Applying Four Principles of Ethical Decision Making in Christian Perspective

Applying the Four Principles: Case Study
Part 1: Chart (60 points)
Based on the “Healing and Autonomy” case study, fill out all the relevant boxes below. Provide the information by means of bullet points or a well-structured paragraph in the box. Gather as much data as possible.
Medical Indications
Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Patient Preferences
Autonomy

* James’s medical indications demanded that he receive immediate intervention that would guarantee the best outcome.
* Mike underestimated the indications and sort for an approach that led to more harm.
* The physician is also responsible for James’s worsened state, allowing Mike to go back with James and seek a different approach that did not guarantee a better outcome.

* James is not in a position to choose how to be treated.
* Therefore, Mike has to make it on his behalf.
* Mike has a preferred approach in handling James’s situation, and the doctor agrees to this proposition.
* The physician observes autonomy when he agrees to Mike’s decision.

Quality of Life
Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Autonomy

Contextual Features
Justice and Fairness

* James was supposed to be subjected to dialysis at the first incidence as it was the best approach that guaranteed the best outcomes according to beneficence.
* The decision to force Mike into accepting James to be admitted was an act of nonmaleficence as it was the only way to prevent further harm to James.
* By forcing Mike to accept the admission, the hospital exercised the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence at the expense of observing the patient’s autonomy.
* Therefore, the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence override the patient’s autonomy if the intervention has more benefits over costs and prevents harm.

* The hospital exercised justice and fairness by allowing Mike and James to make decisions that suit their beliefs.
* However, there was no justice for James because he was exposed to further risks when the hospital allowed the parents to use an approach that did not guarantee 100 percent recovery.
* The decision to admit James also ensured that the child received the fairness in treatment as he deserved.
* The hospital gave James some interventions that he would continue surviving on as they looked for a possible donor, which amounted to fairness.

Part 2: Evaluation
Answer each of the following questions about how the four principles and four boxes approach would be applied:
1 In 200-250 words, answer the following: According to the Christian worldview, how would each of the principles be specified and weighted in this case? Explain why. (45 points)
According to the Christian worldview, the principle of beneficence encompasses acts of mercy and kindness, which obligates people to do good and avoid evil. Nonmaleficence...