Topic 2: God, Humanity, And Human Dignity
Objectives:
1. Explain the Christian view of the nature of human persons.
2. Compare the Christian view of intrinsic human value and dignity in contrast to secular views of personhood.
3. Evaluate how the concept of intrinsic human dignity is applied in the process of ethical decision-making.
Assignment 1
What is the Christian concept of the imago Dei? How might it be important to health care, and why is it relevant?
Assignment 2
According to your worldview, what value does a human person have? How does your position affect your stance on controversial bioethical issues, such as abortion, designer babies, and stem cell research?
Assignment 3
Case Study on Moral Status
Based on “Case Study: Fetal Abnormality” and the required topic Resources, write a 750-1,000-word reflection that answers the following questions:
1. What is the Christian view of the nature of human persons, and which theory of moral status is it compatible with? How is this related to the intrinsic human value and dignity?
2. Which theory or theories are being used by Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson to determine the moral status of the fetus? What from the case study specifically leads you to believe that they hold the theory you selected?
3. How does the theory determine or influence each of their recommendations for action?
4. What theory do you agree with? Why? How would that theory determine or influence the recommendation for action?
Remember to support your responses with the topic Resources.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
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. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Attachments
PHI-413V-RS-T2CaseStudyFetalAbnormality.docxCase Study: Fetal Abnormality
Jessica is a 30-year-old immigrant from Mexico City. She and her husband Marco have been in the United States for the last three years and have finally earned enough money to move out of their Aunt Maria’s home and into an apartment of their own. They are both hard workers. Jessica works 50 hours a week at a local restaurant and Marco has been contracting side jobs in construction. Six months before their move to an apartment, Jessica finds out she is pregnant.
Four months later, Jessica and Marco arrive at the county hospital, a large, public, nonteaching hospital. A preliminary ultrasound indicates a possible abnormality with the fetus. Further scans are conducted, and it is determined that the fetus has a rare condition in which it has not developed any arms and will not likely develop them. There is also a 25% chance that the fetus may have Down syndrome.
Dr. Wilson, the primary attending physician, is seeing Jessica for the first time, since she and Marco did not receive earlier prenatal care over concerns about finances. Marco insists that Dr. Wilson refrain from telling Jessica the scan results, assuring him that he will tell his wife himself when she is emotionally ready for the news. While Marco and Dr. Wilson are talking in another room, Aunt Maria walks into the room with a distressed look on her face. She can tell that something is wrong and inquires of Dr. Wilson. After hearing of the diagnosis, she walks out of the room wailing loudly and praying aloud.
Marco and Dr. Wilson continue their discussion, and Dr. Wilson insists that he has an obligation to Jessica as his patient and that she has a right to know the diagnosis of the fetus. He furthermore is intent on discussing all relevant factors and options regarding the next step, including abortion. Marco insists on taking some time to think of how to break the news to Jessica, but Dr. Wilson, frustrated with the direction of the conversation, informs the husband that such a choice is not his to make. Dr. Wilson proceeds back across the hall, where he walks in on Aunt Maria awkwardly praying with Jessica and phoning the priest. At that point, Dr. Wilson gently but briefly informs Jessica of the diagnosis and lays out the option for abortion as a responsible medical alternative, given the quality of life such a child would have. Jessica looks at him and struggles to hold back her tears.
Jessica is torn between her hopes of a better socioeconomic position and increased independence, along with her conviction that all life is sacred. Marco will support Jessica in whatever decision she makes but is finding it difficult not to view the pregnancy and the prospects of a disabled child as a burden and a barrier to their economic security and plans. Dr. Wilson lays out all of the options but clearly makes his view known that abortion is “scientifically” and medically a wise choice in this situation. Aunt Maria pleads with Jessica to follow through with the prCase Study on Moral Status – Rubric
Rubric Criteria
Collapse All Rubric CriteriaCollapse All
Christian View of the Nature of Human Persons and Compatible Theory of Moral Status
60 points
Criteria Description
Christian View of the Nature of Human Persons and Compatible Theory of Moral Status
5. Excellent
60 points
Explanation of the Christian view of the nature of human persons and the theory of moral status that it is compatible with is clear, thorough, and explained with a deep understanding of the relationship to intrinsic human value and dignity. Explanation is supported by topic study materials.
Determination of Moral Status
40 points
Criteria Description
Determination of Moral Status
5. Excellent
40 points
The theory or theories that are used by each person to determine the moral status of the fetus is explained clearly and draws insightful relevant conclusions. Rationale for choices made is clearly supported by topic study materials and case study examples.
Recommendation for Action
40 points
Criteria Description
Recommendation for Action
5. Excellent
40 points
Explanation of how the theory determines or influences each of their recommendations for action is clear, insightful, and demonstrates a deep understanding of the theory and its impact on recommendation for action. Explanation is supported by topic study materials.
Personal Response to Case Study
40 points
Criteria Description
Personal Response to Case Study
5. Excellent
40 points
Evaluation of which theory is preferable within personal practice along with how that theory would influence personal recommendations for action is clear, relevant, and insightful.
Organization, Effectiveness, and Format
10 points
Criteria Description
Organization, Effectiveness, and Format
5. Excellent
10 points
Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
Documentation of Sources
10 points
Criteria Description
Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style)
5. Excellent
10 points
Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.
Total200 pointsGod, Humanity, and Human DignityBy Nathan H. White
“Great are you, O Lord, and exceedingly worthy of praise; your power is immense, and your wisdom beyond reckoning. And so we humans, who are a due part of your creation, long to praise you—we who carry our mortality about with us, carry the evidence of our sin and with it the proof that you thwart the proud. Yet these humans, due part of your creation as they are, still do long to praise you. You stir us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in you.” (St. Augustine, trans. 2001)
Essential Questions
· What does it mean to be a human being?
· Why does a human being have value?
· What is meant by the concept of personhood?
· What are the practical implications for the value of human beings within a health care context?
Introduction
Humankind’s restless heart is an invitation to be involved with the human endeavor and particularly with those who are sick and dying. In caring for other human beings while loving God, human hearts may feel flooded with the fulfilling praises of God. Those called as nurses can praise God through their hands, bodies, minds, hearts, and spirit, and will make decisions that may decide life and death. They may even help others find salvation. St. Augustine writes, “My heart is listening, Lord; open the ears of my heart and say to my soul, I am your salvation” (St. Augustine, trans 2001). This chapter will address why nurses carry this care to others based upon the Christian belief that every human being is made in the image of God.
One of the main hallmarks of the medical profession is its interpersonal nature. Medicine is, if nothing else, a very human profession. A nurse gives medicine, offers comfort to a dying patient, educates patients about their diseases, and walks with patients through their medical treatment. Interpersonal caring defines the experience of the profession. Throughout history, health care professionals have acknowledged and celebrated the compassionate nature of nursing as its motivation and foundation.
Although the vocation of nursing centers around caring for other human beings, medical professionals often do not stop to ask why they are doing what they are doing or what it is about another human being that warrants the kind of involved, and often difficult, care that nurses provide day in and day out. In seeking answers to these questions, the inherent value of human beings becomes apparent. Nurses frequently empathize with others and want to do the best for them, and this is to be applauded. Yet primarily, the Christian belief that human beings are created in the
image of God
, or
imago Dei, undergirds the value and dignity of every human being simply because of his or her existence. This belief suggests certain practical implications in a range of contemporary health care issues, such as abortion, in vitro fertilization, the
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