Matters Of Life Flashcards
Define ‘Sanctity Of Life’
Christian and Muslim belief that all life is a sacred gift from God.
Define ‘Quality Of Life’
A measure of fulfillment.
Define ‘Conception’
The moment the sperm fertilised the egg.
Define ‘Quickening’
First detectable movement of the foetus.
Define ‘Ensoulment’
At some moment of a foetus’ life, it receives it’s soul.
Define ‘Infertile’
Unable to have children.
Define ‘Fertility Treatment’
Medical procedure to assist an infertile couple to have children.
What does IVF stand for?
In Vitro Fertilisation.
Define ‘IVF’
A scientific method of making a woman pregnant, which does not include sex. Conception occurs in a test tube.
Define ‘Test Tube Baby’
Term used for baby created outside the woman’s body.
Define ‘Artificial Insemination (AI)’
Sperm medically inserted into the vagina to assist pregnancy.
What does AIH stand for?
Artificial Insemination Husband.
What does AID stand for?
Artificial Insemination Donor.
Define ‘Surrogacy’
A fertilised egg is implanted into another woman’s womb.
Define ‘Transplant Surgery’
When someone else’s organs are put into a patient.
Define ‘Blood Tranfusion’
When a patient is given extra blood as part of an operation.
Define ‘Human Genetic Engineering’
The modification of gene make-up to change the features of a human.
Define ‘Embryology’
The study of human embryos.
Define ‘Embryo’
Fertilised egg at about 12-14 days when implanted into the wall of the womb.
Define ‘Designer Baby’
Babies with gender and characteristics chosen by their parents.
Define ‘Stem Cell’
A cell, most often taken from a 4-5 day old embryo, whose role in the body is yet to be determined.
Define ‘Saviour Sibling’
A sibling, genetically compatible with a sick child and born to use stem cells to treat the sick child.
Define ‘Cloning’
The scientific method where an exact replica of an animal or plant is produced. It has the exact same genetic make-up as the original.
Explain Catholic views towards fertility treatments.
Catholics disagree with all forms of fertility treatments as they believe that it is up to God whether a couple should have a child or not.
What did the Pope call AID?
Mechanical Adultery
Explain Christian views towards fertility treatments.
Christians support IVF and AIH because they are still between a married, heterosexual couple. AID is not approved as the parents are not married.
Explain Islamic views towards fertility treatments.
Muslims allow IVF and AIH for married couples, but don’t allow AID as they see it as adultery.
Explain Catholic views towards surrogacy.
They do not support surrogacy as they believe it is up to God whether a couple have a child or not.
Explain Islamic views towards surrogacy.
Muslims forbid surrogacy as it involves pregnancy outside marriage. “None can be their mothers except those who gave them birth” - Qur’an
Explain Joseph Fletcher’s views towards surrogacy.
Fletcher believes it could be the most loving thing to do as it gives a child to loving parents.
Explain Catholic views towards genetic engineering, embryology and cloning.
Catholics believe that experimenting on embryos is wrong as it undermines the sanctity of life.
Explain Christian views towards genetic engineering, embryology and cloning.
Christians support research on embryos under 14 days old, as long as these embryos are not just created for research.
Explain Muslim views towards genetic engineering, embryology and cloning.
Muslims believe that we should use the scientific knowledge given to us by Allah. However, embryos must not be created solely for research.
Explain Christian views towards designer babies.
Christians believe it is wrong as it is against the sanctity of life and God’s individual plan for us.
Explain Muslim views towards designer babies.
Muslims believe it is wrong as Allah chooses our identity and we should not change the plans that He has made for us.
Explain Muslim views towards blood transfusions.
Muslims only support blood transfusions if they are really necessary.
Explain Christian views towards blood transfusions.
Christians support blood transfusions as they believe it is following the teaching of “love thy neighbour”
Explain Jehovah’s Witnesses views towards blood transfusions.
Jehovah’s witnesses are against blood transfusions as the believe that blood is sacred to God. They believe that blood has only one use, the atonement of sins. When a Christian abstains from blood, they are in effect expressing faith that only the shed blood of Jesus Christ can truly redeem their life.
Explain Muslim views towards organ transplants.
Muslims agree to organ transplants, as long as the organs are human.
Explain Christian views towards organ transplants.
Christians support organ transplants, Pope John Paul II said a transplant is an “act of charity”
