Conflicting views in medical ethics. Concern for society and the future of medicine. At root is the conflict between the utilitarian view of human life and the ‘intrinsic value’ view (human life has intrinsic value from fertilisation to life’s natural end in all conditions of disability and dependency). The utilitarian view is already ‘respectable’ and […]
(I like disingenuity but it’s not a word). Disingenuous adj. insincere. Based on the now well-known quote by Senator Kay Patterson in 2002 “I believe it is disingenuous to suggest that approving this research (on spare embryos) will open the door to further killing of living human beings.” With her added moral statement eliminating, it […]
It seems like yesterday yet it was four years ago that we had a historic debate in our nation and in our parliaments. As a result of that debate two acts came into being the likes of which would have seemed very strange to a previous generation. These were to prohibit human cloning and to […]
Icebreakers: For these two icebreakers it is suggested that answers be written down, quickly collected and numbers displayed. Short discussion may be allowed depending on time available before going on to Bible Study questions. 1. When do you think human life begins? a. at conception i.e. fertilisation of a human egg by a human sperm […]
What are stem cells? Stem cells are those that have not yet developed or differentiated into cells of specific tissues in organs e.g. liver cells or muscle cells or nerve cells. Stem cells exist in all human tissues and have the potential to differentiate into many different types of tissue cells. There is a ready […]
“The process of embryo selection inevitably results in destruction of unsuitable embryos” said Dr Lachlan Dunjey, Senate candidate for the Christian Democratic Party, and he added “The ‘designer’ child cannot escape the fact that the suitability of their genetic make-up alone has determined their right not to be destroyed.”
“The process of embryo selection inevitably results in destruction of unsuitable embryos” said Dr Lachlan Dunjey, Senate candidate for the Christian Democratic Party, and he added “The ‘designer’ child cannot escape the fact that the suitability of their genetic make-up alone has determined their right not to be destroyed.” Consider the plight of the ‘designer’ […]
Embryonic Stem Cell Research – a Statement by Christian Leaders to Members of Parliament in Western Australia for their Consideration. (August 2003 to Members of Parliament in Western Australia.) We believe that the decisions we as a society make now regarding protection of embryonic human life will significantly shape our future. We therefore make the […]
(May 2002 to Federal Members of Parliament) We believe that the decisions we as a society make now regarding the ethical issues around cloning and embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) will significantly shape our future. We therefore make the following statement: We believe that life begins when a cell has the ability to replicate and […]
