Download Medical and Bioethics

Main Principles
of the
Jewish Ethical System
By
Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen
The main principles of the
Jewish ethical system are
derived from:
Tenach
Talmud
the
on-going rabbinical tradition
 The
need for justice should be
tempered by mercy and compassion.
“Just as God is compassionate, be
thou compassionate” (Talmud).
 Jews must act with piety that is
beyond the minimum standard
expected of others. Jews must bear
witness to God’s desire for man to
work towards goodness. They have
a special assignment to act in such a
way as to turn people towards an
acceptance of an ethical God.
 Jews
must act in a way which brings
shalom – peace and well-being
among all people. The more
important prayers all end with a
prayer for peace on earth.
Jews see themselves as responsible for the
community in which they live. The poor and the
needy must be cared for:
Jewish communities are expected to
provide relief organisations for the poor,
suitable care for the aged and infirm,
proper conditions of employment for
workers, and so on
 This applies primarily to Jews, but also
extends to Gentiles. Charity is almost
compulsory and the highest form of help is
that which enables a poor man to become
free of the need of help.

 The
mitzvot – good deeds
commanded by God.
 Jewish
ethics address the whole
community as well as individuals.
 Jews believe that divine retribution is
a consequence of God’s
righteousness, but its purpose is
primarily not punitive but educative,
and its primary aim is the restoration
of human and divine relation.
In Judaism a person uses morality and
a system of ethics to reach in two
directions:
proper
conduct between
an individual and God
proper
conduct
between two or more
people
Orthodox Jews adheres strictly to the
Jewish tradition.
Conservative Jews try to adopt a position
somewhere between that of Orthodox Jews and
Reform Jews.
Reform (or Liberal) Jews try to adapt
their beliefs to modern life.
Within each of these groups there are
other groups, for example Hasidic
Jews (one of the Orthodox groups)
follow a very strict lifestyle and
observe the law closely.
Basic Ethical Principle
Foundation of Jewish Medical Ethics
 Leviticus 18:5
– “These are the mitzvot which one shall
do and live by them: I am the LORD. ”
 “shall
live”
– And not die by them
 See
also Lev 19:16
– "Do not stand idly by the blood of your
neighbor"
Principles
 Pikuah
Nefesh- saving a soul
 Question is when is life viable
 Defining death
 Can one over-ride the other
Definition of Death
 1960’s
Reform & Conservatives
accept Brain Stem definition of death
 1990’s Orthodoxy begins to accept
Brain Stem definition
Transplantation & Organ Donation
 Current
legal & ethical questions
– How do we decide who gets priority?
 Defined
recipient
 What happens with eyes?
– Can organs be sold?
– Can they be used without permission?
 Rates
of donation
– Perception vs reality
Issues in Organ Donation
 Underlying
problem
– Can only use organs thru brain stem
death
 Donations
by deceased
 Living Donors
 Judaism
recipient
looks for designated
Organ Donation
 Orthodox
– Halakhic Organ Donors Society
– OU statement
 Conservative
– Supports donation
 Reform
– MATAN CHAIM: THE GIFT OF LIFE
Organ & Tissue Donation (includes
card)
Euthanasia
 Need
to distinguish
– Shortening life
– Prolonging death
 Active
vs passive Euthanasia
Euthanasia II
 Orthodox
position
 Conservative -2 positions
 Reform
Bioethics
 Cloning
– Therapeutic
– Reproductive
Stem Cell Research
 Based
on “these are the laws you
shall live by”
Sexual Ethics
Abortion
 Biblical
basis- Exodus 21:22-23
 Issues
– Rodef- pursuer
– Viability of fetus
– When does life begin
 Ultra-orthodox
 Orthodox/Conservative
 Reform
Birth Control
 Expectation
of having children
– First commandment in Torah- be fruitful
and multiply
 Question
of spilling seed
– Genesis 38, 6-10
 What
is permitted and forbidden
Relationships


“The times for conjugal duty prescribed in
the Torah are:
– for men of independent means, every day;
– for laborers, twice a week;
– for donkey drivers, once a week;
– for camel drivers, once in thirty days;
– for sailors, once in six months.” Talmud, Ketubot 61b
Cannot change profession if it means less
frequency or more onerous (like becoming a
tanner)
 sexual
pleasure is a wife’s right and
a husband’s obligation
 a man may not compel his wife to
fulfill the marital obligation
 if a husband refuses to perform his
marital obligation in a loving,
romantic, and sexually pleasing way,
his wife actually has the right to
demand a divorce
Fertile Technology
 Basic
Principle
– “Be fruitful and multiply” [First biblical
commandment]
 Artificial
Insemination
 IVF
 Surrogate
Motherhood
IVF
 Basically
accepted
 AIH
 AID
 Status
of spare embryos
Homosexuality
 Biblical
basis
– Lev. 18:22; Lev. 20:13; Deut. 23:17
– Are the laws equal for men and women
 Various
views today
– Reform
– Conservative
– Orthodox
Ritual Uncleanliness
 Taharat
Ha-Mishpaha
 Basis- Leviticus: 15:19-30, 18:19,
20:18
 Not just says of low but 7 additional
days
 Nothing to do with physical
uncleanliness
 Mikva