Patient's Spiritual Needs: Case Analysis

Benchmark - Patient's Spiritual Needs
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In 200-250 words, respond to the following: Should the physician allow Mike to continue making decisions that seem to him to be irrational and harmful to James, or would that mean disrespect of a patient's autonomy? Explain your rationale.
Respect for patients' autonomy allows patients to decide which healthcare interventions to follow or not (Akrami et al., 2018). The healthcare provider should protect the patient from danger and commit to their wellbeing. In this case, the physician will have to respect the wishes of the patient's family regarding their spiritual needs. However, if the physician feels that spirituality may jeopardize the patient's treatment, then he should take the necessary steps to protect the patient from danger. The physician should not over-rely on Mike's decision now that the first time he did that, it put James' life at risk. He should also create a treatment plan and an environment that empowers a decision based on the patient's spiritual needs. However, it is not the physician's role to coerce Mike to change their religious convictions. Still, he may seek help from religious leaders within the hospital to help the patient's family explore their belief systems that may lessen the dysfunction and dissonance.
On the other hand, Mike should understand the health care interventions, support, and use decision aids that promote autonomy. He should ensure that he does not put his son's life in danger for the second time. In as much as he is allowed to believe in his religious system, he should also seek further advice that will ensure James' wellbeing is considered.
In 400-500 words, respond to the following: How ought the Christian think about sickness and health? How should a Christian think about medical intervention? What should Mike as a Christian do? How should he reason about trusting God and treating James in relation to what is truly honoring the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in James's care?
For Christians, they believe that health is a virtue to represent a person in health, suffering, and sickness (Paris et al., 2018). Health reflects the love of God. The Christian view of health does not refute the fact that some people are sick and need care. This view requires the community to identify the sickness for them to be restored to health. However, if health this not fixed, the sick person will remain a member of the community. In other words, this view forms patients who need curing but are not looking for that cure at all.
In the scripture, there's nowhere where God forbids taking medicine, surgery, or blood transfusion (Paris et al., 2018). Medical knowledge is often viewed as God's gift that benefits people. Healing may not be through medicine alone, but God usually supports life through various physical ways, including water, food, and even medicine. Therefore, it is not wrong for Christians to seek medical aid. However, they believe that long-term drug therapy may interfere with their spiritual growth, a...