Healthcare is a field that is heavily integrated with the diversity concept. There are several types of people in the healthcare field who come from various racial, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds but work together cohesively. Religious beliefs have a significant impact on the concept of healing; it is critical to understand them in order to choose the best ways to treat an individual. Certain factors, such as prayers and faith in God, have an impact on the relationship between religion and clinical techniques. Various religions have different ways of interpreting and treating patients. Despite the fact that there is the difference between religions, there is some similarities present between the different religions. The similarities help in denoting the emphasis on human health which is considered the most valuable treasures which should be protected and sustained. Even though there are some basic similarities between religions; it is important to note that religious traditions are complex. Therefore, the respective health care practitioners should have adequate knowledge regarding the diversity of religious ideologies that are related to healthcare administration.
In a healthcare setting, diversity is a serious factor that necessitates health care providers to endorse the philosophy of difference. They are required to put into consideration encouraging their patients and the patient’s friends and relatives to interpret their religious understanding concerning health care administration. Through the explanation and enlightened, healthcare providers can hence know the personal needs, and what decisions to make regarding treatment (Ehman, 2014). Such a step is very crucial in ensuring and maintaining an effective interaction between the healthcare providers, medical personnel with both the patient and family members. Moreover, it also helps build and maintain the trust of the patients with the healthcare system (Pinzon-Perez, 2014). The present paper aims at analyzing the case study of George’s situation from a moral point of view and a perspective of two religions, Buddhism and Christianity. Examining the different aspects of the two selected religions would help ascertain how religion influences health care administration.
Christianity
In Christianity, there has been an emphasis on the divine intervention for healing. From Christianity point of view, God created a human being in His image. Hence, God is believed to have a significant role in determining the ways through which a Christian can get rid of their sufferings (Fretheim, 1984). In Christianity, every aspect of human life requires God’s intervention. The religious view of Christianity asserts that not only did God create a human being in his image but did he create them with physical bodies. God is believed to have personally incarnated into a physical body hence healing of physical bodies. The well-being of human kind is highly dependent on the spiritual uprightness. It is also important to note that in the Christian doctrine blessings and prayers by a catholic priest are considered as very significant whenever there is perceived the risk of death.
There are various components of healing ranging from mental, physical and spiritual elements that make up the Christianity doctrine on healing. Christian’s beliefs on healing, and for healing to take place it involves the physical, mental, and emotional elements of an individual that constitute spiritual healing. In summary, healing from Christianity perspective is considered as the restoration of the image of God. Healing is considered as a community affair, without the involvement of the community, it is considered as incomplete (Clements, & Koenig, 2014). The gift of healing is among the many gifts that God gave the Christian church. According to, Levin, (2002), God appointed his church to be a center of healing through ministering physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Therefore, in Christianity, the most emphasized component of healing is spiritual healing.
Christian patients are often willing to meet with priests or pastors when they are ill, for it is considered as a way of strengthening their belief of quick recovery. Therefore, healthcare providers should make sure that they observe and respect such decision made by their patients as a way of showing respect to their patient’s spiritual component of the healing process. They should also support their patients by contacting their priests and pastors if requested to do so. For Catholic patients, healthcare practitioners should understand that anointing with oil for the sick is important and they should respect the will of their patients.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion that is centered on philosophical principles and doctrines involving metaphysical components. The primary objective of this religion is focused on the need to create a way for human being to bring an end to their sufferings and join other believers for Nirvana. The religion is founded on the belief that every pain that a person experiences including sicknesses are as a result of earthly desires and worldly attachments. Buddhism advocates for a condition through which Nirvana could be achieved through enlightenment. Anatman is a state in Buddhism religion where one has no spirit. Unlike Christians who believe that everything is associated with God, Buddhist believe that circumstances interconnect everything.
There several Nobel truths in Buddhism that are used to end suffering. The first is the existence with dukkha, the life distress, and malady. The second is believed to as a result of tanha and is portrayed as the objectives of humanity (Chan, & Hegney, 2012). Life is perceived a continuous and progressing state, hence when human is faced with distress, their wishes tend not to be satisfied. The third is the acceptance of a person having the capacity to control the desires known as tanha. Once a person reaches a point where they acknowledge that there is no “I,” they are said to be in anatman also called enlivening. Similar to Christianity, Buddhism believers believe that they should be treated with pride and respect.
The four principles
Four principals should be taken into consideration when addressing George’s situation from a religious perspective. They include equity, usefulness, independence, and nonmaleficence. Both Christianity and Buddhism advocate for patients to be handled and treated with pride and consideration. Religious doctrines would consent the major worries of George and profound convictions. Both religions are strongly against deliberate and willful termination.
Equity
Both Christianity and Buddhism fit into this category since they advocate for George’s specialists not to perform deliberate extermination. George has the opportunity to opt for Euthanasia rehearse. However both religions do not advocate for the act.
Helpfulness
Both religions fit under this rule since its help guide health practitioners handle their patients with pride and regard. It helps the healthcare providers to encourage their patients. In Christianity, it would reach shalom through salvation while in Buddhism, it takes place through intervention aimed at achieving edification.
Non-maleficence
Christianity and Buddhism both do not advocate for endangering others. For the case of George, both religions would be high on palliative look after George, however, however, for the specialist appears to be endangering or being perceived as a killer irrespective of the fact that the practitioner would attempt to facilitate the misery of George’s clipping sickness.
George situation Analysis
According to Christianity, George’s condition would be as a result of unbalance shalom. Shalom, according to Christianity, is a profound completeness in union with God. Human suffering could be a form of discipline due to sinning according to Christianity teachings. Human beings can only be forgiven their sins by God, which is considered as a sign of his kindness and mercy, and permit recovery only if a man accepts salvation through Jesus Christ. Different followers have different through which they can react or handle the suffering one is experiencing.
In Buddhism, suffering in human being could manifest in various forms. However the man is said to be controlled and dependent on changes. For instance, those individuals that value things that they cannot control or change tend to suffer from the feeling of unfulfilled desires. Such suffering can be solved by the person dealing with their inner desires. Buddhism likewise educates the four noble truths that are centered on the concept that life is enduring (Dukkha). A person's desires are said to cause suffering in Buddhism (Samudaya). If a person stops fancy or yearns for flexible connection ends desires prompting well-being (Nirodha). The end of suffering is associated with the after Noble Eightfold way that is the right understanding, right discourse and proper focus (Magga).
George acknowledges his pain as it advances. Hence he moves from high profession roused, and physically who is exceptionally involved in the family exercise to a detainee of his own body. From the Christian religious perspective, George’s life could be viewed as a life of a man in the fall that is brought about by his shalom. Therefore, it is recommendable that he seeks for salvation through Jesus Christ as is required by the Christian doctrines. He can regain recovery and adjusted shalom if he finds salvation. From a Buddhist perspective on George’s case, is that there is neither spirit nor I and that the cycle of life starts involves birth, age, sickness and then death. According to Buddhism, existing in the world is considered as a piece of misery, and everything is connected.
The fact that George starts inquiring about voluntary euthanasia is the Christian view of life that is against terminating of human life. Christian’s belief that irrespective of the condition or level of sickness and suffering one is going through, it is only God who has the right and power to end their life. The same applies in offering therapeutic service. The act of taking one’s life in case of sickness or suffering is also against Buddhism teachings, it is considered as awful karma.
It is clear that from both religions, Christianity and Buddhism, it would be wrong to end George’s life. From the teachings of both religions, George is need of urgent human care. Life is precious and should be protected at all costs. Similar to Christian shalom, Buddhist insists on marinating and protecting the body as well as the mind for purposes of adjusting through meditation practices. It is important for people to reach this state for them to make peace with the creator and adapt to the conditions.
In summary, religious beliefs are complex and vary across the many religions in the world. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately predict how a particular religion would interpret or react to a certain health condition or treatment. Moreover, it is not easy to determine of a patient, or family members understand the sickness or suffering or how they would apply their religious principles in a healthcare situation. It is thus important for healthcare professionals to familiarize themselves with the religious beliefs of their patients before administering any form of treatment. Religious beliefs influence and determine the success or failure of the applied or proposed treatment plan. Hence the need for nurses and other healthcare practitioners to respect such diversity, and address the different needs of their patients with regards to their religion. In some situations, a health service provider may opt to withdraw a particular treatment approach if it is against the religious doctrines of the patient. Spiritual healing is considered as a self-development approach through which one familiarizes themselves as a profound being. It also helps one to live from a more grounded and more engaged level of understanding. Spiritual well-being is accessible to anyone that seeks or observe a certain religious doctrine or faith. Doctors and other healthcare professionals observe and listen to all parts of their patient’s lives that could have any influence in choice making regarding their treatment.
References
Chan, T. W., & Hegney, D. (2012). Buddhism and medical futility. Journal of bioethical inquiry, 9(4), 433-438.
Clements, W. M., & Koenig, H. G. (2014). Aging and God: Spiritual pathways to mental health in midlife and later years. Routledge.
Ehman, J. (2014). Religious diversity: practical points for health care providers. Penn Medicine: Pastoral Care & Education. http://www. uphs. upenn. edu/pastoral/resed/diversity_ points. html. Accessed October, 8.
Fretheim, T. E. (1984). The suffering of God: an Old Testament perspective (Vol. 14). Fortress Press.
Levin, J. (2002). God, faith, and health: Exploring the spirituality-healing connection. Wiley.
Pinzon-Perez, H. (2014). Complementary and alternative medicine in culturally competent health education. Cultural competence in health education and health promotion, 87-118.
