Medical Ethics

Medical Ethics

1. Abortion

   • Definition:    Removing a foetus from the womb before it is able to survive, ending a pregnancy. Abortion is legal take place in the UK until the 24th week of pregnancy.    
   • Attitude
     • Roman Catholic Veiw
       • Forbidden: -foetus purpose is to live.... murder is wrong ( the same as murder)
       • -God commanded 'Go forth and multiply' & all children are a gift from God.
       • -Human life begins at fertilisation -against the sanctity of life
     • Absolutists
       • Abortion is wrong because it is the same as murder
       • -it is against natural moral law
   • Islamic view
     • ’slay not your children, the slaying of them is a great sin’’
     • After 40 days baby goes through ensoulment

2. Double Doctrine Effect

   • Roman Catholic
     • If the intention of doing something right has a bad side effect, causing death, it is acceptable
     • If the life of the mother is threatened abortion = OK
   • Protestant Churches
     • Abortion is frowned upon
     • lesser of two evils if:
       •  If mother’s life is in danger
       •  Baby will suffer from serious illnesses/disabilities
       •  Baby is a result of rape

3. Fertility Treatment

   • Definition of fertility treatment: Treatment given to a woman artificially to help a woman conceive a baby
   • Definition of IVF:  Sperm and egg are mixed in a test tube artificially before embryo placed inside uterus
   • Christian attitudes towards fertility treatment:
     • All against taking sperm from another male
     • Roman Catholic
       • forbidden
       • Against Sanctity of Life
     • Protestant
       • permissible as it brings happiness
       • preserves life
     • Secular Responces
       • acceptable
       • as long as it does not physically harm others
   • Islamic Veiw
     • AIH and IVF are acceptable as long as no 3rd party is available
     • all children are a gift from God, even ones conceived using fertility treatment
     • AID- Forbidden as it is a sin

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