Healing and Autonomy and Applying the Four Principles

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

Beneficence (act of doing good):
* Immediate treatment is critical for acute glomerulonephritis. According to the National Kidney Foundation (2017), early treatment can prevent complications and improve outcomes.
* Studies have shown that dialysis can be an effective bridge to transplantation for many patients with kidney failure.
Nonmaleficence (not harm):
* Delaying treatment poses serious risks. The World Health Organization notes that untreated acute kidney diseases can progress to chronic kidney disease.
* There are inherent surgical risks associated with kidney transplantation, both for the recipient and the donor.

Autonomy (proper to make decisions about one's own body and life):
* The American Medical Association (AMA) emphasizes that respecting patient autonomy is paramount, even when it might conflict with the healthcare provider's recommendations.
* The Syiroj et al., (2019) highlighted the complexity of decision-making in pediatric care when parents' religious beliefs conflict with medical advice.

Quality of Life
Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Autonomy

Contextual Features
Justice and Fairness

Beneficence:
* Successful kidney transplants have been shown to offer a higher quality of life compared to long-term dialysis (Scheuermann et al., 2020).
Nonmaleficence:
* Without treatment, the progression of kidney diseases can lead to other health complications and a diminished quality of life.
* A 2019 study in the Transplantation Journal indicates that while living kidney donors usually have outcomes similar to the general population, they carry some post-operative risks (Oniscu et al., 2022).
Autonomy:
* Pediatric ethical guidelines emphasize the importance of considering the child's best interests while respecting familial autonomy.

Justice (fair distribution of scarce resources):
* Organ transplantation requires carefully balancing risks and benefits, especially with living donors. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) policies emphasize ethical considerations in organ transplantation.
Fairness:
* It is crucial to make decisions equitably without undue pressure on potential donors. Organ trafficking and transplant tourism stresses the importance of protecting the rights and well-being of living donors.

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 po...