Healing Hospital
Traditionally, health institutions utilized the cure model in the provision of care. This model focused on disease eradication in patients with minimal consideration of their social and religious values (Berger, 2015). Hospitals and other health institutions currently focus on the healing hospital paradigm that focuses on the physical health of an individual and the body as a whole (Quinlan, 2015). This section discusses the healing hospital paradigm.
Components
The first component that these institutions should have is an environment that promotes healing. Such an environment is necessary for the hospitals to be effective. In the healing environment, caregivers aim to attend to the patient in an appropriate environment with limited interruption (Slavitt, 2008). The relatives of the patients are also part of the care-giving environment in the healing hospitals. In addition, these hospitals focus on the spiritual and emotional health of their patients (Warburton, 2004).
The third component required is the utilization of technology. These institutions also require work designs that are integrated. Healing hospitals require a large number of medical professionals that deliver special services to patients. Each of these services targets a specific aspect of the patient with the goal of improving their overall health. Technology is a major component of the hospitals and makes work easier for the medical practitioners and specialists. Additionally, the use of technology in these institutions improves the quality of services offered.
Challenges
The new institutions face unique challenges. A major challenge is financing these hospitals. The resources required are expensive and difficult to obtain. Additionally, these institutions need many specialists that are expensive to maintain and motivate. Also, the services offered and the technology used is expensive for the facilities. Aside from the financial challenges, these hospitals face some legal challenges including litigation (Slavitt, 2008).
The last challenge is philosophical where the traditional care model resists change. Individuals working in the traditional care models resist change into the new healing hospital paradigm. By addressing the spiritual needs of patients, the healing hospitals will rely on the hundreds of cultures and religions in the world. The large number will be a challenge for these institutions that strive to offer individual spiritual help. However, these challenges can be overcome if the institutions put in place adequate measures to ensure improved service delivery.
Biblical Aspects
The Bible is one of the books used to support the healing hospital paradigm. The biblical teachings include that people should aim to grow each other spiritually and mentally. In fact, the Bible teaches that spiritual health is more important to physical health and that individuals that have spiritual health also attain physical health. The Bible is an important guide to spiritual health for Christians and philosophers. The teachings contained in this book are important in determining the level of care accorded to patients within health institutions.
Lastly, there are many incidents in the Bible where Christ healed the sick. In all these incidents, Jesus Christ offered spiritual and physical healing for those that were physically sick. Consequently, the Bible shows that there is a need for mental, physical, and spiritual healing. The Bible also contains instructions that should be followed in the restoration of health for the patients. It is a major guide to spiritual health.
Case Study Analysis
Jessica and Marco, a poor immigrant couple in the US, are faced with the challenge of whether to abort a malformed fetus or proceed with the pregnancy. The fetus has no hands and a 25% risk of developing Down’s syndrome. While the doctor proposes medical abortion, the couple and relatives still have the option of bringing up the handicapped child. This decision may be costly for the couple.
Theories Used
The theories used by the different people in the case study determine their opinion on the fate of the malformed fetus. Maria uses deontology to advise Jessica and Marco not to abort the fetus (Warburton, 2004). To her, aborting the fetus is morally wrong and should not be done. Dr. Wilson uses consequentialism to advise that the fetus should be aborted to avoid the anticipated problems. Lastly, Jessica and Mario use the virtue ethics to inform their decision to abort or retain the fetus. They will consider their social status and the economic condition in addition to other individual factors. Each of the theories utilized affects the recommendations made on how to deal with the fetus.
Theory agreed with
The theory that I agree with is the consequentialism theory that uses the consequences of an action to determine its morality (Warburton, 2004). Giving birth to the malformed baby would add to the economic handicap of the couple. It is expensive to bring up such a child because of the financial needs of making the child comfortable. A medical abortion would give the family another chance to bear a normal child. In addition, the intervention would offer them reprieve and ensure that they afford to bring up their family using the meager pay.
References
Berger, P. (2015). The Hospital: On the Interface between Secularity and Religion. Society, 52(5), 410-412.
Quinlan, M. K. (2015). Healing Histories: Stories from Canada’s Indian Hospitals. The Oral History Review, 2(1), 177.
Slavitt, D. (2008). The consolation of philosophy. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
Warburton, N. (2004). Philosophy: The basics (4th Ed.). London: Rutledge.