Ethical Decision Making
Health care providers are subject to situations where they attend to patients who come from diverse faith backgrounds. Christianity supports the preservation of life at all instances up to the point where a patient dies naturally (Glaw, 2014). Based on this, health care providers are bound to deliver to the best of their knowledge ensuring that the correct medical interventions are offered at all times. However, there are some religious beliefs that are opposed to certain medical procedures recommended for certain disease conditions.
I appreciate the medical powers allowed for medical officers to offer the recommended treatment in an event the patient is not competent, or unable to give their consent. Such powers are found in the New Zealand’s Crime Act of 1961 where physicians have a mandate of delivering necessaries of life during their roles. Doctors aim at curing the patient and preventing adversities of the deteriorated health status of a person. Medical officers are thus free from prosecutions that might arise when particular worldviews are opposed to medical interventions proposed for a patient. However, I do not agree with the advocacy for physician-assisted suicide as in the case of Netherlands (Ruler, 2011). This procedure is contrary to Christianity where God is the only Supreme Being who should take away life.
Death is a painful occurrence in the community despite the various religious and social beliefs that exist. Nursing procedures are in line with Christianity where human life is important and worth preservation as a sign of respect to God (Meilaender, 2013). Health care providers are thus knowledgeable, and should have the final say when deciding on the right medical interventions to be used on a patient regardless of difficulties in an ethical decision-making process.
References:
Glaw, A. M. (2014). The Holy Spirit and Christian ethics in the theology of Klaus
Bockmuehl.
Meilaender, G. (2013). Bioethics: a primer for Christians, third edition. Retrieved from
https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org
Found in http://utsatinrabo.press/083082765X.pdf
Ruler, A. (2011). Examining end-of-life care issues. Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 17(4),
17-19.
