Matters of Life and Death

• Abortion

  The deliberate ending of a pregnancy, with the intentional destruction of the foetus from the womb to cause its death
• Embryo

  The earliest stage of development in a human life; a fertilised egg in its first weeks
• Foetus

  A stage of development in the womb; between the embryonic stage and birth
• Personhood

  The quality or condition of being an individual person
• The point of viability

  When the foetus can survive outside the womb
• Pro-Life

  Pro-Life groups argue that intentionally caused abortion is always wrong. They believe the foetus is an innocent and defenceless being.
• Pro-Choice

  Pro-Choice groups argue that intentionally caused abortion is acceptable. They seek to build support for a woman's right to choose.
• Sanctity of Life

  The belief that all life is precious and sacred and made in the image of God.
• Pro-Life groups

  LIFE

  Precious Life

  Try to educate people, politicians and government on how abortion isn't right

  Provide support for women and children
• Pro-Choice groups

  Marie Stopes International

  The Abortion Support Network

  Build support for a woman's right to choose and encourage people to get involved
• Arguments for abortion

  An embryo is just a cluster of cells and not a human being

  The woman should be regarded as a person and not just a container for the foetus

  A woman may not be able to cope with the birth of a child if she has been raped or is too young or is mentally incapable of continuing the pregnancy
• Arguments against abortion

  All human life is of equal value, even a foetus or an embryo

  Abortion can damage the long-term physical and emotional health of women

  Many women are unable to have children. It is better to have the child adopted than to kill the unborn foetus.
• Roman Catholic teaching on abortion


  ’The direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always gravely immoral’

  Abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes
• Methodist teaching on abortion

  “a right to life is not an absolute right”

  abortion is allowed in extreme circumstance
• Presbyterian teaching on abortion


  ’from the earliest days in the womb , the unborn child is fully human , a person made in the image of God’
• Active Euthanasia


  A person directly and deliberately causes the patient‘s death eg by an overdose of pain-killers
• Passive Euthanasia


  A person does not directly take the person’s life; they just allow them to die eg withdrawing medical treatment or food and water
• Voluntary Euthanasia

  Euthanasia is carried out at the request of the person who dies
• Non-voluntary Euthanasia


  The person is unconscious or otherwise unable to make a meaningful choice between living or dying - Someone makes the decision on their behalf
• Involuntary Euthanasia


  The person who dies wants to live but it killed anyway- is usually the same as murder but not always
• Assisted Suicide


  Suicide with the help of another person
• Double effect


  This is when drugs intended to make a person more comfortable, speeds up their death
• Living Wills


  A document that sets out a patient‘s wishes regarding how they want to be treated if they become seriously ill and unable to make their own choices. It’s not an instrument of Euthanasia, but a request to doctors in advance, not to give medical treatments
• 3 countries in Europe which allow Euthanasia

  Netherlands

  Belgium

  Switzerland
• Dignity in Dying


  “We believe everybody has the right to a good death . Including the option of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults.”
• Dignitas


  Swiss non-profit organisation providing physician-assisted suicide to members with terminal illness or severe physical or mental illness, supported by independent Swiss doctors. Nearly 350 Brits have died here
• The last assisted dying bill in the UK was rejected in 2021
• Palliative Care

  Medical, emotional or spiritual care given to a person who is terminally ill and is aimed at reducing suffering rather than curing
• Hippocratic oath


  Doctor’s oath to do no harm, “I will abstain from harm”
• Arguments for Euthanasia

  A civilised society should allow people to die in dignity without pain

  Euthanasia is used on animals- why not humans?

  Many think a person has a right to choose how and when they should die- a person has the right to control it
• Arguments against Euthanasia


  Forces doctors to break the Hippocratic Oath

  Human life is sacred and a gift from God. Only God should decide when to end it

  Proper palliative care makes euthanasia unnecessary
• Hospice Movement


  Founded by Dame Cicely Saunders in the 1950s

  Places strong emphasis on compassion and support for the patient
• Aims of the hospice movement


  To relieve the pain of the patient using medicine, meditation and massage

  To provide support and care for the patient’s distress

  To provide emotional support for the patient’s family

  To educate society about ways to care for the dying
• Catholic teaching on Euthanasia


  Nothing or no-one can in anyway permit the killing of an innocent human being
• Anglican teaching in Euthanasia


  The therapeutic option of Euthanasia is not needed- rather a greater training in palliative care
• Presbyterian teaching on Euthanasia


  Duty to help them die comfortable and peacefully

  Hospice movement encouraged

  Christians should urge society to make a better choice
• Positives of keeping the baby

  Housing and child benefit- government support

  Doesn’t go against religious beliefs
• Negatives of keeping the baby

  They may receive backlash if they have a baby whilst single

  Some women are not mentally stable
• Positives of adoption


  Child gets caring parents who really want a child

  Give up baby without betraying religious beliefs
• Negatives of adoption


  Child might have to wait years before getting adopted

  Burden of knowing your own DNA is out there