This thesis examines the problem of utilitarian ageism in Quality-Adjusted Life Years and contrasts it with the biblical principles of community and honor that are to characterize treatment of the elderly. Chapter 1 provides a general orientation into the issue of health care allocation. Attention is given to the history of modern health care allocation and describes its rapid evolution. Chapter 2 provides a more detailed analysis of health care allocation demonstrating the necessity for some system of allocation in modern American health care. It concludes by presenting the QALY model as a potential basis for modern health care allocation decision making. Chapter 3 examines the problems of QALYs as a basis for health care allocation. After the use of quality of life and health life years is evaluated the relationship between utilitarianism and QALYs is explored, focusing on QALYs' discrimination against elderly. Chapter 4 examines the biblical perspectives of elder care, identifying the principles of honor and community as foundational. The underlining principles of justice and biblical love provide a foundation for biblical elder care. Chapter 5 compares the QALY and biblical models. The comparison is accomplished by noting the contrasts in philosophical foundations, economic strategies and priorities in the distribution of limited health care resources. Chapter 6 concludes by contending that QALY calculations are ageist and therefore an unjust basis on which to base decisions regarding the distribution of limited health care resources. This work contends that a potentially less efficient, but a better moral basis for resource allocation are the biblical principles of honor and community. These two principles enable a more holistic approach to dealing with the needy elderly in health care allocation. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

This study investigates the relationship of three protective factors : self transcendance, social interest, and spirituality to well-being among adults living with HIV or AIDS. It is the first study to explore the relationships of these protective factors to well-being. A convenience sample of 115 adults living with HIV or AIDS completed the Self-Transcendance Scale, the Social Interest Index- Short Form-Revised, the Spiritual Perspective Scale, and the Index of Well-Being. The participants were adults diagnosed with HIV or AIDS residing in a large southeastern U.S. city. Data were analyzed with correlational and multiple regression methods. Statistically significant positive moderate to strong relationships were found between well-being and self transcendance (r=.66, p<.001 ), social interest (r=.51, p<.001), and spirituality (r=.39, p<.001). A stepwise regression demonstrated that self transcendance held the highest variance on well-being among the three protective factors (43%). Additionally, self-transcendane and social interest accounted for 45% of the variance in well-being. In short, the hypothesized positive relationship among these protective factors with well-being was supported. This study provides theoretical and empirical support for linking self transcendance, social interest, and spirituality to well-being among adults living with HIV or AIDS. The clinical implications of these findings are also discussed. / by Jonathan J. Sperry. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Law, Wai Yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-92). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.I / 論文摘要 --- p.II / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.III / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LISA SOWLE CAHILL´ةS THEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cahill´ةs theological approach to Christian Ethics --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Catholicism --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Feminism --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Theological Anthropology --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3 --- Moral Methodology --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- The Bible --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Tradition --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Normative Accounts of the Human --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Descriptive Accounts of the Human --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4 --- Conclusion --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- LISA SOWLE CAHILL´ةS PARTICIPATORY THEOLOGICAL BIOETHICS --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cahill´ةs Participatory Theological Bioethics --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Principle of Analysis --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2.1.1 --- Ordinary and Extraordinary means of life support --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.1.2 --- Principle of double effect --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- The common good and bioethics --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Theological bioethics and Social Transformation --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Summary --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3 --- Evaluation and Dialogue with Cahill´ةs Participatory Theological Bioethics --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Catholicism --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Feminism --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Common Good --- p.44 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.46 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- END-OF-LIFE CARE IN HONG KONG --- p.47 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.47 / Chapter 4.2 --- End-of-life care in Hong Kong --- p.48 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Decline and dying in Hong Kong --- p.48 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Ethical judgments by the health care professions --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Advance directive --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Patients or family´ةs participation --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Chinese culture and Bioethics --- p.56 / Chapter 4.3 --- Christianity engagement in the end-of-life care in Hong Kong --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Christian communities --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Theology bioethics --- p.60 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.61 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- PARTICIPATORY THEOLOGICAL BIOETHICS IN HONG KONG --- p.63 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.63 / Chapter 5.2 --- The significance and relevance of Participatory Theological Bioethics --- p.63 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Both individual and social ethics --- p.64 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Who is/are the poor? --- p.64 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- Inequalities in access to end-of-life care --- p.66 / Chapter 5.2.1.3 --- Medical paternalism --- p.71 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Transcendent meanings of life --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3 --- INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE OF PARTICIPATORY THEOLOGICAL BIOETHICS --- p.74 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Familial relationship as a starting point --- p.75 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Interpretation of ´بParticipatory´ة --- p.76 / Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusion --- p.80 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.81 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.83