Somehow things are messed up:
During my time as pastor I had the opportunity to visit with many who suddenly became very sick and their health situation escalated into the (sometimes long) process of dying. However, in almost each one of the situations I can clearly remember that the task of the health profession was not to bring necessarily closure (not only to make dying comfortable) , but to employ a giant maze of tests, prescribe mountains of medicine, etc. and to see the patient as one of the "cases". . . with the result of no changes in the condition of the patient.
I recently visited with an individual who was diagnosed with cancer about one year ago. After a period of radiation and chemotherapy the cancer was still progressing. The individual (by now very weak) finally asked the doctor, if the body was giving up. . . . and to the individuals amazement the doctor did not answer. That leaves the question: Do we not deserve to know? Why are we so afraid to bring peace to us in knowing that life will end?
As a pastor I feel that our healthcare system is too (only) task oriented and is unable to see the whole person. Have we as society lost our ability to deal with death? Are we (the health profession) not able to tell those who suffer that "Yes we can do 'that radiation and that treatment' but the chances of healing are slim!"I more and more get the feeling that many in the health profession work the giant machine of medicine as an industry, rather then one of the healing mechanisms. So, that leaves the question: "What is our Christian response to a system that (I feel) takes advantage of those who are confronted with the reality of life and death?
What have been your experiences and how do you feel about the subject as a pastor, patient . . . ?
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I agree that "somehow things are messed up". We, even Christians, rob family members, friends, and patients the comfort of knowing God is in control by taking precious personal information out of the hands of the sick and dying.
This situation exists in the name of "helping" them escape the pain of knowing the truth.
The old adage "we all want to get to heaven, but no one wants to die
to get there" is profoundly true in our personal response to those
whom God is calling home through the only way we get there - to leave our broken, sick bodies behind.
My Dad is in the final stage of Parkinson's Disease with all sorts of complications. He is literally
a "common cold" away from eternity.
He has truly been dying in slow motion for years ... but then, aren't we all? However, my brother has gone through all sorts of 24-7 responses to Dad's illness and has assumed that his choices for Dad are the right ones. No one ever asked Dad ... or let him choose or express his opinion on
his own health and body, when he could ... so that now he is a prisoner in a body that cannot function at all.
Our personal fear of dying can rob another the joy of choosing a natural end to a wonderful life ...
and turn life into a "science project". Making peace with human death as the last step, before entering eternal life with God, is the natural progression for a Christian. We can't get a new body until we leave "the house we
used to live in" behind. To dance around the truth of dying to the dying is a sad situation for the patient and the well intentioned family member, friend, or physician.
Posted by Rutie | Wednesday, November 09, 2005 3:13:00 PM
I know first-hand that many healthcare professionals are concerned almost as much about being sued, as they are about providing good health and terminal care to their patients. Healthcare professionals are very guarded with respect to what they will say or do. (Given our litigous society I suppose that we are all somewhat responsible for that).
When I worked with medical professionals in the past, I was told to be intentionally vague when dealing with patients. I was told to never use specific terms when recording anything that could become a part of the record and used in litigation.
In fact, I sat in on a couple of patient-initiated lawsuits where the attorneys simply ripped a couple of physicians apart; it was not a pretty sight.
So it was common at our facility to hear or see terms or phrases in the medical records like, "it appears", or "patient appears", et al. The physicians admitted that they avoided the use of concise terms wherever possible. One physician even acknowledged that his poor penmanship was not coincidental. Writing poorly provided him with some leeway in the advent that he was ever sued. Who could actually say what he really meant? Who could decpher scribblings that were left to interpretation?
Conversely, a physician went out on a limb, exactly 13 months ago, with me and members of my family. My father was extremely ill and was given up for dead. This particular physician who showed tremendous empathy and support, tried to comfort our family while assuring us that our father was terminal and would expire (anywhere from four days to two weeks). He encouraged us not to be in denial about it (for we had explained to him that we were believer's and felt that God had the final say). He re-emphasized that we should prepare for dad's demise and homegoing. Dad was immediately sent over to the hospice by the hospital for comfort care and final disposition.
I wonder if cultural factors influenced this Asian physician's openess? He seemed to be very comfortable, in the spirit of the late Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, with discussing death and dying, perhaps a cultural norm in Japan.
We thanked him for his warmth, kindness and conciseness, however, we explained again that we were believers and that we would seek God for a final determination for dad
At the hospice we all gathered around dad, annointed his head with oil, and prayed for God's will, assuring God that we knew that he could raise him up. As some churches say, P-U-S-H, we prayed until something happened.
Two weeks later, the hospice was frustrated and began to run tests, for it was clear that dad was recovering, all of his vital signs were back to normal. The tests that followed confirmed that he had fully recovered, and shortly after he was sent home. It has been 13 months since dad was given up for dead and he seems to be doing just fine while enjoying sports on TV(-:, lucky guy!
This issue presents a real conundrum. How much can we expect from physicians who are afraid of being sued for a misdiagnoses, or malpractice? How much can we expect from Physicians who may not know Christ?
I will say one final thing in defense of Healthcare providers and the medical profession. I was in the middle of a hot-debate between the Chief of The Medical Staff and the Hospital Administrator over the care of a patient. The debate took place in the corridors of this medical facility and voices were raised. The debate, does an administrative decision override a medical one? Administration was clearly not in agreement with a decision made by the medical side of the facility.
The Hospital Administrator apparently won the debate, for the Chief of Staff resigned within a few days. Health-care roviders are being restricted by administrative policies in instances where they might act otherwise.
Peace & Grace
Rev. C. Solomon
Posted by seal of Abraham | Wednesday, December 14, 2005 8:29:00 AM
i dont think it is wrong for a man
of God to live a comfortable life.
Benny Hinn deserve to enjoy all the
benefits in GOD.
FROM PASTOR GABRIEL GHANA.
Posted by Anonymous | Wednesday, March 01, 2006 4:18:00 AM