The practice of health care providers at all levels brings you into contact with people from a variety of faiths. This calls for knowledge and understanding of a diversity of faith expressions; for the purpose of this course, the focus will be on the Christian worldview.
Based on “Case Study: End of Life Decisions,” the Christian worldview, and the worldview questions presented in the required topic study materials you will complete an ethical analysis of George’s situation and his decision from the perspective of the Christian worldview.
Provide a 1,500-2,000-word ethical analysis while answering the following questions:
Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
End of Life Decisions Case Study
Introduction
Death is a challenging part of our lives, and the loss of a loved one is a painful endeavor, yet it is part of our lives. In bioethics, euthanasia is a very controversial factor because the natural world and the Christian world view it from two different perspectives (Frunza, 2013). The paper focuses on a case study about George. He is diagnosed with ALS, a disease that causes the patient to lose his ability to eat, move, breathe, and speak. The patient who has ALS uses a wheelchair until he dies.
How George would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the fallenness of the world
In the world of Christianity, fallenness and suffering go together. It all began after God created Adam and Eve, and he put them in the Garden of Eden. In this Garden, they nurtured and took care of God’s creation as they freely ate and never labored (Tentler, 2015). They faced no suffering at the beginning, but it all changed after they ate the forbidden fruit. As a result, they were sent out of the Garden, and it was the beginning of the world’s fallenness. Because of their sins and disobedience, God separated Himself from humans. The Christian world believes that humans started suffering after their fallenness. God punished Adam and Eve, and He pronounced different curses upon them. For example, He told them that they would have to work hard to get food, and Eve was told that she would feel pain through childbearing. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that our suffering as humans is a curse from God, and because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, our lives changed.
George can link his suffering and illness to him being a sinner. It is so because God pronounced sinning as the main cause of human suffering. Adam and Eve were thrown out of Eden’s Garden because they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. As human beings, we sin from time to time, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and often, we disobey God and hence falling short of His will. Therefore, George might use our sinful human nature to justify his suffering as punishment from God. As humans, we often dislike being subjected to God’s curse because we rejected God in the Garden of Eden. We have corrupted what God has given us, and hence, we have served the judgment of God and the suffering that accompanies the judgment. Therefore, George can have faith and console himself that every person on the planet has sinned and disobeyed God, and hence it is expected of them to suffer.
How George would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the hope of resurrection
In the Christian world, people believe that God took six days and created everything we see today. Christians also believe that Jesus came to earth to save people from their sinful ways and see an image of God. Therefore, from a Christian’s perspective, they will conclude that what is happening to George’s life is God’s will. Some people believe that the suffering George is going through is a test meant to bring him closer to God and make us aware of how he, the son of God, suffered and died for us. The Christianity teaching about death and that Jesus died on the cross changes the experience and view of death. For instance, death is a terrible experience, but Jesus conquered and resurrected on the third day. Therefore, in the Christian narrative, death is an enemy that we can defeat just like Christ did, and we will arise in the second coming of Christ.
Christians perceiving suffering as God’s will help them remain steadfast in the Christian values they believe in, and it also strengthens their faith in Christ. For instance, if a Christian believes that he is suffering because of his sinful ways, he can use that opportunity to reflect on his actions and repent his sins. As much as some people may see their suffering as God’s punishment, it still shows that God has a love for humanity. He encourages His people to live in His ways and according to His will and purpose. It is also essential to note that, after death, Christians believe and hope that the dead will resurrect as Christ did. George can use these explanations to not only evaluate his life but also to repent his sins. He can also use them to have faith that the forgiving God forgave his sins, and there will be an end to his suffering after death. After his repentance and asking for forgiveness, George may be hopeful of resurrecting during Christ’s second coming.
As George contemplates life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), how would the Christian worldview inform his view about the value of his life as a person?
From the Christian worldview, no matter what one is going through, God gives life, and it is Him who can take it away. Even though George is going through amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, he should see his life as precious and a God-given gift. Therefore, he should remember that he should take his life at no cost, but all he can do is let the Living God do it. From the Christian world view, it is expected of George to endure the pain he will go through and all the experiences that come with the disease. Christians believe that even if one is going through such a painful transformation like George is, nothing should ever make someone decide to take away their lives. The pain he is going through is a punishment from God for his wrong deeds, and there is no need for him to kill himself to escape his punishment. Christians also believe that people should hold on and keep their faith alive, even in their worst suffering moments.
George, despite his suffering, is still an important person with a role and purpose to play. God has His reasons for George going through what he is going through. Instead of trying to take his life, George should take this opportunity to reflect on his life. He should also use it to think of why he is going through this and what God is trying to teach him. George should also use his condition to Glorify God and thank Him for the good days he had and ask for his healing. Therefore, instead of thinking of euthanasia, he should endure the pain and suffering in respecting life’s virtue. He should also consider the Christian teachings on the value of life as God-given precious gift. Every person is created and made in God’s likeness and hence the value of life associated with it. Therefore, there is an obligation to value and respect life as we are just like God.
What sorts of values and considerations would the Christian worldview focus on in deliberating about whether or not George should opt for euthanasia?
George is suffering from a deadly disease that has a lot of consequences. Even if he lives for the next ten years, there are no possibilities of becoming normal. He will live in a wheelchair and slowly by slowly, he will lose his sight movement, to mention a few. However, from the world of Christianity, George is not allowed to choose euthanasia as his means of death. Euthanasia is not morally acceptable because, according to Christians, our lives as humans have God’s image as we were created in His likeness and image (Sharp, 2017). Therefore, no one should terminate it if not God Himself. Christians preach about how we are meant to live, and in times of pain and suffering, one can take that time to reflect on his life and repent. In suffering, people should also accept the will of God. Christ suffered in humans’ hands and did not opt to kill himself, which is a lesson Christians believe that people should follow. According to Christians, we should take Jesus’ example because it is the will of God. For example, before He died on the cross, Jesus went through suffering, and at a particular point, He asked God whether it was His wish. Therefore, the suffering and pain that George is going through is the will of God, and instead of choosing euthanasia, he should accept his case and ask for grace from God.
It is vital to note that God uses pain and suffering in the Christian world to bring His people close to Him. It is through suffering that people repent and ask God to forgive them for their sins. George should, therefore, take this opportunity to learn and get closer to God. A person’s expectations about what happens after death are a big determinant of how one welcomes death. The way Christians explain and view everything more so death and suffering as God’s will and how Christ resurrected, this factor can convince one that God is in charge of what happens. From this consideration, George should see his sickness and life changes as God working something about his life, and it is nothing but His will (Warren, 2012). Moreover, Christians believe that God has a purpose for every person’s life despite the suffering we go through. Lastly, people should always remember that God gives us life, and it is only Him who has the power to take it.
Given the above, what options would be morally justified in the Christian worldview for George and why?
In the Christian world view, the morally justified solution for George’s case would be to live until God takes his life. God gave him his life, and he should live until He, the giver of life, takes it away. Therefore in the Christian world, euthanasia, whether active or voluntary, indirect or assisted, is not an option as life is just not an option, and interfering with God’s plan is not acceptable (Paterson, 2017). Instead of George choosing euthanasia, he should receive palliative care. The society and his family should come to terms with the fact that George will suffer and die as he entrusts his life to Jesus. The commandment guides the Catholic Church, do not kill. This commandment guides the church and the people as killing is not accepted morally. Palliative care will be helpful to George as it is the care and treatment provided to dying people. Palliative care treatment is morally acceptable because it offers the necessary methods to reduce his pain, and it will allow him to die through the normal process (Knaul et al., 2018). The main goal of this care is to improve his life quality for the patient and his family. The Christian world believes that it is expected of us to keep the dignity and value of people. Therefore, giving palliative care will present a chance for Christians to show the love of God for the dying and ill people.
Based on your worldview, what decision would you make if you were in George’s situation?
If I were in George’s situation, I would opt for voluntary euthanasia despite being a Christian. It is a situation where I am suffering from a disease that promises different endless suffering and disabilities. As much as the Christian world does not support euthanasia, I would hate to see my family and friends stop their lives for me. I would hate to depend on them for everything I do for three years, yet I would still; succumb to the disease. Three to four years is a long time to ask that much of people, and I believe it would be fair for them to mourn me sooner than see life die slowly out of me. As a nurse, it is already hard to watch and see people suffer in pain to death, and I would not want my family more so my children to watch me succumb slowly in pain, yet there is an option. Even though euthanasia is not morally acceptable, the Bible is clear that our God is forgiving, and there is no sin that is impossible for him to forgive. Yes, I would choose euthanasia over this kind of suffering.
Conclusion
In the Christian world, life is a God-given gift that He is the only one who can take it. Christians also believe that suffering is a curse from God, and it brings His people closer to Him. Therefore, if a person is suffering like George is, they are obligated to accept their fate and the suffering that accompanies amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Even though Christians do not consider euthanasia as morally right action, a patient can decide on what treatments he prefers done to him.
References
Frunză, S. (2013). Secular bioethics and euthanasia in a democratic public space. European Journal of Science and Theology, 9(4), 1-9.
Grand Canyon University (GCU), (2020). Case Study: End of Life Decisions. PHI-413V
Knaul, F. M., Farmer, P. E., Krakauer, E. L., De Lima, L., Bhadelia, A., Kwete, X. J., … & Connor, S. R. (2018). Alleviating the access abyss in palliative care and pain relief—an imperative of universal health coverage: the Lancet Commission report. The Lancet, 391(10128), 1391-1454.
Paterson, C. (2017). Assisted suicide and euthanasia: a natural law ethics approach. Routledge.
Sharp, S. (2017). Traditional God images and attitudes towards voluntary euthanasia. Review of Religious Research, 59(4), 529-545.
Tentler, T. N. (2015). Sin and Confession on the Eve of the Reformation. New York. Princeton University Press.
Warren, R. (2012). The purpose driven life: What on earth am I here for?. Zondervan.
As a renowned provider of the best writing services, we have selected unique features which we offer to our customers as their guarantees that will make your user experience stress-free.
Unlike other companies, our money-back guarantee ensures the safety of our customers' money. For whatever reason, the customer may request a refund; our support team assesses the ground on which the refund is requested and processes it instantly. However, our customers are lucky as they have the least chances to experience this as we are always prepared to serve you with the best.
Plagiarism is the worst academic offense that is highly punishable by all educational institutions. It's for this reason that Peachy Tutors does not condone any plagiarism. We use advanced plagiarism detection software that ensures there are no chances of similarity on your papers.
Sometimes your professor may be a little bit stubborn and needs some changes made on your paper, or you might need some customization done. All at your service, we will work on your revision till you are satisfied with the quality of work. All for Free!
We take our client's confidentiality as our highest priority; thus, we never share our client's information with third parties. Our company uses the standard encryption technology to store data and only uses trusted payment gateways.
Anytime you order your paper with us, be assured of the paper quality. Our tutors are highly skilled in researching and writing quality content that is relevant to the paper instructions and presented professionally. This makes us the best in the industry as our tutors can handle any type of paper despite its complexity.
Recent Comments