compared with other issues (such as pain). Or perhaps they do relate—but only indirectly: perhaps there are spiritual elements involved that don’t directly affect physical health but still need attention? This can happen when we think about our bodies as separate from ourselves on some level; after all, most people who use medical services have little knowledge about what goes into making them function correctly physically…

Often, patients who were strong advocates for themselves in demanding treatments become passive when it comes to stopping aggressive therapies.

It is not uncommon for patients to become passive when it comes to stopping aggressive therapies. Often, patients who were strong advocates for themselves in demanding treatments become passive when it comes to stopping aggressive therapies.

This may be because they fear death or losing control over their own health care decisions and treatments. They may also have learned that being passive is the best course of action when faced with a medical crisis; after all, if you don’t fight back against your doctor’s orders, then what good will come out of it?

Patients who have been told by doctors that they are not in control of their own health care decisions should understand that this is not true at all! You do have some say over how much pain medicine you take or even whether or not you need more than one type (different types) of medication altogether—and these options exist right now!

Understanding and respecting a patient’s spiritual needs can help them during their time of illness.

Understanding and respecting a patient’s spiritual needs can help them during their time of illness. A person’s spiritual side is often overlooked in the health care setting, but it can be an important part of recovery for many patients. For example, many people turn to religion or spirituality when they’re going through rough times; however, it can also be helpful for people who have never spent time thinking about their beliefs before being diagnosed with an illness—or even during treatment itself!

Patients may feel more comfortable sharing this information with you than other members of your staff because many people associate doctors with science-based practices rather than spirituality (especially if you work in a hospital). Asking questions like “How do you think we should handle this?” will encourage patients to open up about their lives and beliefs while also helping those around them understand what kind of treatment options are available at this specific facility/organization/hospital etc…

Conclusion

It is important to recognize that an individual’s religious or spiritual beliefs are not imposed on him or her. The choice of a patient’s belief system should be respected and honored. Physicians should also respect the customs and rituals of other cultures, as well as medical experts in those fields.