End of Life Decisions and the Christian Worldview

Case Study on Death and Dying
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Abstract
Christianity worldviews play a significant role in influencing end of life decisions, particularly those inclined to alleviate suffering and where an individual faith is challenged. By comprehending Christian viewpoints concerning suffering and agony, patients and healthcare professionals could, therefore, be empowered to make decisions when faced with life-threatening illnesses and thus make the appropriate choices, particularly concerning physician-assisted death or euthanasia.
Case Study on Death and Dying
Introduction
Despite end-of-life decisions constituting an increasingly bitter and challenging aspect of life, they are life’s realities. The subject of death typically triggers deep-rooted philosophical and religious questions. Euthanasia constitutes a controversial topic within bioethics. Christianity worldviews perceive death and other aspects, including euthanasia and end-of-life decisions, differently. This report evaluates George’s case scenario after he was clinically diagnosed with a degenerative health condition [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)], where he would eventually lose his capacity to move, ingest, speak, and breathe, and thus ultimately die. In this vein, this report more specifically analyzes George’s possible demise and bioethics incorporated within euthanasia according to the Christian viewpoint.
How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, emphasising the fallenness of the world?
In Christianity, the word’s fallenness and suffering occur simultaneously. Physicians, their patients, and every individual are forced to experience the meaning of suffering at a certain time or the other. Pope Saint John Paul II indicated that suffering constitutes an “almost inseparable aspect of human’s earthly existence” (McTavish, 2016). From the Christian faith viewpoint, we can postulate that suffering never existed within the original state in the Garden of Eden. Suffering emerged within Adam and Eve sinning and thus the fall. The Catechism delineates that “due to original sin, humans were weakened within its influence, subjected to suffering ignorance, and death domination, and thus are inclined or concupiscence to sin (McTavish, 2016). Therefore, human suffering emanates from the original sin that led to God’s curse and subsequent life hardships from that era.
That said, George could associate his suffering with the original sin at the Garden of Eden, where God declared suffering on Adam and his descendants. As humans, we are inclined to sin, thus falling short of God’s will and grace. This resonates with George’s care scenario. He could rationalize his suffering to human being’s sinful nature. George’s sickness and suffering communicate that he is powerless and limited due to the original sin. The original humans turned away from God’s commandment, thus invoking His wrath, and thus suffering emerged (McTavish, 2016). Therefore, George should console his soul based on the Christian viewpoint that every person has fallen short of God’s grace and will, thus sinned, and thus should suffer.
How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, emphasising the hope of resurrection?
Despite George’s health condition and imminent suffering due to ALS, and the subsequent loss of human dignity due to being dependent on others for activities of daily living, it would be essential that he realizes God’s purpose for humans does not culminate in death. After corrupting God’s order and falling short of his will, God considered actions to fix the fallenness and brokenness, which constituted the primary cause for life’s suffering. By sending His Son, Jesus Christ, God purposed to redeem human suffering through Christ’s death and resurrection. Christ opened his redemptive suffering to human suffering such that believers could become sharer within Christ’s sufferings (Vitillo, 2014). George needs to believe in Christ’s redemption of human’s original sin by bearing temptations, rejection, cruel and barbaric torture, death, and resurrection despite being sinless. The Redeemer (Jesus Christ) suffered instead of humankind and for humankind. Every human has their share within such a Redemption. Accordingly, every person is required to share in Christ’s suffering via which Redemption became accomplished. In bringing Redemption via suffering, Christ raised humankind suffering to Redemption thresholds (McTavish, 2016). George needs to embrace Christ’s example of suffering and crucifixion and triumph over death as an act of honor and praise. Since Christ suffered and experienced a painful and shameful death, George should have hope in that suffering in that it redeemed humanity from the original sin and thus brought them closer to God (Saybey, 2016). Therefore, George’s story does not end in death since he has the resurrection promise through his faith in Jesus Christ. This is because Christ defeated death at the cross. In this vein, George should re-examine his life, repent, and believe in God’s promise and sin forgiveness, knowing very well that his death does not constitute the end of life (Shelly & Miller, 2009). There is resurrection hope once George dies in Christ faith.
As George contemplates life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), how would the Christian worldview inform his view about the value of his life as a person?
ALS refers to a progressive neuromuscular medical condition that invades nerve cells and spinal cord and brain pathways (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2018). It is motor neuron illness that causes neurons degeneration making the brain unable to initiate and control muscle movements. Unfortunately, there is no cure for ALS despite recent research to understand the nervous systems, the brain, and genetics (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2018). As George contemplates life with ALS, his Christian worldviews recognise life as God’s valuable gift and should not be taken through patient autonomy or euthanasia. Despite the suffering of this traumatizing disease, George should endure agony and all immine...