medical ethics

medical ethics

1. corse human beliefs about the nature of human life

   • that human life is sacred and holy
   • that humans have a soul
   • that god has a plan for each other
   • that jesus shows people how we should behave
   • sanctity of life: the belief that there is something special or holy about life.

2. attitudes to abortion

   • roman catholics = morally wrong, life begins at conception
     • ok if the mother is in danger/ double effect
   • church of England= wrong however if you child may be severely disabled or have a low quality of life then it is acceptable. also such as rape
   • methodist church: still think it is evil but accept it my be necessary
   • abortion: the introduced termination of a pregnancy

3. christian attitudes to fertility treatment

   • forms :
     • use of drugs to make the women more fertile
     • AIH: artificial insemination by husband
     • donor insemination
     • IVF: in verto fertilisation
   • frozen embryos can only be stored for 10 years
   • scientific experiments may only be carried out on embryos up until 14 days after conception
   • only god should create life
   • roman catholics belief life starts at conception and this mean when spare embryos are made its murder when you get rid of them
   • roman catholic don't like done because it introduces a third party and is a form of adultery

4. christian attitudes to cloning

   • main concern is that they could clone humans and that it is unacceptable
   • most countries have banned cloning to make babies
   • in therapeutic cloning they allow stem cell cloning which lets a single sell be reprogamed and replace other broken cells and organs
   • many christians believe research into theraputic cloning is agist the will of god
   • others would day that people have a god given responsiblity to car for creation and if cloning could benefit then it is good as long as it is controlled
   • roam catholics do not like it because it goes against the sanctity of life
   • stem cells: single cells which have the potential to be reprogrammed to develop into any type of cell in the body
   • therapeutic cloning: a medical procedure where single cells are taken from a person or embryo and reprogrammed to create stem cells which can be used for medical treatment

5. christian attitudes to suicide

   • christians may argue against suicide because it is murder of yourself and the sixth commandment is 'do not murder'
     • it is deciding what only god can decide, it is destroying gods temple, it is ignoring gods plan, it is devastating to others
   • 1953, samaritans was made by chad varah for people who are emotionally distressed and need to talk
   • suffering: physical, mental or spiritual pain
   • exodus 20:13- 'do not murder' --- corinthians 6:19-2- ' the body is a temple of the holy spirit

6. christian attitudes about euthanasia

   • voluntary euthanasia (assisted suicide): the person concerned asks someone to help them die
   • involuntary euthanasia: without the patients consent if they can't live without life support it could be switched off
   • roman catholic and anglican church are both fully against it because it is murder
   • quality of life vs sanity of life many christians and non beavers would wish to consider the quality of life of the patient.
   • euthanasia: a gentle or easy death, helping someone die
     • hospice: a place where terminally ill patients are cared for
       • palliative care: care given to a termannily ill patient to help them die is as much comfort as possible
   • quakers do not have a view because they just want the most loving thing

7. christian beliefs about the use of animals in medical research

   • bible teaches that humans have role of stewardship over the earth and should care for it
   • in the past animals were not considered as important as humans and many christians do not beige animals have souls or can have a relationship with god
   • the roman catholic an anglican church both betide animal testing is needed for life saving drugs but the animals should not be hurt unnessarly
   • animals have been ended in the vaccinations for polio and assisted in the development of anaesthetics and asthma
   • quakers do not like animals testing for cosmetics but are divided when it is for life savings drugs
   • many christians pose all of it saying that animals have the same origin from god
   • many chstians would eat animals but do not want them to suffer
   • dominion: authority or rule
   • genesis- adman was told to rule over the earth but also told t take car of the earth