euth - 3.Assess whether or not the religious concept of sanctity of life has any meaning in the twenty-first century medical ethics

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

• Sanctity of life – a religious concept that human life is made in God’s image and it therefore sacred in value
• An alternative view is quality of life – a largely secular idea that human life has to posses’ certain attributes in order to have value
• It does not have meaning in 21st century medical ethics

Question 2

paragraph 1

Answer 2

• Sanctity of life considers ethical situations from more of a natural law perspective
• It considers what the best thing to do religiously is
• Not useful in a secular society where everyone has conflicting differences on what should be done – outs of place in our society
• Medical ethics focuses on autonomy – forcing people to live when they don’t want it does not consider what is in the best interest of the individual
• Example of euthanasia – voluntary euthanasia – the individual has the mental capacity to request death therefore allowing them the ability to want to do and not to prolong a life because of religious teachings that they don’t believe in is not inline with medical ethics

Question 3

paragraph 2

Answer 3

• Quality of life is a better approach as it considers peoples worth
• More favoured by situation ethics
• 5 quality of life commandments – we should respect a person’s desire to die, we should recognise that the worth of human life varies
• Quality of life recognises the autonomy of the person and their desires
• This is very important in medical ethics
• Use of situation ethics – it gives flexibility which is useful in challenging and complex situations such as those regarding euthanasia
• Modern medical knowledge and technology can mean that maximising the happiness for the majority (utilitarian) can work as we now know if someone will survive ie in a case of PVS

Question 4

paragraph 3

Answer 4

• Can be argued that quality of life falls short
• It does not ensure that basic rights such as the right to life are respected – eg in cases that regard people who are unable t talk for themselves
• Sanctity of life also holds intrinsic values of life in culture as we dehumanise each other and so can be seen as a strength
• HOWEVER, it is based on one religion and therefore should not be enforced in such a large area (medical ethics)
• Some may argue that solely following sanctity of life then it leads to people dying in horrible pain

Question 5

conclusion

Answer 5

• Sanctity of life does not have any meaning in society when regarding 21st medical ethics
• Overall the main focuses should be on what the best interest of the patient is
• As well as considering what medical individuals feel is right for them eg the follow sanctity of life and therefore with not euthanise
• BUT forcing everyone to follow a personal and religious perspective is not longer acceptable and has no meaning in society