The Nurse's Role When a Patient Requests Medical Aid in Dying: A Christian Worldview and Secular Hum

Overview of the ANA White Paper provided in the Learn folder

For each thread, students must support their assertions with at least 1 scholarly citation in APA format. Each reply must incorporate at least 1 scholarly citation in APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include the textbook, the Bible, etc. Biblical integration throughout is required. In addition, your readings and presentations will include the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). You will become more informed about how health care policy should be influenced by biblical precepts, ethical decision making and thoughtful analysis of the facts presented. Review your classmates’ threads, and respond through considering: Do you agree/disagree with your classmates’ interpretation of the Christian Worldview or Secular Humanistic Worldview and their application to the case? Explain. In your personal worldview, what would you do differently? What other recommendations would you consider? Textbook Nickitas, D., Middaugh, D., & Feeg, V. (2020). Policy and Politics for Nurses and Other Health Professionals: Advocacy and Action (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. ISBN: 9781284140392. Student post The American Nurses Association (ANA) position statement “The Nurse’s Role When a Patient Requests Medical Aid in Dying” outlines it’s purpose is to assist the nurse with understanding ethical obligations in the context of this end-of life option (American Nurses Association, 2019). The recommendations for nurses outlined in this statement include: remaining objective in discussion; an ethical duty to being knowledgeable; having the right to object to being involved; never abandoning or refusing to care; protecting confidentiality of the patient and those involved; being involved in policy discussion and need of additional research in this topic (American Nurses Association, 2019). The most recent previous statement in 2013 was titled “Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide and Aid in Dying” (American Nurses Association, 2019). The new 2019 statement compared to the 2013 has significant changes in the terminology that is used to describe this procedure. Healthcare workers need to evaluate their worldview to be best prepared to respond if involved in the care of a patient requesting medical aid in dying. There are striking differences in the views of secular humanism compared to a Christian worldview. Secular humanism does not believe in God or a creator (Worldview, renewanation.org). I believe secular humanism can lead to moral relativism – which aligns morality, truth and knowledge to what is relative to culture or society. A form of man-made morality. In relation to end of life, secular humanism does not believe that a person is held accountable to a higher power and that death is simply the end of existence (Worldview, renewanation.org). This view lacks hope and faith in a greater power or source of solution outside of humanity. The Christian worldview believes not only in God the creator, but that God is at the center of all things and that man is made in God’s image and has a divine purpose (Worldview, renewanation.org). Christians believe that a person lives eternally with God after physical death. Christians believe that life is a sacred gift from God and birth and death are determined by God the creator. Ecclesiastes 8:8 declares, “No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death” (New King James Bible, 2004). What type of worldview is evident in the ANA white paper?: The ANA white paper does outline that nurses should provide interventions and care for the dying patient but may not act with the sole intent to end life (American Nurses Association, 2019). While this may align more with a Christian worldview, there are statements within the white paper that also seem to align with a secular humanism point of view. A call to remain objective in conversation with patients related to medical assistance with dying may create moral turmoil for a Christian nurse. Nurses with ethical conflict must then find a way to respectfully and safely communicate and possibly transfer care to another nurse. The topic of assisted death in general is highly controversial due to differences in opinion on death and dying. Objections include the thought that this as a form of suicide which is in direct conflict with many religious beliefs. Those who support it feel that it is an act of patient autonomy and maintains the dignity of the dying person. Proponents are uncomfortable with the word “suicide” and have been seeking a more palatable nomenclature (Hamric et.al, 2018). After reading about this topic, I believe that the wording has changed over recent years in an attempt to change cultural perspective. This aligns with the statement that “he who controls the language controls the masses." Instead of “physician-assisted suicide” or “euthanasia,” we see terms such as “medical aid in dying” and “death with dignity.” To me this is very similar to changing the terminology of “abortion support” to “pro-choice.” It is more palatable and incorporates a sense of patient choice. Geppert and Pies outline in a 2018 article that autonomy literally means living by one’s own laws (or choices). While many proponents of medical aid in dying outline patient autonomy as a foundational concept, these laws are complex and the patient must avail themselves to the procedures, diagnostics and the prescriptive authority of their physician in order to get approval (Geppert and Pies, 2018). It then is no longer an autonomous decision. While I believe in autonomy of choice in health care decisions, I do not believe in medical aid in dying and would not choose this for myself. My Christian beliefs regarding the sovereignty of God the creator and the sanctity of life guide this belief. In the case study presented, I would emphasize the benefit of palliative care and work to develop a plan to control pain and incorporate interventions to ensure care of the physical, psychological and social needs of the patient. I would assess the patients willingness to receive prayer, and I would offer to pray with the patient using healing scriptures and instilling hope in a God who hears our needs and delivers us out of our troubles (New King James Bible, 2004, Psalms 34: 17). American Nurses Association. (2019). ANA Position Statement: The Nurse’s Role When a Patient Requests Medical Aid in Dying. Silver Spring, MD: ANA. Geppert, C. M. ., & Pies, R. W. (2018). Two Misleading Myths Regarding “Medical Aid in Dying.” The Psychiatric Times, 35(8). Hamric, A. B., Schwarz, J. K., Cohen, L., & Mahon, M. (2018). Assisted Suicide/Aid in Dying: What Is the Nurse’s Role? AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 118(5), 50–59. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.naj.0000532831.78142.40 New King James Bible. (2004). Thomas Nelson (Original work published 1982). Renewanation.org. (n.d.). What is a Worldview? Retrieved from https://www.renewanation.org/what-is-a-wo Original post You are caring for a patient who has been diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer, with metastasis to the lungs and spinal cord. Over the past three months, you have bonded with the patient and her family. You have spent time with her husband, three children, and her extended family. One day while you are giving ordered pain medications, she tells you she is in severe pain, and the current order for Morphine 2 mg every 4 hours is not managing the pain well. In fact, her pain score is 10 on a 0-10 scale. You call the provider to advocate for additional pain medication measures. While waiting for a return call, the patient tells you she is ready to die. She asks for your assistance in committing suicide. Offer an overview of the ANA White Paper provided in the Learn folder. Answer the following questions: Where does the Christian Worldview clash with that of the Secular Humanistic Worldview (or other religious worldviews)? Does the ANA White Paper support a Christian Worldview, the Secular Humanistic Worldview, or another religious worldview? The term "euthanasia" has been replaced with the phrase "aid in dying" in this most recent white paper. It has been said that "he who controls the language controls the masses". How does this apply to the choice of terms in this white paper? Apply the Christian Worldview and the Secular Humanistic Worldview (or other religious worldviews) to the case study. How do you respond? How does your response show your worldview? What recommendations do you have for the patient?