Matters of Life and Death

Question 1

What is meant by the term ‘Sanctity of Human Life’?

Answer 1

Sanctity of human life is the special value of every person’s life. Every individual human life is precious and has a special, intristic value beyond all price.

Question 2

What is the quote from Genesis 1:26?

Answer 2

Every human being is made in the image and likeness of God.

Question 3

What is abortion?

Answer 3

The act of deliberately ending a pregnancy; it is the intentional destruction of the foetus from the womb to cause its death.

Question 4

Why do women have abortions?

Answer 4

-The baby has a severe disability
-The woman was raped
-The pregnancy will interfere with education or career
-The woman is too old for parenthood
-The woman’s life/health will be affected
-Fear of parent’s reaction when the mother is a teenager

Question 5

What did the 1967 Abortion Act do?

Answer 5

Made abortion legal in England, Scotland and Wales.

Question 6

What did the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act do?

Answer 6

Create a new upper of limit of 24 weeks as the cut off of when an abortion can happen.

Question 7

How many legal abortions happened in Scotland and Wales in 2021? What record did this take?

Answer 7

214,256 abortions which was the highest number or recorded abortions since the Act passed in 1967.

Question 8

Pro-Life arguments:

Answer 8

-Humans do not have the right to pass quality of life on disabled foetuses. Many disabled people lead self-fulfilled and happy lives. By killing unborn disabled babies, society promotes a message that we do not value the contribution that disabled people make to the community.
-No child is an unwanted child. Many childless couples are eager to adopt. Rape is a horrendous crime. However, it is not right to punish an innocent child conceived out of rape for the sin of its father. A second wrong does not right the first.
-Many organisations have been set up to support mothers who cannot afford or look after their child all by themselves (eg MumsAid)

Question 9

Pro-choice arguments:

Answer 9

Women need gopher right to abortion in order to have full rights over their body (autonomy), including the right to decide whether or not to carry a foetus to birth. Without the right they do not have the same moral status as men.
-Abortion bans don’t necessarily prevent abortions, they simply prevent safe abortions as they force women to seek clandestine alternatives.
-Every child has the right to a loving family, with can meet its material needs. If basic needs cannot be met: abortion is justified. There are too many children living in poverty in the world, why add to them.
Women fear the social stigma of having a baby young-May be discriminated against for employment.

Question 10

How does the Catholic Church view abortion?

Answer 10

They follow natural law maintaining an absolutist approach to abortion, with the exception of abortion as a side effect of treating the other.

Question 11

What does the Presbyterian Church say about abortion?

Answer 11

“From his earliest days in the womb, the unborn child is fully human, a person made in the image and likeness of God”.

Question 12

What does the Anglican Church say about abortion?

Answer 12

That in some cases it may be necessary, for example if the mother has been raped or the baby is at risk of a serious disability.

Question 13

In terms of the church, what alternatives to abortion do they offer?

Answer 13

-The church community can provide direct social and emotional support
-They can organise for the parents to be counselled to bring them together
-The church will welcome and accept single mothers fully into parish life.

Question 14

What is euthanasia?

Answer 14

The painless killing of a patient suffering from a terminal illness.

Question 15

What is another name for euthanasia?

Answer 15

Mercy killing.

Question 16

What does active euthanasia mean?

Answer 16

A person directly and deliberately causes the patient’s death, for example by an overdose of pain-killers.

Question 17

What does passive euthanasia mean?

Answer 17

A person does not directly the patient’s life; they just allow them to die. The can be by withdrawing or withholding treatment.

Question 18

What does voluntary euthanasia mean?

Answer 18

Euthanasia is carried out by the request of the person who dies.

Question 19

What does non-voluntary euthanasia mean?

Answer 19

The person is unconscious or otherwise unable to make a meaningful choice between living and dying, and someone makes the decision on their behalf.

Question 20

What does involuntary euthanasia mean?

Answer 20

The person who dies wants to live but is killed anyway.

Question 21

What is palliative care?

Answer 21

Medical, emotional or spiritual care given to the person who is terminally ill and is aimed at reducing the suffering rather than curing.

Question 22

How can you tell if someone wants to take part in voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 22

-Refusing food
-Refusing medical treatment
-Asking for direct help to die
-Asking for medical treatment to be withdrawn, or life support machines to be turned off.

Question 23

Reasons for euthanasia:

Answer 23

-Personal autonomy: some argue that it is their life and they should have freedom to decide when they end their life.
-Saves loved ones suffering if they don’t have to witness a painful drawn-out death.
-A dignified death: some people argue that the have very poor quality of life and become dependant on others to care for them and their life is no longer worth living in these circumstances.

Question 24

Reasons against euthanasia:

Answer 24

-Family may pressure their sick/elderly relatives into taking that option so that the family are spared expense and trouble.
-Euthanasia removes the sanctity of human life.
-Suffering is a part of life, Jesus suffered and so he understands. Suffering may have positive qualities as we may be drawn closer to God.