Morality, Medicine & the Human Body

Right to Life

The significance and worth assigned to human existence and well-being

the belief that every person has the right to live and be free from unjustified harm

All life should be protected by the law of a country

Right to Die

The belief that individuals should have the option to choose to end their own life due to unavoidable suffering

Can also include the right to refuse medical treatment that would prolong life

Belief that the right to die is suggested by the right to life, rather than being its own right

Sanctity of Life

The principle that human life is sacred and must be protected.

This principle asserts that all human life has inherent value.

Christianity - all life is a gift from god and should be respected

Christianity - taking life is always morally wrong

Personal Autonomy

The right of individuals to make their own choices regarding their lives and bodies, including healthcare decisions.

Making decisions free from influence of religion or government.

Right to Life - Moral Issues

The fetus could be valued over a woman’s life if the fetus is considered a person with rights.

Abortion could be outlawed, leaving people to go through with unwanted pregnancies

Right to Die - Moral Issues

People may abuse the right, choosing to end their life rather than persevere through the suffering

Suffering could be seen as part of life’s journey, helping us develop and grow as humans

Sanctity of Life - Moral Issues

Preserving life at all costs would go against someone’s choice to free themselves of unnecessary suffering

Would see abortion is wrong and force people to carry unwanted pregnancies

Personal Autonomy - Moral Issues

People who are not of sound mind might make the wrong decision about what they want.

A woman’s life would not be put below the fetus and so decisions would not be made that threaten the life of the woman

Use of Embryos - Reproductive - IVF

IVF - involves creating embryos outside the body for implantation

IVF - used when someone is unable to conceive naturally, infertile or same sex couples

Use of Embryos - Reproductive - PGD

PGD - a genetic testing procedure used during IVF to identify genetic defects in embryos before implantation.

PGD - used when parents want to avoid a genetic disease being passed down to a new born

Use of Embryos - Research - Stem Cells

Cells that can be taken from embryos to be used to become any type of cell in the body

The study for potential medical treatments and therapies.

Use of Embryos - Research - Genetic Disorders

Help study the causes and potential treatments of conditions that happen at a genetic level

Study how birth defects occur and find ways to prevent or treat them

Use of Embryos - Therapeutic

Using stem cells from embryos to treat or regenerate damaged tissues and organs

Potential to grow transplant organs outside of the human body

Use of Embryos - Moral Issues

Using embryos could be seen as destroying a life that has not had a chance to develop

Embryos cannot consent, if an embryo is the same as a life then you are doing something against its will

Requiring eggs to create embryos for research could see women being exploited for extracting eggs

End of Life Care - Palliative Care

Specialised medical care aimed at providing pain relief and improving quality of life for patients with serious illnesses.

Focuses on comfort and support for patients and their families during advanced illness.

End of Life Care - Hospice Care

A type of end-of-life care that provides support for patients in the final phase of a terminal illness.

Focusing on comfort, quality of life, and support for families.

Includes support for loved ones after the death of the patient

End of Life Care - Moral Isses

Expensive to provide care and charities that run them usually rely on donations to support those in need.

May force people to live out their final months still suffering as pain management can only do so much.

Families will have a mental toll from watching their loved one deteriorate over time rather than a peaceful passing

Euthanasia - Voluntary

The intentional ending of a person's life at their request to relieve suffering from an incurable condition.

It involves the patient’s consent and can be carried out by a doctor

Euthanasia - Non-voluntary

Making the choice for a person who is unable to, usually due to being in coma or vegetative state.

A loved one would make the choice due to knowing what the person would have wanted if they were able to communicate

Euthanasia - Assisted Dying

A trained professional provides a person with the means to end their life, usually a lethal cocktail of drugs.

The person has chosen to end their life but is unable to carry out the process themselves due to being physically unable to move

Euthanasia - Moral Issues

Christians would say only God has the right to take a life, and it is morally wrong for another human to do it regardless of situation.

Some people may worry that it could be used by someone to take a life of someone they think has become a burden

Euthanasia - Benefits

Puts someone out of their suffering if pain management does not provide much relief.

Gives a person the chance to end their life with dignity, that they may have lost while living with their condition.

Families would not need to see their loved one suffer day after day with no way to ease their suffering.

It could free up resources for other patients with treatable conditions and improve waiting times at hospitals.

Euthanasia - Drawbacks

People might worry about becoming ill and have a distrust of the healthcare system.

It might go against the personal beliefs of a doctor, forcing them into a situation they do not want to be in.

It lowers the value of life, if it can be taken away so easily.

If it was an option then end of life care may be reduced and less money spent on it, patients who want to live as long as possible may not have the support they need.