Abstract

This project describes an ethical decision-making process for medical decisions using the tools of clinical ethics and covenantal theology. The problem addressed is that medical options are available today that offer choices but there is no definitive answer to what is the right or wrong choice. Complicating this problem is the fact that the diversity of contemporary society has not given rise to a generally accepted, recognized, and practiced system of moral decision making. Even within the Christian community there is no general agreement on the moral choices to be made in contemporary medical decisions. Adding to the dynamics of the problem is the emphasis on the autonomy of the individual which results in more power in medical decisions given to an ill-prepared patient and, shrinking health care resources which have forced medical choices to admit that all that can be done perhaps should not be done. ;To respond to this contemporary medical ethical situation, this project takes the clinical ethical decision making model developed by Drs. Albert Jonsen, Mark Siegler, and William Winslade and revises it to be more inclusive of factors of faith, theology, and values. This revision comes from the perspective of a covenantal theology and ethic that begins with the work of H. Richard Niebuhr and James B. Nelson. ;The methodology of this project is to raise a new perspective and added questions developed from a covenantal theology and ethic to each of the four main areas of the medical ethical decision developed by Jonsen and colleagues. In addition, foundational work in the principles of bioethics done by Tom Beauchamp and James Childress is presented along with the work of other contemporary ethicists. The result is a challenge to all involved to be more inclusive of values and covenantal relationships in medical decisions. Adding this perspective makes medical decisions more complete and such a process of questioning gives a model that persons can use even when their theologies, values and moral systems differ.