Christian and Sikh Analysis of Case Study

Running head: CHRISTIAN AND SIKH ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDY
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Christian and Sikh Analysis of Case Study
Student’s Name
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CHRISTIAN AND SIKH ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDY
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Christian and Sikh Analysis of Case Study
Introduction
Working in healthcare settings presents practitioners to patients from different religions
which requires an understanding of their faith to determine the decision that can be made
regarding their health status. Some religions forbid certain actions while at the same time some
patients can refuse certain medical processes if they feel that they are against their faith. For
example, Hindus are cautious about the way food is taken (Cobb, Puchalski, & Rumbold, 2012).
The role of the practitioner is to understand the spiritual background of the patient as a way of
developing the best care process that reflects their beliefs. In the situation of George, euthanasia
is the option that he feels works best for him since the ALS condition will make his body unable
to function on its own without assistance thus requiring support to carry out simple life processes
like breathing. This essay is an ethical analysis of George’s situation based on the Christian and
Sikh religion.
Christian and Sikh interpretation of the nature of George’s malady
The Christian understanding of disease is that pain and suffering has a broader value on
the individual’s faith. The Christian account of death is that it is the price of suffering traced
back to the time of Adam and Eve. This means that the experience of suffering is a measure of
one’s faith thus bringing them closer to God (Feulner, 2015). By knowing that his last time is
almost over, Christians believe that this is the best time for the patient to redeem his spiritual
faith as a preparation for eternal life. Since Christians believe in eternal life, then it means that
disease and suffering prepares the soul for the eternal life. However, (Cohen, Van Landeghem,
Carpentier, & Deliens (2014) suggests that Christians are encouraged to embrace science and

CHRISTIAN AND SIKH ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDY
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biomedicine to prevent suffering as a way of resecting the sanctity of life. Therefore, from a
Christian view, the physical body was corrupted by the sins of early ancestors thus marks and
symptoms that George is going through are divine punishment from God. The seven deadly sins
can be used to categorize the disease and the signs being experienced. However, the body
belongs to God and should be properly cared for as way making the end of life process and
transition easy.
On the other hand, Kalra, Bhui, & Bhugra (2012) suggests that the Sikh view of disease
is based on the belief that it is punishment from God for sin. When people are sick, Sikhists pray
to Waheguru to obtain peace and forgiveness. This means that sickness is the will of God and
one should endure the process by praying while getting medical treatment (Sikh Women, 2018).
The understanding of George’s illness is therefore, sin in the form of the sin that one has
committed which can be cured through prayers and divine intervention to achieve the willing
process. This religion is thus based on the believe that disease is punishment and the will of God
thus the need to pray and use medication to achieve healing. The nature of the disease is linked
to the sins that one has made, thus this is a way of making one ask for forgiveness and repent.
Christian and Sikh view of the value of life as a person
Christian and Sikh religions have a similar view on the value of life and the approach to
patients. Both religions view the sanctity of life as the highest form and the need to respect one’s
life. This means that the individual should be supported by all means through use medical
assistance to reduce suffering. Both religions believe that life should be preserved and any
artificial mechanism available like transplant can be used to assist one to regain their life
(Thorns, 2010). This means that only God is allowed to take one’s life. From this perspective