Essay on Religion and Medical Ethics - 1629 Words

Religion and Medical Ethics I am discussing the issues that are put forward by Christians concerning the sanctity of life in relation to abortion and what their beliefs are. There are no Biblical scriptures that deal directly with abortion; however I will refer to passages in the Bible that refer to life and other relevant areas. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy and can be defined as the deliberate destruction of a foetus, causing its death. The 1967 Abortion Act allows a woman to terminate or end her pregnancy up to the 24th week; however there is no time limit if there is a high risk to her life or if the foetus has major abnormalities. A woman must also have the permission or consent†¦show more content†¦Another issue that you need to determine is ‘When does life really begin?’ Pro-choice people would say late in pregnancy, some would even say as late as birth. Genesis 2:7 would agree with this in that it was after God breathed life in Adam that he became living. ‘. . . and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.’ Genesis 2:7. While the pro-life people would say life begins at conception, right at the beginning. Another verse from the Old Testament could be used in agreement to this. ‘Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb . . .’ Isaiah 44:2. There is a keen debate concerning the moment a human embryo or foetus becomes fully human or when, according to Christian teaching, it has both body and soul. Within the Church Christians generally want to follow the teachings and principles found within the Bible and then apply them to the way they live. However this in not always easy due to the vast number of translations that are found today. It has lead to a variety of viewpoints concerning the moral thoughts on abortion. Generally the Church is united in its condemnation of abortion. It is a decision that must be taken very seriously and only in unusual circumstances when abortion is the lesser of two evils should it be carried out. Our belief in the sanctity ofShow MoreRelatedSubject of Research: Medical Ethics and Christianity706 Words   |  3 PagesSubject of Research: Medical Ethics and Christianity Medical ethics is an arrangement of moral principles that relates to values and judgments through the practice of medicine. When it comes to medical ethics, Christianity plays a very big role in this moral belief just as any other religion does. In our daily practice of medicine, the seven principles of medical ethics is a vital part in life-and-death decisions, and it is always up-to-date on human life issues. The one that I mainly wanted toRead MoreBiomedical Ethics : A Study Of The Line Between God And Medicine1611 Words   |  7 PagesBiomedical Ethics: A Study of the Line Between God and Medicine During the years of 1975 and 1976, a Supreme Court Case was fought that changed the world of biomedical ethics. On April 14, 1975, twenty-one-year-old Karen Quinlan experienced severe brain damage after ingesting a combination of narcotics and alcohol. Shortly after this, she lost consciousness and quit breathing for two periods of fifteen minutes each The young woman’s doctors declared her brain dead due to the irreversible trauma thatRead MoreThe Hippocratic Oath And Medical Ethics866 Words   |  4 PagesIn general, contemporary physicians are primarily trained to be competent in the field of medicine, from diagnosing their patients to prescribing therapy. Yet, they are not heavily taught medical ethics during their schooling: how should physicians conduct themselves around their patients? Nevertheless, medical traditions in China and Greece were thoroughly concerned about this question, which led to several of texts. In particular, the Greek developed an oath, known as th e Hippocratic Oath, whichRead MoreAssisted Suicide : A Controversial Subject1224 Words   |  5 Pageseuthanasia has brought about many moral and immoral debates to the profession of medical care. Currently, euthanasia is illegal in the United States except for Oregon and washington. The American Nurses Association (ANA) stance on euthanasia is as follows, The American NursesAssociation (ANA) prohibits nurses’ participation in assisted suicide and euthanasia because these acts are in direct violation of the Code of Ethics for Nurses, the ethical traditions and goals of the profession, and its covenantRead MorePhysician-Assisted Suicide Essay1038 Words   |  5 PagesIs the role of a medical professional to ensure the well-being of their patients, or to assist them in ending their lives? Many people may believe that physicians would never perform the latter, but in actuality one practice does so. Physician assisted suicide is the intentional ending of one’s life brought on by lethal substances prescribed by a doctor. In the majority of cases, the patient is terminally ill and simply does not desire to live any longer. Their physician provides the medicationRead MoreEthical Issues Related to the Cloning Debate1389 Words   |  6 Pagesat the heart of bioethics. As a student of genetic biology and future biologist, this question also has personal relevance. Our science is evolving at a rapid pace. As human cloning becomes increasingly possible, it is important that we analyze the ethics of cloning so that judicious public policy can be created. It is therefore my position that research into cloning should continue to fulfill the fundamental goals of scientific exploration and to explore the possibilities that cloning might have inRead MoreReligious Beliefs Affect The Medical Decision Making Of Canadians1727 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract This research project aims to explore the ways in which religious beliefs affect the medical-decision making of Canadians in Ottawa. Due to the diverse population in Canada people often practice medical plurality; which is employing biomedical and spiritual methods of healing modalities. Several Canadians have adopted informal guidelines according to their belief systems that dictate which medical healing modalities they seek when illness arises. In order to investigate the ways in which biomedicalRead MoreResearching Physician Assisted Suicide801 Words   |  3 Pagescomes down to whatever holds people back, whether it is their views on religion or oaths from many years ago, it should be considered a correct practice. In fact, in the case of Vacco v. Quill, one point raised was that Over time, the Hippocratic Oath has been changed, and deleted. In order to do-no-harm one would end suffering instead of prolonging it. With the use of Supreme Court cases, and professional psychologist and medical quotations, one can see the clear reasons that this topic must be allowedRead MoreThe s Roles : Integrating Spiritual Care Into The Health System1311 Words   |  6 Pageshealth care professionals, discussion on ethics, and the roles that spirituality, culture and religion p lay in positive health outcomes. The occupation of a chaplain comes with many different roles. Their duties include comforting, listening, and being a guide as patients travel through a world of emotions. Here in the U.S. health care chaplains play a big role in providing spiritual care and support for patients. Referring back to the mini lecture on religion and health. Spiritual assessment and careRead MoreSpiritual Competence: Sikh Beliefs and Faiths1432 Words   |  6 PagesChallenges of providing medical treatment to people of different religious backgrounds may be altered. All members of the health care team need to address the issues and concerns regarding specific health care practices and religious beliefs and remove their perspective from the situation. The following paper will discuss three different religions while incorporating a comparison of beliefs, perspective on healing and the perspective on health care to that of the Christian Religion. Sikh Beliefs and