Religion and Medical Ethics

Question 1

What is the Sanctity of life?

Answer 1

x Many Christians believe that human life is sacred because it has been created by God
x Christians believe that God created humans as special creatures
x ‘God created mankind in his own image’
x Christians believe that life belongs to God and therefore only God has the right to take life

Question 2

What is Abortion?

Answer 2

x Abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy by the removal and destruction of the foetus
x Two doctors need to give consent for an abortion to be legal in the UK
x In the UK, abortion is legal providing that the pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week, and the risk of terminating the pregnancy is not as big as the continuance of the pregnancy (injury to the mother or child)

Question 3

What is Euthanasia?

Answer 3

x Euthanasia literally means good death
x It is a very controversial topic with cases of terminally ill patient
x Euthanasia is illegal in the UK but not in other places like Switzerland

Question 4

What are the types of Euthanasia?

Answer 4

x Voluntary Euthanasia: the patient decides when to end their life (assisted suicide)
x Involuntary Euthanasia: when a doctor decides when someone’s life should end
x Passive Euthanasia: when the patient requests that treatment should be stopped (legal in the UK)
x Active Euthanasia: when action is taken to bring life to an end, for example lethal dose of drugs

Question 5

What are Christian views on abortion?

Answer 5

x The Bible does not mention abortion
x The Roman Catholic Church teaches that babies have a soul from the moment of conception
x The Roman Catholic Church teaches that abortion is a great moral evil, and the same as murder, it is not permitted in any circumstances
x The Church of England teaches that abortion is only acceptable in exceptional circumstances e.g. the mothers life is at risk

Question 6

What does a ‘Soul’ mean?

Answer 6

x The non-physical part of a person that may or may not go to heaven when the person dies

Question 7

What is fertility treatment?

Answer 7

x Fertility treatment is the medical assistance given to people who wang babies but cannot have them

Question 8

What types of fertility treatment are available?

Answer 8

x In vitro fertilisation (IVF): fertilisation happens in a test tube, embryo is then placed inside the woman. More than one egg is fertilised, and many christians are concerned about these spare embryos
x Sperm or egg donor: sometimes one partner cannot produce healthy sperm or egg, and may be used from someone else, some christians believe this goes against the idea that marriage is exclusive

Question 9

What is the Doctrine of double effect?

Answer 9

x If doing something morally good has a morally bad side effect, it is right to do providing that the bad side effect was no intended

Question 10

What is an Ectopic pregnancy?

Answer 10

x When a foetus starts to grow in a Fallopian tube rather than the womb

Question 11

What is a miscarriage?

Answer 11

x When a baby is aborted through natural causes

Question 12

What is AID?

Answer 12

x Artificial insemination by donor

Question 13

What is AIH?

Answer 13

x Artificial insemination by husband

Question 14

What are Christian beliefs on Embryo research?

Answer 14

x Scientists claim that by studying and using cells in a human embryo is a better way to prevent and cure various illnesses
x Sanctity of life, some christians believe that some embryo research is an abuse of the gift of life given by God
x The Roman Catholic Church opposes all embryo research
x The Church of England support embryo research up to 14 days

Question 15

What is cloning?

Answer 15

x The making of a replica

Question 16

What is reproductive cloning?

Answer 16

x Cloning to produce an identical human baby
x Done by fusing the nucleus of one cell with the unfertilised egg of a donor
x Theoretically possible to clone humans, but many christians see this as playing God

Question 17

What is therapeutical cloning?

Answer 17

x Cloning certain tissues and stem cells that can be used in medical treatment

Question 18

What is suicide?

Answer 18

x Suicide is when someone takes their own life

Question 19

What are Christian beliefs on suicide?

Answer 19

x Suicide is an immoral, criminal offence against God
x In the past those who committed suicide were denied a Christian burial
x Most Christian churches still believe suicide is wrong, but are more understanding of why someone would take their life
x The Samaritans was set up in 1953 as a 24 hour telephone helpline for those who have suicidal thoughts

Question 20

What is a hospice?

Answer 20

x A place where terminally ill patients are cared for

Question 21

What is palliative care?

Answer 21

x Care for a terminally ill patient to help them die in as much comfort as possible

Question 22

What are Christian beliefs on animal rights?

Answer 22

x Christians believe that humans are made in the image of God
x They believe that humans have been given control over animals (Dominion)
x ‘Let us make mankind in our own image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’
x Most Christians believe animals do not have souls
x Most Christians are not vegetarians and see nothing wrong with eating meat

Question 23

What is Stewardship?

Answer 23

x Christians believe that God left humans the earth to look after on his behalf

Question 24

What is vivisection?

Answer 24

x Experimentation on live animals

Question 25

What are Christian beliefs on animal experimentation?

Answer 25

x Christians believe that animals do not have a soul like humans but still believe that it is not right to be cruel to animals
x Christians believe God has place humans as stewards of the earth
x Christians recognise that humans may benefit from animal experiments

Question 26

What are some other beliefs on animal experimentation?

Answer 26

x Some people understand its importance to help us, animal experimentation has led to vaccines for tuberculosis
x Some people argue that humans and animals are so genetically different that we do not benefit from experimentation