User:Stanley Odhiambo

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Christian Narrative on Ethical Issues Stanley Odhiambo Institution

Introduction The Christian narrative when it comes to healing the sick is that life should hold utmost value and the dignity of a human person should be valued and be treated as such these views should be kept into consideration when administering patient care. In James’ case even though his parents are exercising immense belief and faith in the power of healing and deliverance from God they are violating some of the Christian views on life such as that of the sanctity of life. Mike and Joanne’s reluctance to place their son under the care of a physician and subsequently leading to him missing the dialysis that he urgently needed ends up putting the life of their son on the line. Mike and Joanne’s’ actions carried out in the faith of the healing power of God undermine Christian values and ideologies on life being sacred and of highest value. When presented with an ethical dilemma on Christianity and medicine it is vital to choose a method or channel that promotes life and increases its value, while preventing unnecessary loss of life due to blind faith. Christian Narrative on Ethical Issues Mike’s actions display a lack a moral code to them in which human life should be utmost value. In the book of creation, it is we learn that God created man in his own image and likenesses (Genesis 1: 26) and as such dignity and respect should be bestowed upon every human being and each and every life should be valued as much. James parents fail to carry out their moral obligation as parents and Christians by endangering his life and worsening the situation in the process. It should be noted that the first hospitals in the dark ages were monastic hospitals that were founded by Christians. In the dark ages the sick, weak and destitute were often left to die or isolated from the general population while Christian hospitals took in the sick especially during the plagues following Christ’s values on healing and caring for the sick rather than shunning them. James parents fail to see that most hospitals were founded on the Christian principles of healing and caring for the sick and that physicians and doctors are furthering the work of Christ of healing and caring for the sick. The physician should make a stance on the matter and clearly explain to the parents the dangers involved if they continue to delay their son’s treatment while waiting for a miracle. The physician should explain to the parents fully of the implications of their actions of denying James dialysis and explain to them the chances of him dying if he fails to get a kidney transplant. With proper education of the chances of losing their son if he doesn’t get a kidney transplant the parents might learn that they are breaking Christian values such as those that require them to regard life sacred and of the chances of them not seeing their son alive and healthy in the near future. James case presents a scenario where freedom of religion, professional protection of vulnerable children and parental responsibility clash on one another. It is the physicians’ obligation to try their best to save and treat James in accordance with the Hippocratic laws, while James parents are allowed to practice their freedom of religion and have consent over their underage son. James parents believe that their son might be healed and recover from his sickness without any medical intervention while the doctors feel that James chances of surviving without a kidney transplant are low. In James’s case a thorough analysis is required to determine James condition and if only needs a kidney transplant can help his condition. After the results are conclusive this can be used to try and convince Mike and Joanne to allow the transplant. If James parents still refuse the treatment options offered to save their child’s life then engagement with the Division of Social Services (DSS) might seem like the only viable option to help James as they can assume custody of James citing neglect from Mike and Joanne. With the DSS in charge of James custody, he may be able to get the surgery he needs. There are no specific details about organ donation in the bible but from some of the scriptures, the bible seems to be in agreement with helping others out and making sacrifices for the good of others. For example, John 15:13 says that it is the greatest love to lay down one’s life for friends. This scripture- acts as motivation for Christians to donate their organs to other people who need them as this may be one of the greatest forms of love. There have been concerns on the scriptural reference to one’s body as the temple of the Lord and that removing organs from it may be defiling the temple of the Lord. Such arguments have been countered with arguments that the inference that the body is a temple of God is based on the principle of purity, sexual immorality and fully submitting to the Lord and not in reference to the removal of organs from the body. From my point of view, it is essential that Mike and Joanne allow their son to get the kidney transplant needed because it is the surest way to treating James and increase his chances survival and that the bible promotes transplants as a form of showing love. Mike and Joanne as parents have the obligation to ensure that their child’s safety is paramount and in this case saving James life should be their major concern also as Christians they are obligated to respect human life and putting their son’s life in risk goes against this rule. Christians should pray for healing and deliverance from sickness but also seek treatment from qualified medical practitioners who are simply following with the work of Christ which involves treating and taking care of the sick and weak. Physicians are merely continuing the work of Jesus and as such Christians should not shy away from seeking help from them when they are sick. Mike as a Christian should allow the doctors to conduct the kidney transplant on his son in order to save his life as the Bible demands that Christians should value life. Mike should trust on the work of the physicians and on them continuing the service of Christ and that the Lord will guide their hands during the surgery and make the process successful. In this case James condition after a full analysis is done that clarifies that he needs a transplant to live the only prudent thing for Mike to do is to allow for the doctors to carry out a transplant and pray that God inspires them and leads them during the whole ordeal and that his son makes a successful recovery after the operation. In conclusion, Mike and Joanne’s case are a classical case where ethics and Christian faith clash together. Mike and Joanne have great faith in the natural healing of the Lord even with all the complications James has experienced from his delayed treatment. The Medical practitioners, in this case, are also presented with a problem of upholding their morals and values to ensure that their patients get the best treatment while at the same time respecting the parents’ wishes. In this particular case, I think the best choice was to go ahead with the surgery after all the data pointed out to the fact that James may not make it if he does not get a transplant soon enough.

References Virtual Mentor. 2003;5(8):223-225. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2003.5.8.ccas1-0308. What is a Christian view of organ donation? Should a Christian be an organ donor or recipient? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.compellingtruth.org/Christian-organ-donation.html Beal-Preston, R. (2000). The Christian contribution to medicine. [Pp9-14].