Medical Ethics

Medical Ethics

1. What is it?

   • application of values to medical situations
   • asks "Is it morally right to..."

2. Sanctity vs Quality

   • life is sacred as it has come from God
   • sanctity of life is referred to as "pro-life"
     • in favour of preservation of life at all costs
   • Quality of life views that life is of value but if quality is in jeopardy it may be kinder to bring it to an end
     • "pro-choice"

3. Abortion

   • deliberate termination of a pregnancy
   • 200,000 women every year in the UK
     • 4000 under age of consent for sex
   • up to 24 weeks except in exceptional circumstances, 2 doctors consent required
   • Catholics against in every circumstance
   • CofE only acceptable in exceptional circumstances

4. Fertility Treatment

   • Catholics disagree
     • infertility is part of God's plan
   • Other Christians believe medical help should be given tot hose who want a baby
   • Some reject AID as it brings a third party

5. Euthanasia

   • Most "Only God can decide when a life should be ended"
   • Some "humans have free will so they have a choice"
   • Sin
     • Ten Commandments say do not murder
   • means "easy death", death is deliberately chosen

6. Suicide

   • Sin
     • Exclude from heaven
   • "self murder"
   • used to not be allowed to be buried in consecrated ground

7. Genetic Engineering

   • use of human embryos to clone human cells raises significant ethical problems
   • "playing God"
   • embryos used to find ways of preventing and curing ilnesses
   • tissue from aborted feotuses implanted to slow down serious diseses such as Motor Neurone Disease
   • Catholic oppose embryo research
   • Anglican support up to 14 days
   • Accepted if controlled

8. Animal Experimentation

   • Some "my life is more important than animals"
   • God cares about the smallest reatures and not one sparrow will fall without God knowing
   • "animals don't have souls"
     • acceptable to be cruel
   • Humans can benefit
     • acceptable for essential medical research
   • unnecessary suffering should be avoided
     • not for cosmetic purposes