Christianity 2 ~ Medical Ethics Flashcards
What does the term ‘sanctity of life’ mean?
All life is made by God and is sacred
“Don’t you know that you…
… yourselves are God’s temple and his spirit lives in you”
What does the term ‘abortion’ mean?
The Termination of a life after conception and before birth
What are Christian responses to abortion?
~ It’s wrong because God has chosen for that life to be created
~ It’s wrong because if you can’t raise the child it could be adopted
~ It’s ok because everyone has freewill
~ It’s ok because God’s given us the ability to abort so he’s ok with it
What is fertility treatment?
Using modern medical procedures to help a couple or single woman who wants to have a baby, to have one
Why do some Christians not agree with the use of donor sperm or eggs?
~ Children should be brought up by their biological mother and father
~ It’s like involving a 3rd person in the marriage
What is euthanasia?
A peaceful assisted death
What is suicide?
Choosing to take your own life
How does dominion relate to animal testing?
We have dominion over animals so we have power over them
How does stewardship relate to animal testing?
We should care for the animals as they’re Gods creations
What are some Christian responses to animal testing?
+ Humans will benefit from it and we have dominion over animals
- We are stewards so should care for animals
+ It may save animals lives by making new medicines
- It’s cruel and destroys lives that God has created
“The Lord giveth…
…and the Lord taketh away”
What are the different types of fertility treatment?
~ IVF (Eggs and sperm are collected from mother and father, and fertilisation takes place in laboratory conditions, and the fertilised egg is then put in the mothers womb)
~ AIH (artificial insemination by the husband)
~ AID (artificial insemination by donor)
“Before I formed you in the womb…
…I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”
What are the different types of abortion?
~ ‘Spontaneous abortion’ which is a miscarriage
~ ‘Procured abortion’ where the life of the baby is deliberately ended
Why might someone want an abortion?
~ If they were raped
~ If the baby has a condition which will limit its quality of life
~ If the mother can’t raise the child
What is the abortion act 1967?
When abortion became illegal in England
What is cloning?
The creation of an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another
What are the 3 different types of euthanasia?
Active euthanasia - when action is taken to bring life to an end.
Passive euthanasia - when a decision is made to stop giving further treatment, resulting in death.
Involuntary euthanasia - when other people decide it would be best for someone’s life to end, if the person is incapable of making the choice.
What are the 2 different types of abortion?
Spontaneous abortion - when the foetus dies naturally
Procured abortion - when the life of a foetus is ended intentionally before it is born
Why may cloning be done?
~ To produce multiple identical copies of DNA for experiments
~ To produce an animal with the same DNA as another animal
~ To produce human embryos to gather stem cells for research
What are Christian views on cloning?
- Research on embryos can result in them being destructed afterwards, and life is sacred.
- “The lord giveth and the lord taketh away”
+ It may find cures to diseases
+ God has given scientists the ability to do it
What is a pro-life organisation? (against abortion)
LIFE
What are Christian views on fertility treatment?
+ God gave humans the ability to do it
+ ‘Be fruitful and increase in number’
+ Makes couples happy
- Unnatural to have a child other than through sex
- God should decide when conception takes place
- Roman C’s think using donors is like having a 3rd person in the marriage, and destroying spare embryos is murdering
What are Christian views on euthanasia?
+ ‘Do not judge or you too will be judged’
+ Stops suffering
- Life is sacred and a gift from God
- People may change their mind if given lots of support to make them enjoy their life more
What do the Baptist and Church of England think of euthanasia?
They believe it is wrong because life is sacred, but they believe treatment can be ended by doctors if there is no chance of recovery
What does the Roman Catholic Church think of euthanasia?
They regard it as murder, however except the use of some drugs that relieve pain but can shorten life
What are some things that may influence a person to commit suicide?
~ Depression
~ Money problems
~ Bereavement
What are Christian views on suicide?
- God chooses when we die
- Suffering may be intended by God for a reason
- Suicide is selfish as it causes pain for family
- ‘You shall not murder’
- In the past considered sinful and victims were not allowed a Christian burial in the churchyard
+ Today Christians are more considerate and support relatives
What does the organisation Samaritans do?
Provide confidential emotional support in the hope of preventing suicide and increase public awareness about it so people can help one another
What is using animals in medical research?
The use of animals in testing the safety and effectiveness of medicines
What do the Roman Catholic and Church of England think of animal testing?
They agree with it as long as it is within reasonable limits and saves human lives, but there should be no unnecessary suffering to animals
What is the technical term for animal testing?
Vivisection
What is reproductive cloning?
When an animal is produced which has the exact same DNA as another animal
What is therapeutic cloning?
Cloning which uses embryos for stem cells
What does in vitro fertilisation literally mean?
In a test tube
What is the doctrine of double effect?
Believing it’s ok to offer pain relief which has a side effect of speeding up death, which the Catholic church believe
In the UK how long after being tested on must embryos be destroyed by?
14 days
Who founded the Samaritans?
Chad Varrah
How many weeks can you have an abortion up to?
24
