The use of medical technology Flashcards
What is artificial insemination by husband?(2)
Husband’s sperm is collected and inserted into the woman’s vagina
Fertilisation left to occur naturally
What is artificial insemination by donor(3)
Uses donor sperm from a donor bank and inserted into the woman’s vagina
Fertilisation left to occur naturally
Husband’s name on birth certificate, but child can find out biological father at 18
Explain the arguments surrounding artificial insemination(11)
All artificial insemination is wrong
- “children are a gift from the lord”(psalm 127:3), it is not our right to have them
- new life should be the fruit of a marriage
- technology should not be used to make new life, as it is unnatural
Artificial insemination by husband is moral
- Church of England - it is helping a loving, married couple to have children; wrong with a donor’s sperm as it brings a third party into the marriage
- correcting nature
- using a donor’s sperm is mechanical adultery
All artificial insemination is moral
- artificial insemination by donor is right in some circumstances(e.g. father has a genetic disease that may be passed on)
- better than adopting a child who is completely biologically unrelated
Describe in vitro fertilisation(3)
- Women’s ovaries are stimulated so more eggs are produced
- Eggs are collected and fertilised with sperm
- Some are placed back into the mother’s womb, rest are stored or destroyed
Describe the arguments for and against IVF(4+4)
For:
- couples have the right to have children since humans are made with the ability to reproduce
- infertility is like an illness, so we should cure it, just like how Jesus cured the sick
- IVF is using God given intelligence to carry out God’s plan(“be fruitful and multiply”(genesis 1:28)) and correct mistakes in nature
- if no embryos are destroyed there is nothing wrong with IVF
Against:
- “children are a gift from the lord”(psalm 127:3), it is not our right to have them
- IVF involves the destruction of new life, which is murder
- new life should come from natural love between husband and wife
- people should adopt other children instead of making new ones
What happens to the embryo that are stored(2)
Used for research for up to 14 days, after which it is destroyed
-at 14 days the nervous system starts developing so there is no chance of it forming twins, so it is a true individual
Describe surrogacy(2)
A woman’s egg is artificially fertilised by sperm, then implanted into a surrogate mother who carries and gives birth to the baby, and the baby is handed back to the biological parents
For women who are unable to carry their own babies, but still want a biologically related child
Describe the arguments for and against surrogacy(3+3)
For:
- bible describe Abraham and Sarah having a child through Hagar, which is surrogacy
- Christians should use their gift of fertility to help those who do not have it
- it is a form of self sacrificial love and compassion(“help to carry one another’s burdens”(galatians 6:2)
Against:
- involves another person in a marriage between 2 people
- undermines the right of a child to be conceived within marriage
- may become commercialised, which is treating a woman and her womb as an item
Describe some general arguments for and against fertility treatments and surrogacy(3+2)
For:
- responsible use by doctors of their god given skills to help others
- act of compassion since children enriches a marriage
- correcting nature, not interfering
Against:
- separates the unitive from the procreative aspect of the sexual relationship
- creation of spare embryos with the intuition of research/destruction disregards the sanctity of life, and can be seen as murder; exploits the most defenseless of God’s creations
Describe savior siblings(2)
IVF used to create embryo that is transplanted into the mother’s womb
When the child is born his stem cells are taken from his cord blood and is transplanted to save the sick sibling
Describe some arguments for and against savior siblings(4+3)
For:
- no difference to other kinds of organ and blood donations
- curing the sick just like how Jesus did, form of compassion
- saves one life and creates another
- brings other benefits such as siblings playing with each other
Against:
- embryos are destroyed(especially important for christians who believe in the sanctity of life from conception)
- we are not valuing the baby for what it is
- savior sibling may be emotionally damaged if they find out they were created for someone else’s sake
What is somatic cell therapy
Replacing defective genes to treat genetic disorders
Describe some arguments for and against somatic cell therapy(3+3)
For:
- price cannot be put on the life of a person
- responsible use of god given skills to save lives
- compassion as it saves lives, also an extension of Jesus’ healing
Against:
- may only be short term
- high risk - someone developed leukaemia as a result
- there are better ways of spending the money(e.g. food for the poor)
Describe some arguments for and against designer babies(2+5)
For:
- morally acceptable when used to make the child healthy
- increasing the possibility for a better life of the child, which is natural as parents want the best for their child
Against:
- many embryos are destroyed - breaches sanctity of life
- may lead to idolatry(worshiping beauty)
- test itself may harm the foetus
- child becomes a commodity rather than a gift from God
- leads to discrimination against disabled, certain race, certain sex or certain characteristics
Describe arguments for and against hybrid embryos(2+2)
For:
- research up to 14 days is acceptable
- help speed up research for cures of diseases
Against
- God made humans in his own image - mixing with animals destroys God’s image
- wrong to temper with God’s plan - humans and animals are seperate
