RE Short Course - Christianity and Medical Ethics

All human life is sacred and a gift from God

Everyone is equal in the eyes of God

Every life should be treated with respect, as an act of worship to God

Catholic Church

Never acceptable (they follow Natural Law)

ONLY if life of mother is at risk (double effect)

Life starts at conception - a foetus has a right to life

Church of England

Can be justified in certain circumstances

 - If the mother could die

 - If the baby could suffer severe disabilty

SOME think it should be allowed if the mother had been ***** 

ALL believe adoption should be considered

ALL think the mother should recieve support

'You shall not murder' Exodus 20:13

'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart' Jeremiah 1:5

FOR

SOME believe that God has given humans the ability to develop medical knowledge to help infertile couples

Jesus is often portrayed in the bible carrying out acts of healing because of his love and compassion

Treat others as you would wish to be treated

'Jesus healed those who needed healing' Luke 9:11

AGAINST

SOME believe it goes against the will of God

A child is a gift from God, not a right

You can't play God

CATHOLIC CHURCH - The use of donor eggs or sperm is wrong as it brings someone else into the marriage

MANY Christians are concerned over the use and disposal of embryos

SOME say childless couples should adopt

'Hannah had no children because the Lord had closed her womb' 1 Samuel 1:2-6

All life is sacred

SOME say God has given man intelligence and that we should use it 

e.g. using research to find cures for diseases etc.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Research on cloned embryos is wrong and immoral - you shouldn't deliberately create new life just for research

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Theraputic cloning is ethical as it doesn't result in creating another human being

Euthanasia - assistes suicide or mercy killing

Voluntary Euthanasia - when the person concerned asks someone else to help them die

Involuntary Euthanasia - when the person concerned is no longer able to make a decision e.g. if they're in a coma or persistent vegetative state (PVS)
 - the decision is then taken by relatives or medical experts 

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Euthanasia is morally wrong

It is acceptable to refuse life-preserving medical treatment

They accept when death occurs as part of a 'double effect' - when medicine is used to relieve pain but the side-effect is to speed up death

Only God owns life, so we do not have the right to choose when to die

Suffering and pain are part of life and not a reason to choose death

God loves humans whatever condition they are in

Only dying naturally is truly dignified

Christian denominations support the Hospice movement

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Euthanasia is morally wrong

It is acceptable to refuse life-preserving treatment

Suicide - when someone takes their own life

ALL Christians believe suicide is wrong

Life is a gift from God and should be valued and treated with respect

MOST churches believe that people who feel suicidal should be given help, support and guidance

'You shall not murder' Exodus 20:13

'So God created man in his own image' Genesis 1:27

'Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit' 1 Corinthians 6:19

Christians believe that humans are the most important part of God's creation

God gave humans responsibility to rule over animals

Animals are not considered to have souls, so cannot have the same relationship with God as humans do

Stewardship - looking after God's creation 

Humans have a responsibilty to make sure that animals are cared for and not abused or mistreated

'The earth is the Lord's and everything in it' Psalm 24:1

CATHOLIC CHURCH

'Medical and scientific experimentation is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives'

Unnecessary suffering should not be inflicted on animals

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Humans have a responsibility to care for the welfare of animals even if it is necessary to use them in experiments

Animals should only be used in initial medical research into a new drug or disease

The suffering of these animals should be kept to a minimum