Beginning of Life - AH RMPS

The Sanctity of Life

The idea that all human beings, at any stage of life, in any and every state of consciousness or self awareness, regardless of who they are (race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality etc) are to be perceived as sacred, and equal. Christians specifically perceive all human life as holy and sacred, as it is given by God.

Genesis 1 in relation to the sanctity of life

Adam and Eve were created in God’s likeness and were designed by God himself, everyone has the potential to show God’s nature, suggesting the special and unique nature of human life. Each human is specially designed by God, further showing the sacred nature of human life.

Aquinas on abortion in relation to the sanctity of life

The desire to end someone’s life through abortion is unnatural since our lives are the property of God, regardless of the stage of life we are in. Life is a gift from God, and it is sacred because we are made in his likeness and only he has the right to end a life.

The Church of England on the sanctity of life

From the moment of conception life is sacred and has attained a human status / an embryo is developing a human status for 14 days after conception, making it sacred after 14 days.

The Church of Scotland on the sanctity of life

Embryos have a special status as they have been created by God, but they also recognise the benefits of embryo research under limited circumstances.

BMA on the sanctity of life

A foetus has more rights (gains a more sacred status) as it develops, so an early stage embryo has less rights than a late stage foetus.

Ensoulment

The moment a human being gains a soul, usually this concept is related to religious teachings that suggest a human being can only be considered a human being if it possesses a soul, meaning that an embryo can be terminated in the eyes of a religious person if their teachings suggest that it does not posses a soul for a certain period of time. When it does develop a soul, it gains personhood.

IVF

The process of removing egg cells from a woman’s ovaries to artificially fertilise them within a laboratory to produce embryos. This is mostly used as a fertility treatment for individuals who have struggled to or are unable to produce a child. Egg cells are removed from a woman’s uterus and fertilized. The embryos identified as the most likely to survive are then transferred into the woman’s uterus, In the hopes that one will develop into a foetus. Any embryos that are not transplanted are considered ‘spare’ and can be frozen in case the patient wants to undergo IVF again in the future. These embryos can also be donated and used for research purposes.

The Roman Catholic Church on IVF

Having a child is a gift from God that not everyone is given. Having a child is not a right, and if you are unable to have a child on your own that is simply God’s plan. This doesn’t mean that they would not support couples to choose IVF they just believe that there are more acceptable routes to become a parent

The Church of Scotland on IVF

IVF is only acceptable when it is used to help a married childless couple conceive, implying they do not support unmarried or queer couples who want to use IVF.

Utilitarianism on IVF

IVF benefits the majority as it allows couples who cannot conceive to become happy as they are able to have children with IVF treatment, showing it is a moral practice as it generates widespread happiness and satisfaction for a large number of people

Humanism on IVF

Embryos do not have souls or personhood so therefore there is no ethical problems when considering IVF, even when couples donate their spare embryos for medical research.

Stem Cell Research

 A form of scientific research that involves the use of embryos. Embryos contain stem cells, a type of cell that can develop into any specialised cell within the body, for example a stem cell could develop into a red blood cell. This type of stem cell is only found in human embryos and therefore this form of research uses embryos to develop an understanding of stem cells to further certain medical treatments, such as cancer treatment.

John Wyatt on Stem Cell research

Despite the fact that not all embryos survive they should still be treated with respect and dignity. We have a moral responsibility to treat embryos as if they are human, and therefore they should not be experimented on. Christian thinking places great emphasis on caring  for those who are vulnerable it is the responsibility of humans to care for embryos since they are defenceless against those who attempt to harm them.

Humanists on Stem Cell research

Embryos have no brains or Consciousness in the early stages of development - when stem cell research occurs. They cannot suffer which therefore makes stem cell research acceptable as it has many benefits, and can progress medical advancement.

British Humanist Association on PGD

PGD is acceptable but only in a medical sense and can be extremely beneficial for families who would otherwise be unable to have healthy children. However, it should not be used for designer purposes and has the potential to be used for the purpose of choosing specific genetic traits for a baby to possess, and can be used as a tool for genetic selection

PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)

This treatment allows individuals who have serious hereditary diseases within their family to avoid passing said disease onto their offspring. It  can be used to detect numerous genetic conditions such as Huntington’s disease and down syndrome, it has also been used to detect a gene that carries early onset Alzheimer’s. This treatment can also be used to to select the gender of the children that will be produced by particular patients but simply for medical reasons as there are certain genetic conditions affect only one gender.

The BMJ on PGD

PGD can be considered a slippery slope, as it is likely this kind of treatment will be taken advantage of people who seek to genetically design children and it may be used to prevent the birth of children who are only mildly disabled. Where PGD has the potential to benefit many, in the wrong hands it may do great harm.

Jeanne Freeman on PGD

The misuse or overuse of PGD may ‘undermine our notion of the moral equity of all human beings’. This is because the expansion of PGD may lead to eugenics, the idea of improving humans by allowing only certain people to reproduce in pursuit of eradicating specific traits, which is often linked to racism and Nazism.

Medical (non surgical) Abortion

A method of terminating an early pregnancy using medications taken by mouth or by injection which produce a miscarriage.

Vacuum aspiration abortion

A tube is gently inserted into the womb through the cervix and the contents are removed through this tube.

Dilatation and evacuation

The cervical canal is enlarged with tools called dilators. When the canal is sufficiently enlarged the womb is emptied by suction, or by having its contents scraped out with a tool called a curette.

Roman Catholic Church on abortion

Abortion can never be right in any circumstances on the grounds that a foetus is a human being from the moment of conception. Every reasonable precaution has to be taken to do no harm to the foetus, even in circumstances where carrying the foetus to term puts her life in danger. Saving the life of the mother is considered equal to saving the life of the foetus. If the baby will not survive birth it must be baptised before it is considered dead, which can be done before and after delivery.

Church of Scotland on Abortion

The current UK law should be reduced to a 20 week limit on abortion instead of 24. Abortion should only be carried out when the mother faces risks if she were to continue with her pregnancy. This risk can include physical, mental and social risks tot the mother. Everything should be done to prevent the mother being coerced into getting an abortion, and should only be a last resort.

BMA on Abortion

Abortion should be regulated in the same was as other medical procedures and should be decriminalised in the respect of health professionals administering abortions within the context of their clinical practice. It should also be decriminalised in the respect of women procuring and administering the means of their own abortion.