Religion and M edical Ethics

2. Religion and Medical Ethics For each topic you will need to know a range of Christian views as well as the legal perspective and your own viewpoint • This module covers 5 main areas: Fist we need to know what Christian denominations we are discussing

3. The Christian Denominations Christian do NOT all believe the same thing and are divided into different groups depending on faith and establishment The Roman Catholic Church • This denomination is a traditional group of Christians who believe in Natural Law: doing what God intended in a natural way. Up until the C16th Catholics were the dominant group of Christians in Europe. Catholics are controlled by the Pope in Rome Protestant Churches • These are the Christian groups that developed after Martin Luther’s debate in 1517. • These are modern Christians who have re-interpreted the Bible and have a different view to the Roman Catholics. • These Christians are NOT controlled by the Pope.

4. Abortion • Abortion has existed for a long time but has only been legal in the UK since 1967. • It was legalised to stop the use of backstreet abortions, where women would use certain methods to induce a miscarriage that could result in injury or even death. Definition of Abortion: It is the deliberate termination of a foetus The Law on Abortion: You must have the consent of 2 different doctors It can take place up to 24 weeks into pregnancy (approx 6 months) It must fit one of four clauses to be allowed to take place

5. Abortion

6. Abortion Arguments in Favour of Abortion: • Every woman has the right to do as she wishes with her own body • Every baby has the right to be born into a family that meet its basic needs for food, shelter and love • A disabled baby places a massive burden of responsibility on those who are looking after it. Not everyone can handle this • There are far too many unwanted babies in the world, it would be wrong to add to this number • A woman who becomes pregnant after rape should not be compelled to have the rapist’s baby This is called: Pro-Choice

7. Abortion Arguments Against Abortion: • Every child is a gift from God to be loved and cherished. It would be unthinkable to destroy that gift • Abortion is murder • Everyone, especially the most vulnerable, need special protection – and has a right to expect it • A foetus is a human being from the moment of conception: it has a perfect right to live even if it is damaged in any way. This is called: Pro - Life

8. Christianity & Abortion The majority of Christians feel very unhappy about abortion • The Roman Catholic Church expresses the strongest objection of any Christian church to abortion • The Protestant church believes that abortion is an evil that should be avoided at all costs. However, there are some circumstances where it can be justified: You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born Risk to the physical health of the mother Risk to the mental health of the mother Risk of disability A result of rape Didache (70CE)

9. Fertility Treatment • Fertility Treatment can take many different forms; from IVF to AID to surrogacy. Christianity has a view on all of these different forms. • The Law says that people can have fertility treatment in order to get pregnant. It does not allow parents to create ‘designer’ babies or even choose the gender of their child. • The only genetic engineering that can take place is in ensuring that a child is born without a hereditary / genetic condition • Some people feel that IVF etc should not be allowed as it is unnatural. Some people feel that it is simply allowing science to help people to attain what they desire.

10. Fertility Treatment • In Biblical times, people thought that infertility was a sign from God, either as punishment or that they were not intended to have children. Today, we have a better idea about the causes of infertility, but opinions tend to vary between two different views.

11. Fertility Treatment • People do not have a ‘right’ to children – they are a gift. • Instead, couples can adopt children or play a role in terms of fostering or supporting children in the community. Roman Catholics would advocate adoption instead of the use of unnatural methods such as fertility treatment. There are thousands of children in this country alone that need loving homes and families, not to mention the hundreds of thousands abroad.

12. Euthanasia • Euthanasia is a term that comes from the Greek ‘Eu thanatos’ which means a good death. It has come to mean the choice that someone makes to end their life to preserve dignity and end pain. Euthanasia is illegal in UK. It carries a prison term of up to 14 years for aiding and abetting a suicide. • Euthanasia is as controversial as abortion. People have different ideas about what the law should be and why. • Some people bypass the UK law and go to Holland to a clinic called ‘Dignitas’ which helps people to end their lives peacefully

13. Euthanasia • The main issue of euthanasia is who has the right to take life.

14. Euthanasia • Hospices are advocated by many Christians as a place where people can go who are terminally ill. This might be for therapy, palliative treatment or rest. It offers support to the families of those dying. • This is not a place where people get better but a place to make a person’s last weeks or days more comfortable

15. Suicide • There are some times when people feel the need to end their own lives when they are not terminally ill. There are a number of reasons that might affect this choice:

16. Suicide • Suicide is seen by Christians as self-murder and as we know murder is wrong. Christians believe that people who commit suicide will not have access to heaven – they will go to hell. A vicar, named Chad Varah, held a service for a 13year old girl who had committed suicide. She’d had her first period and thought it meant that something was wrong with her. Chad was concerned that there were other people in his parish in need but not knowing who to talk to so he installed a phone in his home and encouraged people to call him 24/7 if they were in need This was the birth of the Samaritans: a voluntary organisation that helps suicidal people

17. Vivisection • Animals are a controversial issue: we love our pets and describe them in human terms but they are not human and do not have the same rights as humans. Vivisection is the term given to the use of animals in research. This usually relates specifically to medical research rather than cosmetic • What is tested on animals then? • Toothpaste • Paracetamol • Make-up • Cleaning products • Hair products • Body spray

18. Vivisection • There are no specific teachings in the Bible about the use of animals. In fact, the text is ambiguous: it can be used on both sides of the argument! Rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the ground • The issue is with the word ‘rule’ – what does it mean? • Do we rule like parents, caring for everything and protecting it as if it were as important as us • Or do we rule as superiors, leaders, those whose existence is the most important?

19. Practice Exam Question Religion and Medical Ethics – this exam question is worth 24 marks • What does the term ‘euthanasia’ mean? (1) • What are Christian attitudes towards euthanasia? (2) • What do Christians believe about suicide? (3) • Explain Christian attitudes towards the use of animals in medical research (6) • “Children are a gift not a right”. Discuss this statement. Give different, supported viewpoints including a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity (12) Remember: Part E is an ESSAY question and must be written in an essay style with PEE paragraphs in order to attain all 12 marks