Download Christian Perspectives on bioethics

Bioethics
Christian Perspectives on Bioethics
To determine the Christian perspective on bioethics, we need to define what is
included under the general term of bioethics. Once this has been defined we
can determine what the alternative behaviours are which may be supported by
Christian beliefs.
Bioethics concerns itself with the ethical questions that come about in the
relationships between medicine and life, the research and practice in these
areas and/ the connections with politics and law. While there are as simply an
attempt to destroy specific research or legitimate medical procedures.
Take account of:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Jesus' instruction and example to love.
What is natural in creation.
Biblical instructions.
Tradition from Church history.
Prayerful thought and conscience.
What reason tells us is right.
Commandments of God to the Jewish people.
Bioethical Term
Genetic
engineering
and cloning
Organ donation
Euthanasia &
Suicide
What does it mean?
Changing the DNA of a plant or animal to produce genetic variations with
the result of producing desirable characteristics or removing undesirable
characteristics. Specialised DNA technology can also produce multiple,
exact copies of a single gene or part of a gene segment of DNA. One end
point in cloning could be to produce a human, genetically identical to
another.
A transplant is an operation in which the patient's own organ is replaced
by a replacement organ usually from a different individual. The organ or
part of one is usually given by a donor to be `harvested' immediately
after death. The organ can then be transplanted into the body of a
recipient. The recipient is advantaged by extra time alive.
Euthanasia is the self-inflicted or assisted act of helping someone to die
painlessly. Most often the question arises when people are dealing with
a terminal disease. Sometimes euthanasia involves the removal of life
support procedures or actions which are set up to preserve a patient's
life when one or more essential body systems are not functioning.
Actions are usually mechanical such as: feeding tubes, intravenous drips,
mechanical respiration, catheterisation and dialysis but can also be the
use of drugs. Some bodies can be kept `alive' indefinitely. The act of
forcing someone to die against their will is not euthanasia, it is murder.
Bioethics
Stem cell
research
Animal
experiments
Capital
Punishment
Abortion
Stem cells have not yet developed into any of the thousands of cell types
in the body. They have a great ability to self-renew. Medical researchers
believe such cells can be used to repair specific tissues or to grow organs
because of this undifferentiated, self-renewing ability. Stem cells can be
easily obtained from embryonic tissue, and research continues with adult
tissue.
Often drug companies, beauty product companies and others test
materials on animals to see if they are safe for human use. Many animals
experience discomfort, pain or death as a result of this testing. A
successful drug test may save the lives of millions of people.
The legalised killing of an individual by the state. Most often the criminal
has been found guilty of murder but in some jurisdictions around the
world, drug offences or terrorist offences are also punishable by death.
The killing of an unborn baby either as an embryo or foetus.
Activity
1. Define Bioethics
2. List the various Bioethical issues.
3. For the items listed in the table above; what Christian ethical principles
are being considered?