Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion
Introduction
The debate over when life begins and ends is a perpetual source of disagreement among scholars. However, most scholars agree that life begins with fertilization and the subsequent formation of an oocyte, whereas death marks the end of life. Typically, the pregnancy journey from conception to delivery is joyful; however, death is a painful experience that is often anticipated but not welcomed. Loss, whether socially, economically, or emotionally, and the aftermath of a death, is viewed as a catastrophic event. Patients with chronic illnesses, such as cancer, are the most fearful of death; thus, early initiation of counseling sessions prepares them for the reality of death and its consequences. Euthanasia is derived from the Greek words Eu (good) and Thanatosis (death), and it translates to “good death” (Devos, 2021)Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion. The widely accepted definition of euthanasia is the deliberate and painless killing of a person suffering from a chronic incurable or terminal illness at their request. It is usually a contentious issue, fraught with ethical quandaries, and disliked by the majority of the population.
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In the case study, George, an attorney, and legal scholar, is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a motor neuron degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord (Brotman et al., 2021)Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion. Patients, as seen in George, present with progressive and gradual deterioration in motor activities such as speaking, movement, eating, and breathing, while sensory systems such as sight, hearing, olfaction, taste, and touch are not or are involved less frequently. George is devastated by the prospect of losing his mobility and speech, and he can’t bear the thought of being completely reliant on others for basic daily functions. As a possible solution, he begins to inquire about the possibility of voluntary euthanasia. This paper aims to discuss George’s impending death and the Christian perspective on euthanasia.
George’s suffering In Light of the Christian Narrative and the Fallenness of the World.
Human sin, according to Christianity, is linked to the world’s fallenness. According to the creation story, God created a man (Adam) and his companion (Eve) and placed them in the Garden of Eden. They were thus instructed to tend to the garden and other creatures and eat all of the fruits in the garden except those from a tree in the middle of the garden. If they ate the fruits of the tree in the middle of the garden, they would be banished from the garden, and their posterity would live lives of hardship (Crislip, 2019). The devil, disguised as a serpent, enticed Eve to try the fruit, and both of them ate it, an event seen as the beginning of man’s fall, as God cursed Adam, Eve, and the serpent upon the realization that His commands had been broken (Crislip, 2019)Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion. As a punishment, God promised Adam a painful toil to eat, as well as a painful birth for Eve. This was the beginning of man’s suffering.
In George’s case, he may believe that his illness is the result of God’s curses on man. As a result, George may begin to look back on his life to see what atrocities he committed that warranted punishment. As a result, in an attempt to reconcile with God, he may perform religious rites or pray for God to heal him of his illness. In light of Christianity, George would also regard his suffering as an attribute of human life. This reasoning would be based on the fact that Jesus endured suffering to save humankind from sin. He might find hope in the fact that God is always merciful to those who repent of their sins, and he might find solace in praying and asking for forgiveness of his sins.
George’s suffering In Light f the Christian Narrative, and the Hope of Resurrection
Christians live by the teachings of the Bible. All who believe in Christ have hope of resurrection. The impetus for this hope stems from the New Testament’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. According to the story, Jesus suffered crucifixion on the cross before resurrecting on the third day and ascending to heaven (McTavish, 2018). He promised to make a place for those who believed in him after his resurrection and ascension to heaven. Amid his suffering, George will find solace in the fact that there is still life after death, and his family will find solace in the same. Furthermore, the world’s unforgiven sins and unrelieved sufferings will be defeated during Jesus’ second coming (McTavish, 2018). During Jesus’ second coming, His believers will be resurrected to inherit the Kingdom of God in New Jerusalem (McTavish, 2018). This hope is a necessary component of life. Even if we have doubts about the bible’s teachings and are unsure whether some of the prophecies will come true, the fact that they are a source of hope is important. Finding hope when a cure is not possible often liberates patients from despair and rage (Coulehan, 2018)Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion. As a person’s life draws to a close, intrinsic hope provides a more realistic and resilient emotional foundation.
George’s suffering in Light of the Christian Narrative, With an Emphasis About the Value of Life
Life is seen as sacred and a gift from God in the perspective of Christianity. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, or socioeconomic situation, every individual deserves to be treated with respect and equity. Furthermore, biblical teachings emphasize a person’s unique and distinct nature and the fact that they have a distinctive duty and fulfillment that they must complete (Stuart et al., 2019). As a result, despite his life-threatening illness, George still has a role on this planet and deserves to be treated with respect. Therefore, his family should recognize and respect George’s viewpoints and opinions in their interactions with him. Apostle Paul is a quintessential figure in the Bible, as God permitted him to suffer and fulfill his mission on earth before being martyred (Stuart et al., 2019)Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion. Similarly, George must be allowed to complete his mission on Earth before God takes his life. The most painful aspect of George’s life with ALS will be his inability to participate in the things that he formerly enjoyed. Coaching his son’s basketball team and teaching law at the University of Oregon School of Law are two of his pleasurable moments. This is why he needs a multidisciplinary team that treats him with dignity and respect while also assisting him in finding hope in what appears to be a hopeless circumstance.
Evaluation of the Christian World View on Deliberation of the Options of Euthanasia for George
Euthanasia is the deliberate termination of a person’s life, whether voluntary or involuntary. Most euthanasia victims are patients with terminal conditions, such as George, who decide to end their suffering. Christians are instructed to persevere in the face of adversity, just as Jesus did during his crucifixion on the cross (McTavish, 2018). God assured Jesus that He would have the strength to endure the crucifixion. God will also supply strength to His followers who are going through trials or temptations, just as He did to His son, Jesus (McTavish, 2018). As a result, George could withstand the pains, an event that would bring him closer to God and establish a connection with Him. In this instance, he would accept the pain and imminent death as circumstances that would strengthen his relationship with God.
However, even as George contemplates voluntary euthanasia, the sanctity of life must be considered. God created Adam and Eve and breathed life into them; as a result, man must safeguard his priceless gift of life (McTavish, 2018). Regardless of the circumstances, Christians should safeguard their lives and avoid damaging occurrences that would result in death. Even in the face of illness, human life is sacrosanct, and only God, the giver of life, has the power to take it away (McTavish, 2018)Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion. Any attempt by George to end his life by considering euthanasia would be viewed as a lack of faith in God and, by some Christians, would be considered suicide. When contemplating euthanasia, it’s essential to keep both the sanctity of life and alleviate a person’s suffering in mind.
An Explanation of the Personal Choices in the Face of Adversity
George’s terminal illness will eventually result in death. As a result, he requires the finest available alternative to assist him in leading a pain-free life even as his death approaches. He also needs spiritual nutrition to cope with the reality of death and its ramifications. Palliative care is an appropriate alternative to euthanasia, in which George receives interdisciplinary caring interventions that relieve his suffering and improve his quality of life (Wiese & Tuffrey-Wijne, 2020). The testamentary will is one of the difficult decisions he must make. Testamentary freedom permits people to dispose of their assets as they see fit, although it is subject to legal constraints. George is a lawyer and a legal scholar; thus, he is likely to have amassed considerable wealth and property during his lifetime. As a result, he needs advice from his family, care staff, and friends on how to dispose of his belongings to his kins.
Conclusion
Chronic illnesses may cause people to make decisions they otherwise would not have made. George, who suffers from ALS, is faced with the difficult decision of considering voluntary euthanasia. The two most divisive aspects of Christianity’s stance on euthanasia are that it relieves a person’s suffering and that life is holy and only God can take it away. After considering the concerns, George’s only viable alternative appears to be palliative care, which demands the participation of a multidisciplinary team. George’s family will have enough time to come to terms with his impending death and prepare for his final and permanent departure, thanks to palliation. Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion
References
Brotman, R. G., Moreno-Escobar, M. C., Joseph, J., & Pawar, G. (2021). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In StatPearls [Internet. StatPearls Publishing.
Coulehan, J. (2018). Suffering, hope, and healing. In Handbook of Pain and Palliative Care (pp. 739–753). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95369-4_35
Crislip, A. (2019). Emotions in Eden and after Ancient Jewish and Christian perspectives on Genesis 2–4. Journal of the Bible and Its Reception, 6(1), 97–133. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbr-2019-1002
Devos, T. (2021). Euthanasia Searching for the Full Story: Experiences and Insights of Belgian Doctors and Nurses. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/48260/9783030567958.pdf?sequence=1#page=64 Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion
McTavish, F. J. (2018). Jesus the Divine Physician. The Linacre Quarterly, 85(1), 18–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0024363918761707
Stuart, B., Danaher, T., Awdish, R., & Berry, L. (2019). Finding hope and healing when cure is not possible. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Mayo Clinic, 94(4), 677–685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.01.006
Wiese, M. Y., & Tuffrey-Wijne, I. (2020). End-of-life choices. In Choice, Preference, and Disability (pp. 317–335). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35683-5_17
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. Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion
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.
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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. Case Study On Death And Dying Discussion
