HEALING AND AUTONOMY 2

Healing and Autonomy Patient autonomy is a central principle in clinical medicine. The principle requirespatients to make their own medical decisions (Sullivan, 2016). Physicians are required to notonly respect this principle as part of ethical practice but also as a way of improving the quality ofpatient care. However, in the course of their work, physicians […]

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Healing and Autonomy

Patient autonomy is a central principle in clinical medicine. The principle requires
patients to make their own medical decisions (Sullivan, 2016). Physicians are required to not
only respect this principle as part of ethical practice but also as a way of improving the quality of
patient care. However, in the course of their work, physicians often meet cases where application
of the principle of autonomy is not straightforward and ethical dilemmas arise.
In the case of James’ treatment in the case study, the dilemma is whether to allow James’
father, Mike, exercise his autonomy right even when there is a likelihood that his decision may
be irrational. In dealing with the case of Mike, it is important to note that patient autonomy is not
an absolute right (Sullivan, 2016). It presupposes that there are no threats to rationality. These
threats include lack of sound mind, insufficient information about a patient’s medical condition,
and irrational desires and beliefs (Sullivan, 2016). As long as these threats exist, rather than
improving the quality of care of the patient, autonomy may lead to negative outcomes for the
patient’s health.
In the case of Mike, his belief that God may perform a miracle and allow James to heal
without requiring a kidney transplant may be considered irrational. To eliminate this irrational
belief, the physician should provide Mike with strong medical evidence and proper arguments
that show that his child faces the danger of death if the recommended kidney transplant does not
take place. If Mike persists in his irrational beliefs, the physician may have to do what he thinks
is right for the health of James. In doing so he will not be violating the principle of autonomy
because Mike’s irrational beliefs prevent him from properly exercising this right.

HEALING AND AUTONOMY 3
Mike’s case shows how Christianity’s view of sickness, health, and medical intervention
affects how Christians make decisions in healthcare settings. The different denominations of
Christianity have different view of sickness and health. Generally, however, there are two main
views. The first holds that sickness and suffering are a test of faith (Tomkins et al., 2015). Thus,
when a Christian is sick, it is not medical intervention that will make them healthy again but
strengthening of their faith in God. Illness and suffering are, thus, seen as potentially bringing
Christians closer to God.
Another view is that God wants Christians to be free from sickness and suffering and,
therefore, by alleviating it, Christians are doing God’s will (Tomkins et al., 2015). This view is
supported by the healing ministry of Jesus. When on earth Jesus showed compassion for the
lame, the sick, and the blind. He empathised with their suffering and alleviated it through healing
them. Thus, from this view Christians are encouraged to seek ways of alleviating their suffering
and sicknesses just like Jesus did when he was on earth.
Based on this second view Christians are encouraged to alleviate their sicknesses and
suffering through use of all effective means available to them, especially medical interventions.
Christians agree that healing comes from God but it comes after God has used his tools on earth –
medical knowledge which God praises as a gift in the Bible. Seeking medical intervention is,
therefore, not going against God’s purpose but following plan of supporting life of our bodies.
Mike, a Christian, should, therefore, not feel that he is offending God by seeking and
implementing medical interventions recommended by the doctor. Medical knowledge is a gift of
God that He uses to keep Christians healthy so that they can effectively serve the purposes that
God created them for (VanderWeele, 2017). Just like Jesus healed the sick and the blind to

HEALING AND AUTONOMY 4
alleviate their suffering, Mike should let his son be healed to alleviate his suffering. To bring
about this healing, Mike should accept the suggestions that the doctor has given him.
As a Christian Mike should realize that physicians treat but it is God who heals. Thus, he
should not have a problem with putting his trust and faith in God even as he allows the physician
to try available remedies to James’ condition. Additionally, he should exercise beneficence and
nonmalefacence principles which require him to promote the good of James above everything
else and to do nothing that may harm him (Sullivan, 2016).
In determining the appropriate medical intervention for James that the parents may be
comfortable with, it is important to carry out a spiritual needs assessment. Spiritual distress
among patients and their family members may negatively affect the satisfaction and quality of
life of the patient (Timmins & Caldeira, 2017). Thus, it is not enough to just take care of the
psychological and physical needs of the patients; it is also important to take care of their spiritual
needs.
Patients and their families have spiritual needs that relate to finding meaning and sense of
their life (Timmins & Caldeira, 2017). When spiritual needs of patients are considered and taken
care of, it becomes easier for physicians to implement the required medical interventions.
Mike, as a deeply religious person, certainly has significant spiritual needs that need to be
assessed and considered. He believes that the suffering of his child is because of deficiencies in
his faith. It is this association of faith and suffering that has influenced his decisions regarding
the kind of medical interventions that are suitable for James. The physician should let Mike
realize that it is God’s will to have his son healed and not suffer and that he should put his faith in

HEALING AND AUTONOMY 5
God for such healing. Such explanation is likely to help Mike accept kidney transplant for James
from his twin brother Samuel.

HEALING AND AUTONOMY 6

References

Sullivan, M. (2016). The patient as agent of health and health care: Autonomy in patient-
centered care for chronic conditions. Oxford University Press.
Timmins, F., & Caldeira, S. (2017). Assessing the spiritual needs of patients. Nursing Standard
(2014+), 31(29), 47.
Tomkins, A., Duff, J., Fitzgibbon, A., Karam, A., Mills, E. J., Munnings, K., & Yugi, P. (2015).
Controversies in faith and health care. The Lancet, 386(10005), 1776-1785.
VanderWeele, T. J. (2017). Religion and health: a synthesis. Spirituality and religion within the
culture of medicine: From evidence to practice, 357-402.

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