‘The religious concept of sanctity of life has no meaning in twenty-first century medical ethics’

Question 1

PLAN

FOR

Answer 1

For:

• absolutism of sanctity of life
• Scientific advancements tell us when lives are worth saving
• outdated, biological life is not life

Question 2

PLAN

AGAINST

Answer 2

• medical science has limits, predictions can still be false
• sanctity of life makes sense outside of christianity, it is reasonable in itself.
• it can be said to have already influenced our rights

Question 3

• absolutism of sanctity of life

Answer 3

• The sanctity of life principle stems from the Judeo-Christian belief that God gave life and therefore all life is sacred. In an era or democracy and plurality of religious beliefs, it is arguable that the dogma of sanctity of life should not be used to inform the law.

Question 4

• Scientific advancements tell us when lives are worth saving

Answer 4

• The absolute ban on the taking of life that ancient religions predates many advances in medical science. This medical knowledge arguably gives us the ability to know with confidence when a life ought to be saved, when death is inevitable and the knowledge that the human body might continue to survive even when consciousness has gone forever (in the case of persistent vegetative state). Therefore, we should use science to help inform the laws around euthanasia, not religious concepts that are outdated.

Question 5

-outdated, biological life is not life

Answer 5

• The absolute sanctity of life is based on outdated practices. There is no reason to keep a body alive when the ‘person’ is gone.

Question 6

• medical science has limits, predictions can still be false

Answer 6

• Medical science has its limits. Doctors who are experts in palliative care find it difficult to predict when death is inevitable. Death may be extremely likely, but there can be considerable uncertainty about times frames etc. Patients sometimes recover.

Question 7

• sanctity of life makes sense outside of christianity, it is reasonable in itself.

Answer 7

• You do not necessarily have to believe in God to believe that all life should be valued and protected. This concept might have started from the religion but it is recognised even in our more secular world.

Question 8

• it can be said to have already influenced our rights

Answer 8

• Traditional religious beliefs about the sanctity of life protect life. Life is valued in society, even by those who are not religious. There are rational reasons to want to protect life. The principle of the sanctity of life could be said to have influenced the creation of human rights, such as ‘the right to life’