Sacrifice: an ethical dimension of caring that makes suffering meaningful

Abstract

This article is intended to raise the question of whether sacrifice can be regarded stituting a deep ethical structure in the relationship between patient and carer. The significance of sacrifice in a patient-carer relationship cannot, however, be fully understood from the standpoint of the consistently utilitarian ethic that characterizes today's ethical discourse. Deontological ethics, with its universal principles, also does not provide a suitable point of departure. Ethical recommendations and codices are important and serve as general sources of knowledge when making decisions, but they should be supplemented by an ethic that takes into consideration contextual and situational factors that make every encounter between patient and carer unique. Caring science research literature presents, on the whole, general agreement on the importance of responsibility and devotian with regard to sense of duty, warmth and genuine engagement in caring. That sacrifice may also constitute an important ethical element in the patient-carer relationship is, however, a contradictory and little considered theme. Caring literature that deals with sacrifice/self-sacrifice indicates contradictory import. It is nevertheless interesting to notice that both the negative and the positive aspects bring out importance of the concept for the professional character of caring. The tradition of ideas in medieval Christian mysticism with reference to Lévinas' ethic of responsibility offers a deeper perspective in which the meaningfulness of sacrifice in the caring relationship can be sought. The theme of sacrifice is not of interest merely as a carer's ethical outlook, but sacrifice can also be understood as a potential process of transformation health. The instinctive or conscious experience of sacrifice on the part of the individual patient can, on a symbolic level, be regarded as analogous to the cultic or religious sacrifice aiming at atonement. Sacrifice appears to the patient as an act of transformation to achieve atonement and healing. Atonement then implies finding meaningfulness in one's suffering. The concept of sacrifice, understood in a novel way, opens up a deeper dimension in the understanding of suffering and makes caring in 'the patient's world' possible.

Why relatives do not donate organs for transplants: ‘sacrifice’ or ‘gift of life’?

“…We argue that such decisions are more closely related to sacrifice. If this is indeed the case, the concept of ‘sacrifice’ opens up an alternative dimension for understanding the decisions of families who choose not to donate, and offers a potentially novel and valuable perspective for caring (Helin & Lindstrom 2003). It may also have some value in explaining why, in populations where there is broad awareness of donation, refusal rates also remain high.…”

The core of love when caring for patients suffering from addiction

“…The nurses’ reactions to the humiliation that addicted patients are exposed to, and the desire and willingness to care for them, can be understood as an expression of sacrifice . According to Augustine , sacrifice means to disregard oneself and, in neighbourly love and compassion, direct towards the neighbour in order to serve .…”

“…The nurses’ reactions to the humiliation that addicted patients are exposed to, and the desire and willingness to care for them, can be understood as an expression of sacrifice . According to Augustine , sacrifice means to disregard oneself and, in neighbourly love and compassion, direct towards the neighbour in order to serve . Unconditional and neighbourly love, which is described by the nurses as a common basis and as Alpha and Omega, can be interpreted as an expression of the universal and all‐embracing love, agape, a common ethical source of all good in which caritas has its origin and that demands sacrifice .…”

“…According to Augustine , sacrifice means to disregard oneself and, in neighbourly love and compassion, direct towards the neighbour in order to serve . Unconditional and neighbourly love, which is described by the nurses as a common basis and as Alpha and Omega, can be interpreted as an expression of the universal and all‐embracing love, agape, a common ethical source of all good in which caritas has its origin and that demands sacrifice . As expressions of agape love, the nurses’ stories can be interpreted as a confession of a desire to sacrificing themselves, an urge to realise what others may benefit from .…”

Movement as a critical concept in model generation to attain wholeness

“…The professional nurse is enabled by ways of understanding and acquired skills to create an understanding of themselves in the role and capacity of facilitation. The professional nurse is enabled to understand and try to know the world of the individual with mental health challenges (Biley & Galvin, 2007;Helin & Lindstrom, 2003). The primary focus of the facilitator is the individual with mental health challenges and gaining an understanding of the individual.…”