Medical Ethics (E)

Question 0

Christian view on the Sanctity of Life

Answer 0

All life is sacred as they believe in the sanctity of life.
Life is a gift from god.
Life is created by god and is to be protected.
The principle doesn’t extend to animals.
God gives life and only he can take it away.

Question 1

What’s is the sanctity of life principle?

Answer 1

The principle that all life is sacred and unique and shouldn’t be taken away.

Sanctity means purity and holiness
Everybody is unique
There are few people, whether they have faith or not, who don’t value the gift of life.

People believing in this principle are against taking life.

Question 2

Muslim view on sanctity of life

Answer 2

All life is sacred.
Life is a gift from Allah.
Once life has been given, no human has the right to take it away.

Question 3

What is abortion?

Answer 3

The intentional premature expulsion of the foetus from the womb whether procured (Dr) or natural (miscarriage).

It’s allowed if the birth of the child would harm the mother or child.
If there’s a risk of the child being born with mental or physical difficulties.
Must take place 24 weeks after conception.

Question 4

What was pro life and pro choice mean?

Answer 4

Pro life: someone who thinks he foetus has the right to life so is against abortion.

Pro choice: someone who thinks that a woman has right to choose and so is in favour of abortion.

Question 5

For and against abortion

Answer 5

For:
The birth may kill the mother
If the mother has been raped
If the child may be born with difficulties
If made illegal, people would still have (unsafe) abortions

Against:
Can be considered murder
Everyone has the right to life
Discrimination against people with disabilities
Mothers can be harmed or may regret the decision

Question 6

Catholic view on abortion

Answer 6

They forbid abortion and believe that anyone who commits the sun of abortion automatically excommunicates themselves from the church however they show love and support for those who’ve had an abortion.

“No pregnancy is unplanned because no baby can be conceived unless Almighty God intends that conception.”

Question 7

Protestant view on abortion

Answer 7

Most protestant churches agree with Roman Catholics in principle however they’re prepared to allow abortion in certain circumstances and leave the decision to the conscience of the individual.

“Every human life, created in the divine image, is unique.”

Question 8

Islamic view on abortion

Answer 8

They believe it’s a crime against a living human so it’s forbidden. If it is reliably established that a mother may die, it’s allowed.
Life is a gift

“Kill not your children for the fear of want: we shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verify the killing of them is a sin.”

Question 9

Hindu view on abortion

Answer 9

All life is sacred and there would be no interference with the natural processes.

“His being is the source of all being, the seed of all things that in this life have their life.”

Question 10

What’s fertility treatment?

Answer 10

A term which refers to any artificial methods used to try and achieve pregnancy.

Question 11

What are the methods of fertility treatment?

Answer 11

IVF - woman given drugs to help her produce eggs to be fertilised in laboratory conditions

AIH - artificial insemination by husband - sperm taken from the husband and inserted into womb

AID - artificial insemination by donor

Surrogacy - another woman has child for them

Question 12

Islamic view on fertility treatment

Answer 12

Support any involving only the husband and father.
They support AIH, IVF and adoption?

“A righteous child is a blessing for its parents in this life and the next”

Question 13

Protestant view on fertility treatment

Answer 13

They’re usually in favour/allow it
Support treatment involving mother and father as long as spare eggs are treated humanely and support donors if not paid.
For AIH, adoption and surrogacy (IVF if eggs treated well and donor if not paid)
Allow it as they believe Jesus was a healer so it would be accepted by God and Jesus

“Go forth and multiply”

Question 14

Humanist view on fertility treatment

Answer 14

Everyone should be able to have a family and children as long as they can look after it. Families are built on love and respect.
For AIH, AID, IVF, surrogacy and adoption.

“Treat others as you would like to be treated.”

Question 15

What’s cloning

Answer 15

An animal or plant produced from the cells of another, to which it is genetically identical.

Therapeutic - medical purposes (legal)
Reproductive - grow to an individual person (illegal)

Question 16

Protestant view on cloning

Answer 16

Neutral
Application is what is morally good / bad.
Others believe it is playing God and God designed humans to reproduce sexually.

Question 17

Catholic view on cloning

Answer 17

All against and believe its wrong.
Cloning cuts across the God given uniqueness.
We are maintainers of the earth, not creators and clones may be treated as sub-human.

Question 18

What is euthanasia?

Passive and active

Answer 18

Literally means a gentle, easy death.

Passive euthanasia (non-voluntary) when the decision that a person should die is made without the consent of that person (e.g. Turning off life support).

Active euthanasia (voluntary) where a person chooses to end their own life in a dignified way, sometimes referred to as a ‘mercy killing’ (different to suicide as the person is physically unable to end their own life).

Question 19

For and against euthanasia

Answer 19

For:
Many terminally ill patients are in great pain and are experiencing a poor quality of life.
Should long, expensive treatments be allowed only to prolong life for a few more days?
There’s little difference between euthanasia and suicide (legal).

Against:
If it were openly practised, some people would fear doctors.
Some feel pain can be controlled by drugs.
People could be pressured or influenced.
Some people who request it are clinically depressed.

Question 20

Catholic views on euthanasia

Answer 20

Against both types

Catholic Church teaches that it’s a “grave violation of the law of God”.

The double effect is considered ok (large doses of painkillers to end suffering)

Question 21

Protestant view on euthanasia

Answer 21

Are against active euthanasia but passive and double effect is ok.

Strong arguments are made for people who are suffering to not be kept alive at all costs.

Question 22

Muslim view on euthanasia

Answer 22

Against - “do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction”
It’s seen as murder and suicide is also seen as wrong unless in the name of Allah
Unclear about their view on passive euthanasia.

Question 23

Humanist view on euthanasia

Answer 23

Fine with all forms of euthanasia as it shows and defends the right of each individual to love by his or her own personal values.
You should have the freedom to make your own decisions as long as you haven’t been pressured by anyone.

Question 24

What’s suicide

Answer 24

The act of taking ones own life voluntarily and intentionally.

Question 25

All views on suicide

Answer 25

Catholic - against. Only god can take away life

Protestant - against. Only God can take away life (more passive than ^)

Muslims - against. Life is sacred unless you are dying for Allah.

Humanist - allow. People have the right to choose for themselves.

Question 26

What’s vivisection?

Answer 26

Animal testing

A treatment of living animals for scientific research.

Question 27

Laws on vivisection

4

Answer 27

Must be done in a licensed place
Must use the least amount of animals possible
Must treat the animals well and keep them in good condition
An inspector can come in at anytime, even without notice

Question 28

For and against animal testing

Answer 28

For:
Finds new medicines and products which prevent diseases
Tests that the chemicals are safe to use
Researches what humans and animals need to keep healthy
Develops new methods of curing diseases

Against:
Harms / can kill animals - they suffer
Results may be inaccurate as humans and animals respond differently
Could happen on people volunteers

Question 29

Christian view on vivisection

Answer 29

Some believe humans have control over animals
“let them (man) rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air”
Others believe God gave humans the responsibility to look after animals and treat them as equals.

Question 30

Jewish views on vivisection

Answer 30

Animals can be used for the benefit of humans but they must be cared for and treated well.

Question 31

Hindus view on vivisection

Answer 31

Completely against
Believe in ahimsa - meaning non-violence
They believe it’s part of their dharma (duty) not to harm any living being/thing.

Question 32

What was the hospice movement?

Answer 32

Cicely Saunders was a nurse working in a hospice.
She identified what was necessary to patients e,g. Better pain control therefore wished and planned to form the first “research and teaching hospice linking expert pain and symptom control, compassionate care, teaching and clinical research…” at St Christopher’s.

She broadened what hospices focused on.
Research and support is palliative care was needed.
She wanted to establish a hospice which would relieve the physical, emotional and mental suffering of those dying to improve their last days.

She felt euthanasia was wrong and there wasn’t enough choice medically.

Question 33

What are the Christian attitudes towards suicide?

Answer 33

It is self murder therefore is wrong and will lead to eternal condemnation

Only god has the right to take life

Some support organisations as they feel people at risk of committing suicide need help not condemnation.

Question 34

What are the Christian attitudes towards helping a terminally ill person to die?

Answer 34

Most oppose his as taking life is murder and they’d rather comfort the person than assist their suicide through euthanasia.

Some feel if their quality of life is so bad that the person doesn’t want to carry on then they should help.

Suffering may have a purpose so euthanasia could be going against the divine plan.

Hospice movement offers a positive alternative to euthanasia.

Different views on active and passive euthanasia.

Question 35

What are the Christian attitudes towards suicide?

Answer 35

It is self murder therefore is wrong and will lead to eternal condemnation

Only god has the right to take life

Some support organisations as they feel people at risk of committing suicide need help not condemnation.

Question 36

What are the Christian attitudes towards helping a terminally ill person to die?

Answer 36

Most oppose his as taking life is murder and they’d rather comfort the person than assist their suicide through euthanasia.

Some feel if their quality of life is so bad that the person doesn’t want to carry on then they should help.

Suffering may have a purpose so euthanasia could be going against the divine plan.

Hospice movement offers a positive alternative to euthanasia.

Different views on active and passive euthanasia.

Question 37

What does sacred mean?

Answer 37

Connected with God or to God or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving respect.

Blessed, holy, respected.

Question 38

What’s the double effect?

Answer 38

A Catholic doctrine which teaches that euthanasia is acceptable as a side effect of treatment that is intended to help the patient

Question 39

Bible quotes on abortion:

Answer 39

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”

“Before you were born I set you apart”

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him”

Question 40

What’s fertility treatment?

Answer 40

Medical procedures to assist conception

Question 42

Bible quotes on fertility treatment, surrogacy and embryology:

Answer 42

“Hannah had no children… because the Lord had closed her womb”

“Do you not know you body is a temple to the Holy Spirit?”

“God blessed them and said to them be fruitful and increase in number”

Question 43

Explain why Christians have different attitudes towards suicide:

Answer 43

Many Christians still take the view that as Suicide is self murder and it is therefore wrong.
In the view of some Christians, suicide will lead to eternal damnation.
Only God has the right to take life.

Other Christians, whilst believing it to be wrong to take one’s life would practise agape.
They will show compassion and understanding and may support organisations like the Samaritans. This is because they believe people at risk of committing suicide need help, not condemnation.

Question 44

‘It is always wrong to take a human life.’

Answer 44

The guiding principles for Christians are the commandments against killing and to love one’s neighbour.
Both of these suggest that it is always wrong to take life.
Human life is too special (sacred for anyone except God to give it or take it away).
Hence, in the case of a terminal illness, most Christians are against euthanasia.
This because taking a life is murder and they would seek to help to support and comfort the person through the final stages of their life rather than assist their suicide through euthanasia.

However in some situations the life and death issue becomes blurred by the ability of modern medical care to prolong life.
There is a difference between killing (active euthanasia) and allowing a person to die – nature taking its course – passive euthanasia.
Hence it may be that a life is ended by a lack of medical intervention rather than by actual killing.

On the other hand, suffering may have purpose and euthanasia or suicide could be going against the divine plan.

Some Christians believe that if the quality of life is so bad that the person feels unable to go on living that the loving (Christian/agape) thing to do is to help them to die.
In the case of abortion, the possibility of double effect may lead to an acceptance of the need to kill the unborn child.

Killing in war is regarded as acceptable and even encouraged by the record in the scriptures of warfare and the virtues it evokes.
The Just war theory was devised to enable Christians to fight and kill their enemies whilst remaining within the faith.
Killing as punishment of wrongdoing is also acceptable in some ‘Christian’ countries.

Question 45

Catholic view on fertility treatment

Answer 45

Against egg or sperm donation and 3rd person involved so are against AID and surrogacy but for AIH, IVF and adoption.
They believe God has a plan for everyone.

“Life is a gift from God and we do not have a right to children”

Question 45

When do Christians believe life begins?

Answer 45

Catholics believe life begins from the moment of conception.

Others believe it’s only considered fully human when it can survive outside the womb so it doesn’t have the same rights as people until then.
Before that, it can be killed without it being considered murder.

Question 45

When do Christians believe life begins?

Answer 45

Catholics believe life begins from the moment of conception.

Others believe it’s only considered fully human when it can survive outside the womb so it doesn’t have the same rights as people until then.
Before that, it can be killed without it being considered murder.