Death in a Mission Hospital

Authors

  • James V Ritchie Kabarak University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v4i3.189

Keywords:

death, recusitation, dnr, mission hospital, ceremony

Abstract

Medical missionaries may struggle with the proper understanding of their roles in the death of their patients.  To better grasp a biblical concept of death, medical missionaries should understand God’s plan for death, and also understand both God’s sovereignty and their own free will.  Missionaries should prepare patients and their families for impending death.  Cultural objections to discussing impending death may be addressed by emphasizing the Christian understanding of earthly death and eternal life, and by honoring the passing of the believing patient. 

Author Biography

James V Ritchie, Kabarak University

An Emergency Physician practicing at PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital in Kenya, Jim is fascinated with finding biblical answers to ethical burdens in cross-cultural medicine, and in exploring the integration of faith in medical practice.  He served as a doctor in the US Navy for 25 years, deploying twice to Afghanistan.  He has lectured widely on moral injury and military medical ethics.  A former EM residency director, Jim enjoys discipling and teaching medicine.  He serves with World Gospel Mission.

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Published

2017-10-23

How to Cite

Ritchie, J. V. (2017). Death in a Mission Hospital. Christian Journal for Global Health, 4(3), 53–59. https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v4i3.189

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 3 (2017): Christians and the Global Palliative Care Movement

Section

Case Studies

License

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Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.