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
