Case Study: Healing and Autonomy Mike and Joanne are the parents of James and Samuel, identical twins born 8 years ago. James is currently suffering from acute glomerulonephritis, kidney failure. James was originally brought into the hospital for complications associated with a strep throat infection. The spread of the A streptococcus infection led to the subsequent kidney failure. James’s condition was acute enough to warrant immediate treatment. Usually cases of acute glomerulonephritis caused by strep infection tend to improve on their own or with an antibiotic. However, James also had elevated blood pressure and enough fluid buildup that required temporary dialysis to relieve. The attending physician suggested immediate dialysis. After some time of discussion with  Joanne, Mike informs the physician that they are going to forego the dialysis and place their faith in God. Mike and Joanne had been moved by a sermon their pastor had given a week ago, and also had witnessed a close friend regain mobility when she was prayed over at a healing service after a serious stroke. They thought it more prudent to take James immediately to a faith healing service instead of putting James through multiple rounds of dialysis. Yet, Mike and Joanne agreed to return to the hospital after the faith healing services later in the week,and in hopes that James would be healed by then. Two days later the family returned and was forced to place James on dialysis, as his condition had deteriorated. Mike felt perplexed and tormented by his decision to not treat James earlier.  Had he not enough faith? Was God punishing him or James? To make matters worse, James's kidneys had deteriorated such that his dialysis was now not a temporary matter and was in need of a kidney transplant. Crushed and desperate, Mike and Joanne immediately offered to donate one of their own kidneys to James, but they were not compatible donors. Over the next few weeks, amidst daily rounds of dialysis, some of their close friends and church members also offered to donate a kidney to James. However, none of them were tissue matches.  James’s nephrologist called to schedule a private appointment with Mike and Joanne. James was stable, given the regular dialysis, but would require a kidney transplant within the year. Given the desperate situation, the nephrologist informed Mike and Joanne of a donor that was an ideal tissue match, but as of yet had not been considered—James’s brother Samuel. Mike vacillates and struggles to decide whether he should have his other son Samuel lose a kidney or perhaps wait for God to do a miracle this time around. Perhaps this is where the real testing of his faith will come in? Mike reasons, “This time around it is a matter of life and death.  What could require greater faith than that?”  Case Study on Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative This assignment will incorporate a common practical tool in helping clinicians begin to ethical.

1. Case Study:
Healing and Autonomy
Mike and Joanne are the parents of James and Samuel, identical
twins born 8 years ago. James is currently suffering from acute
glomerulonephritis, kidney failure. James was originally
brought into the hospital for complications associated with a
strep throat infection. The spread of the A streptococcus
infection led to the subsequent kidney failure. James’s condition
was acute enough to warrant immediate treatment. Usually cases
of acute glomerulonephritis caused by strep infection tend to
improve on their own or with an antibiotic. However, James
also had elevated blood pressure and enough fluid buildup that
required temporary dialysis to relieve. The attending physician
suggested immediate dialysis. After some time of discussion
with
Joanne, Mike informs the physician that they are going to
forego the dialysis and place their faith in God. Mike and
Joanne had been moved by a sermon their pastor had given a
week ago, and also had witnessed a close friend regain
mobility when she was prayed over at a healing service after a
serious stroke. They thought it more prudent to take James
immediately to a faith healing service instead of putting James
through multiple rounds of dialysis. Yet, Mike
and Joanne agreed to return to the hospital after the faith
healing services later in the week,and in hopes that James would
be healed by then.
Two days later the family returned and was forced to place
James on dialysis, as his condition had deteriorated. Mike felt
perplexed and tormented by his decision to not treat James

2. earlier.
Had he not enough faith? Was God punishing him or James? To
make matters
worse, James's kidneys had deteriorated such that his dialysis
was now not a
temporary matter and was in need of a kidney transplant.
Crushed and desperate, Mike and Joanne immediately offered to
donate one of their own kidneys to James, but they were not
compatible donors.
Over the next few weeks, amidst daily rounds of dialysis, some
of their close friends and church members also offered to donate
a kidney to James.
However, none of them were tissue matches.
James’s nephrologist called to schedule a private appointment
with Mike
and Joanne.
James was stable, given the regular dialysis, but would require a
kidney transplant within the year. Given the desperate situation,
the nephrologist informed Mike and Joanne of a donor that was
an ideal tissue match, but as of yet had not been considered—
James’s brother Samuel. Mike vacillates and
struggles to decide whether he should have his other son Samuel
lose a
kidney or perhaps wait for God to do a miracle this time around.
Perhaps this is where the real testing of his faith will come in?
Mike reasons, “This time around it is a matter of life and death.

3. What could require greater faith than that?”
Case Study on Biomedical Ethics in the Christian Narrative
This assignment will incorporate a common practical tool in
helping clinicians begin to ethically analyze a case. Organizing
the data in this way will help you apply the four principles of
principlism.
Based on the "Case Study: Healing and Autonomy" and other
required topic study materials, you will complete the "Applying
the Four Principles: Case Study" document that includes the
following:
Part 1: Chart
This chart will formalize principlism and the four-boxes
approach by organizing the data from the case study according
to the relevant principles of biomedical ethics: autonomy,
beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
Part 2: Evaluation
This part includes questions, to be answered in a total of 500
words, that describe how principalism would be applied
according to the Christian worldview.
Remember to support your responses with the topic study
materials.

4. APA style is not required, but solid academic writing is
expected.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
Refer to the
LopesWrite Technical Support articles
for assistance.
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
Quality of Life
Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Autonomy Contextual
Features
Justice and Fairness

5. Part 2: Evaluation
Answer each of the following questions about how principlism
would be applied:
In 200-250 words answer the following: According to the
Christian worldview, which of the four principles is most
pressing in this case? Explain why. (45 points)
In 200-250 words answer the following: According to the
Christian worldview, how might a Christian rank the priority of
the four principles? Explain why. (45 points)
References: