1958 Geloof en Wetenschap : Orgaan van de Christelijke vereeniging van natuur- en geneeskundigen in Nederland - pagina 16

4

DE REDACTIE

THE CARE AND MANAGEMENT

OF THE DYING

PATIEtf^T

A.

The non-Christian

patient

1

Should the •physician tell the patient his diagnosis and prognosis''

Yes, in order that the dying person might settle his affairs, here meaning spiritual affairs Not telling the patient the facts would necesserily be followed by a relationship riddled with spoken lies and deceitful actions A Christian doctor is constrained by the love of Christ to a relationship characterized by confidence, sincerity, and honesty God, speaking tot Ezekiel, said When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die, if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die m his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thme hand Ezekiel 33 8 2

Won't It frighten, upset, or alarm the patient to tell him that he is soon to d i e ' We trust that it would alarm him to action und upset him from his evil ways that he might do an about face and turn to Christ Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God for He will abundantly pardon Isaiah 55 6, 7 The thing that frightens a dying person is the fear of the unknown If he is reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, this fear leaves him Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me Psalm 23 4 3

Won't It precipitate a psychosis'' Not necessarily Take a patient with a coronary occlusion, for example What value would it be for the patient to die m psychiatric balance but m cardiac decompensation' Would not it be better to risk psychiatric decompensation as wel as physical cardiac decompensation and give him the opportunity of choosing Christ m the light of eternity' 4

Should the doctor warn the patient about individual

judgment?

Yes For we must all appear before the jugdment seat to Christ, that every one may receive the things done m his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad 2 Corinthians 5 10 5

What approach should the doctor use'' This depends, of course, upon the individual, but it is best to be as straightforward as possible ,,I want to talk to you about your soul", or „Have you ever thought about the sin m your life'" or ,,Where are you going when you d i e ' " Avoid ambiguous questions such as „Are you a Christian'" or „Do you believe m Christ'"

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