case study on death and dying 27
The practice of health care providers at all levels brings you into contact with people from a variety of faiths. This calls for knowledge and understanding of a diversity of faith expressions; for the purpose of this course, the focus will be on the Christian worldview.
Based on “Case Study: End of Life Decisions,” the Christian worldview, and the worldview questions presented in the required topic study materials you will complete an ethical analysis of George’s situation and his decision from the perspective of the Christian worldview.
Provide a 1,500-2,000-word ethical analysis while answering the following questions:
- How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the fallenness of the world?
- How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the hope of resurrection?
- As George contemplates life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), how would the Christian worldview inform his view about the value of his life as a person?
- What sorts of values and considerations would the Christian worldview focus on in deliberating about whether or not George should opt for euthanasia?
- Based on the values and considerations above, what options would be morally justified in the Christian worldview for George and why?
- Based on your worldview, what decision would you make if you were in George’s situation?
Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Case Study:
End
of Life Decisions
George is a successful
attorney in his mid-fifties.
He
is also
a legal scholar, holding a teaching
post at the local university law school in Oregon. George is also
actively
involved
in
his teenage
son’s basketball league,
coaching regularly for their team. Recently, George has experienced
muscle weakness and unresponsive
muscle coordination. He was forced
to
seek
medical
attention after
he fell and
injured his hip. After an
examination at the local hospital
following his
fall, the attending physician suspected
that George may be showing
early symptoms for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a
degenerative disease affecting the nerve
cells
in the brain
and spinal
cord.
The
week
following the initial examination, further
testing
revealed
a positive
diagnosis of ALS.
ALS is progressive
and
gradually causes motor neuron deterioration and
muscle atrophy to
the
point of complete muscle control
loss.
There
is currently
no cure for ALS, and the median life
expectancy is between 3 and 4 years,
though it is
not uncommon for some to
live 10 or more
years. The progressive muscle atrophy
and deterioration of
motor neurons leads to the
loss of the
ability
to speak, move, eat,
and
breathe. However, sight, touch, hearing, taste,
and smell are not
affected. Patients will be wheelchair bound and eventually need permanent ventilator
support to
assist with
breathing.
George and his family
are
devastated by the diagnosis. George knows
that treatment options
only
attempt to slow down the
degeneration, but the symptoms
will eventually come. He will
eventually be wheelchair
bound
and be unable
to move, eat, speak,
or even
breathe
on his own.
In contemplating
his
future life
with ALS,
George begins to
dread the
prospect of losing his
mobility and even
speech.
He
imagines his life in complete dependence
upon others
for
basic
everyday functions
and perceives
the
possibility
of eventually
degenerating
to
the point at which
he is a prisoner in his
own body. Would he be willing
to undergo such torture, such loss of his
own dignity and power? George
thus
begins
inquiring
about the
possibility of voluntary
euthanasia.
Read Chapters 10-12 in Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing.
Read “The Ethical Landscape of Assisted Suicide: A Balanced Analysis,” by Sullivan and Taylor, from Ethics and Medicine (2018).
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Achievement Levels Description Percentage Unsatisfactory 0.00 % Less Than Satisfactory 65.00 % Satisfactory 75.00 % Good 85.00 % Excellent 100.00 % Content 70.0 Suffering and Fallenness of the World 12.0 Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the fallenness of the world is insufficient or not supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the fallenness of the world is unclear or vaguely supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the fallenness of the world is clear and supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the fallenness of the world is clear and skillfully supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the fallenness of the world is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. Suffering and the Hope of Resurrection 12.0 Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the hope of resurrection is insufficient or not supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the hope of resurrection is unclear or vaguely supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the hope of resurrection is clear and supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the hope of resurrection is clear and skillfully supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the man would interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative and the hope of resurrection is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. Value of Life 12.0 Analysis of how the Christian worldview of the man might inform his view about the value of his life as a person with ALS is insufficient or not supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the Christian worldview of the man might inform his view about the value of his life as a person with ALS is unclear or vaguely supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the Christian worldview of the man might inform his view about the value of his life as a person with ALS is clear and supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the Christian worldview of the man might inform his view about the value of his life as a person with ALS is clear and skillfully supported by topic study materials. Analysis of how the Christian worldview of the man might inform his view about the value of his life as a person with ALS is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. Euthanasia 12.0 Evaluation of which values and considerations the Christian worldview focuses on when deliberating the option of euthanasia for the man is insufficient or not supported by topic study materials. Evaluation of which values and considerations the Christian worldview focuses on when deliberating the option of euthanasia for the man is unclear or vaguely supported by topic study materials. Evaluation of which values and considerations the Christian worldview focuses on when deliberating the option of euthanasia for the man is clear and supported by topic study materials. Evaluation of which values and considerations the Christian worldview focuses on when deliberating the option of euthanasia for the man is clear and skillfully supported by topic study materials. Evaluation of which values and considerations the Christian worldview focuses on when deliberating the option of euthanasia for the man is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. Morally Justified Options 12.0 Evaluation of which options would be justified in the Christian worldview for the man is insufficient or not supported by topic study materials. Evaluation of which options would be justified in the Christian worldview for the man is unclear or vaguely supported by topic study materials. Evaluation of which options would be justified in the Christian worldview for the man is clear and supported by topic study materials. Evaluation of which options would be justified in the Christian worldview for the man is clear and skillfully supported by topic study materials. Evaluation of which options would be justified in the Christian worldview for the man is clear and demonstrates a deep understanding that is skillfully supported by topic study materials. Personal Decision 10.0 Reflection hypothesis of which personal choices would be made if faced with ALS based on personal worldview is insufficient. Reflection hypothesis of which choices would be made if faced with ALS based on personal worldview is lacking a personal connection. Reflection hypothesis of which personal choices would be made if faced with ALS based on personal worldview is clear. Reflection hypothesis of which personal choices would be made if faced with ALS based on personal worldview is clear and thoughtful. Reflection hypothesis of which personal choices would be make if faced with ALS based on personal worldview is clear, relevant, and insightful. Organization, Effectiveness, and Format 30.0 Thesis Development and Purpose 7.0 Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim. Thesis is insufficiently developed or vague. Purpose is not clear. Thesis is apparent and appropriate to purpose. Thesis is clear and forecasts the development of the paper. Thesis is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose. Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear. Argument Logic and Construction 8.0 Statement of purpose is not justified by the conclusion. The conclusion does not support the claim made. Argument is incoherent and uses noncredible sources. Sufficient justification of claims is lacking. Argument lacks consistent unity. There are obvious flaws in the logic. Some sources have questionable credibility. Argument is orderly, but may have a few inconsistencies. The argument presents minimal justification of claims. Argument logically, but not thoroughly, supports the purpose. Sources used are credible. Introduction and conclusion bracket the thesis. Argument shows logical progression. Techniques of argumentation are evident. There is a smooth progression of claims from introduction to conclusion. Most sources are authoritative. Clear and convincing argument presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative. Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use) 5.0 Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or sentence construction is used. Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register) or word choice are present. Sentence structure is correct but not varied. Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct and varied sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are employed. Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. The writer uses a variety of effective sentence structures and figures of speech. Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment) 5.0 Template is not used appropriately, or documentation format is rarely followed correctly. Appropriate template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken. A lack of control with formatting is apparent. Appropriate template is used. Formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present. Appropriate template is fully used. There are virtually no errors in formatting style. All format elements are correct. Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style) 5.0 Sources are not documented. Documentation of sources is inconsistent and/or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors. Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present. Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct. Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error. Total Percentage 100 |
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