Comparing Christian and Buddhist Perspectives in Healthcare Ethics

709 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Health Care and Wellness Provider and Faith Diversity

Spiritual diversity has become a seemingly ubiquitous part in today’s healthcare. Doctors, nurses and other providers are challenged on a daily basis in an attempt to consider and assimilate their patient’s different religious backgrounds and beliefs. The recent trends and strong indications of religious vitality and diversity present a pressing need to recognize various faith traditions in healthcare ethics (Reimer-Kirkham, Grypma, & Terblanche, 2013). Christianity and Buddhism, two of the most widely practiced religions today, bring their own viewpoints concerning healthcare. These religious beliefs may have similar ideas with regards to illness and healing. However, the differences in health practices and the approach to achieving optimal …show more content…

God and the Bible’s teachings are used as a framework to find meaning in life and purpose of human presence. Purpose resides in every human’s potential to strive for peace, seek equality, nurture relationships and the environment to achieve harmony with the earth (Valk, 2012). “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior and my hope is in you all day long” (Ps 25:5). The Holy Spirit, known as God’s active force and His power in action (Lk 1:35), is used as a guide by Christians to ascertain and determine what is right. “We choose to act based on good thinking, scripture and prayer, and the Holy Spirit helps us discern the right alternatives” (Shelly & Miller, 2006, p. 89). In seeing others as the image of God, choosing what is right from wrong is influenced by beliefs cultural background and respect for one another. In this religious culture, the tendency to do wrong is seen as sinfulness. However, it is the admission of sin that leads Christians to Jesus Christ to find and experience God’s forgiveness (Shelly & Miller, 2006). The recognition of sin and eventual redemption strengthens the relationship with God which directs a life of service to humanity (Shelly & Miller,

Show More
Related

  • Buddhism, Neurotheology, and a Framework for New Doctors

    1206 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... linked to Buddhism alone; any religion in which an empathetic bond is created between doctor and patient will work. I selected Buddhism its ambiguity in its concerns with a god, allowing the doctor to be more open towards any religion. Open-mindedness is need on the patient’s behalf as well. If a patient does not believe in the treatment provided it is doomed to fail. I recently spoke to a co-worker about the benefits of practicing meditation and a better diet, in addition to her medicine, her response was typical of the attitude of most people: “It seems too far ‘out-there’ to me.” A solution to this could be education via traditional and social media, as the average patient might not be willing to educate themselves in a classroom environment. In conclusion, education and open-mindedness for all parties involved will help create a new more cohesive patient care.

    Read More

  • Nursing Practices: Reducing Cross-Contamination

    845 Words  | 2 Pages

    As we know patients have a unique set of values that are influenced by their culture and spirituality. As a nursing student, I have a responsibility to demonstrate respect for my patients cultural and spiritual beliefs. For example, while I was providing morning care the patient’s grandson came in, and I respectfully asked the patient if it was okay for his grandson to stay in the room while I provided care. thus, in this situation I tried respect the health practices. There were no cultural issues.

    Read More

  • Accommodating Muslims in the Healthcare Setting

    2018 Words  | 5 Pages

    In today’s society, it is very important for the healthcare professional to be educated about the culture of their patients. It can be seen that the number of patients who are Muslim are increasing throughout the healthcare system. It is challenging for healthcare workers to care for the needs of Muslim patients when they don’t understand their cultural beliefs. Muslims don’t necessarily have the same health beliefs, outcomes, or priorities that their providers have, therefore making it more difficult to come to a final healthcare decision (Al-Oraibi, 2009.) “This intercultural gap in understanding between clients and providers may result in poor care services and low levels of satisfaction” (Al-Oraibi, 2009.) Muslims are not being properly accommodated in healthcare settings because of a lack of education from healthcare workers about the Muslim culture and religion.

    Read More

  • Personal Ethical Dilemma

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    Culturally congruent care has several components. The components of culturally congruent care include being caring, competent and culturally sensitive (Andrews & Boyle, 2012). Positive outcomes have been associated with competent and culturally sensitive care (Long, 2012). In this ethical dilemma, I could have been better prepared to advocate for alternative treatments had I been educated on Jehovah’s Witness. This would have let me be more caring to this patient, competent, and culturally sensitive.

    Read More

  • Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity

    1254 Words  | 3 Pages

    This paper will discuss three different religions that a health care provider may care for in the nursing field. It will discuss the spiritual perspective, as well as the critical components of healing, such as through prayer and meditation. The writer will give a brief summary of each religions belief. The three religions that will be discussed in this paper are Native American, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This paper will discuss what is important to people who are cared for of a particular faith by the health care provider who may have an entirely different belief system. The writer will discuss how a patient may view a health care provider who puts aside his or her own beliefs in the interest of the beliefs and practices of the patient that is being cared for. The writer of this paper is of Christian belief and will compare her beliefs of faith and healing with the three previously mentioned religions.

    Read More

  • Nursing Code Of Ethics In Nursing

    1698 Words  | 4 Pages

    One notable example of an ethical dilemma presented within this report is the battle of belief referring to a situation where some patients tend to reject specific medical procedures attributed to the religious, cultural, or personal beliefs. Every patient has the right to decision based on his or her beliefs thereby meaning that patients may reject specific medical procedures based on what they believe (Guido, 2014). However, this conflicts with the position of the nurses who are mandated with providing their patients with the best quality of medical services as part of promoting positive health outcomes. The best remedy for this specific ethical dilemma would involve having to hold a discussion between the nurse and the patient where the nurse would accord the patient his or her clinical

    Read More

  • Philosophy Of Healing Hospital

    818 Words  | 2 Pages

    Historically, the concept of caring for the afflicted was founded on biblical principles, especially morality. On a personal level, an individual’s spirituality also influences how one copes with stressors in life, such as illness. When addressing an individual’s emotional and spiritual needs, health benefits such as decreased pain, decreased stress and anxiety, improved rates of insomnia, as well as decreased cardiac and respiratory rates have been realized (Puchalski, 2001). More broadly stated, “Spiritual practices have been shown to improve health outcomes” (Puchalski, 2001, p.

    Read More

  • Essay On Nursing Culture

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    This paper explores the concept of culture, its definitions, and its application to nursing and health care. Culture is a group's customs, habits, morals, and shared beliefs. The understanding of culture, not only as a concept, but how it relates to health care is imperative for providers. The lack of cultural awareness, or competency, leads to miscommunication, inadequacy of care, and health disparities among individuals and groups. Jehovah’s Witness’ are one group of individuals with defined morals and beliefs that can be at odds with routine health care: they do not accept most blood products. Understanding how culture can impact a patient, their needs, and beliefs can improve patient outcomes and improve satisfaction rates.

    Read More

  • Essay On Culture And Cultural Influences On Health

    711 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religion is a significant aspect of culture that must be understood and respected. Through understanding the differences in peoples cultures, a nurse who is tending to a patient who’s beliefs differ from his or her own can appropriately adjust care to respect the patient’s beliefs and

    Read More

  • Religion, Spirituality, and Complementary Alternative Medicine

    483 Words  | 1 Pages

    Religion and spirituality is a major essential part of one’s’ health. They have included things such as prayer in healing, counseling, and the use of meditation. Spiritual issues make a difference in an individual’s experience of illness and health. With spirituality, the health care providers can learn to support the values for the art of healing. The health care provider must have respect for their patient’s religion. (Larry Dossey. Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine. Harper Collins, San Francisco. 1993.)

    Read More

  • Different Aspects of Caring for a Muslim Family

    841 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the increasing Muslim population in the United States, nurses need to have a better understanding of their beliefs in order to provide effective care. There are several considerations we must make when caring for Muslim patients and their families. “They bring a distinctive set of cultural practices...

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Spirituality In Health Care

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    The dynamic holistic view of the human individual as a biological, psychological, social, and spiritual being is the foundation of most nursing theories (Puchalski, 2006). Integral in these models of care is the recognition that the client is more than their physical being (Puchalski, 2006). To ensure the patient and family receive the most compassionate, comprehensive care, the consideration of spirituality is essential (Puchalski, 2006). According to Govier (2000), spirituality affects and embraces all that we are and do. Addressing spirituality is necessary to provide the experience of holistic care (Noto, 2006). It is imperative to attend to the spiritual dimension of the client in order to deliver nursing care that is compassionate and

    Read More

  • My Personal Worldview Paper

    1773 Words  | 4 Pages

    “First, there is the call to be a Christian. Second, for each individual there is a specific call—a defining purpose or mission, a reason for being. Every individual is called of God to respond through service in the world. Third, there is the call that we face each day in response to the multiple demands on our lives—our immediate duties and responsibilities” (Smith, ...

    Read More

  • Nursing Ethics Essay: My Nursing Ethic

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas in their practices often. Respecting a patient’s belief or choice, whether we think it is right or wrong, is a must. Jehovah Witness (JW) patients refuse blood transfusions and their life can be in danger, but that is their right to choose and nurses must respect that. Patients decide not to have a lifesaving surgery or chemotherapy, which is their personal decisions. We, as nurses, can educate and inform, but eventually it is the patient’s right to refuse or accept treatment. This writer feels that when good morals and character are in place, the best possible ethical decisions can be made. These decisions are not necessarily right or wrong, but the best choices for the patient and their care based on the patient’s right to

    Read More

  • Western Vs. Eastern Medicine: Western And Western Medicine

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Spirituality is not restricted to any religious denomination nor is it limited to the pursuit of knowledge. It is however, the fundamentals of Eastern and Western medicine in their approach towards health and wellbeing.

    Read More

More about Comparing Christian and Buddhist Perspectives in Healthcare Ethics

Open Document