Medical Ethics -
Infertility treatments -
First you need to know the 6 main types of infertility treatment and a little on how each one works -
In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) - When a egg is fertilised in a test tube then inserted back into the mother
Artificial insemination by husband (AIH) - Husbands sperm is artificially inserted into the mother
Artificial insemination by donor (AID) - A donor's sperm is artificially inserted into the mother
Egg donation - A donor's egg is artificially fertilised then inserted back into the mother
Embryo donation - When a donor sperm and egg is fertilised artificially and inserted into the mother
Surrogacy - An arrangement where a women bears a child on behalf of another woman
First you need to know the 6 main types of infertility treatment and a little on how each one works -
In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) - When a egg is fertilised in a test tube then inserted back into the mother
Artificial insemination by husband (AIH) - Husbands sperm is artificially inserted into the mother
Artificial insemination by donor (AID) - A donor's sperm is artificially inserted into the mother
Egg donation - A donor's egg is artificially fertilised then inserted back into the mother
Embryo donation - When a donor sperm and egg is fertilised artificially and inserted into the mother
Surrogacy - An arrangement where a women bears a child on behalf of another woman
Christian views on infertility treatments
There are two different view points within Christianity on infertility treatments these are -
Catholic views - ( No )Reasons Catholics say no to all types of infertility treatments -
- Sanctity of life, this means only God should be able to create a life if God didn't want a couple to become pregnant they should't use fertility treatments to go against God's wishes - In IVF and some other infertility treatments more eggs are fertilised than the amount needed. These get thrown away. Catholics believe that life starts at conception therefore they see this as killing and the bible teaches against this "thou shall not kill" - Artificial insemination and surrogacy involve male masturbation. This is seen as wrong by catholics because they believe that male masturbation is a sin because it can't be creative. -A final reason is Catholics believe that procreation was intended by to God to be part of sex and if it happens outside of sex it goes against Gods wishes |
Other Christians - (Yes to IVF and AIH)Reasons other Christians say yes to AIH and IVF
- One of the main purposes of Christian marriage is children and it passes on Christianity - In these types of infertility treatment the child is their biological offspring so there is no third party involved - Other Christians believe that a fertilised egg is just a ball of cells for the first few weeks therefore its not killing to discard embryos after IVF they also feel this can be justified by the doctrine of double effect - However they have major concerns about the other methods as having a third party involved could cause problems for the children so they encourage adoption instead |
Jewish Views on infertility treatments -
All Jews - ( Yes to IVF and AIH )The reasons all Jews agree these methods are -
- It preserves Judaism - God wishes humans to use technological advances so long as it agrees with the Mitzvot - Like other Christians they also believe that foetuses are not yet classed as lives and its therefore not killing to discard them and this can be covered by the double effect theory |
Other forms of infertility treatments- Orthodox Jews are against :
AID - because its seen as adultery Surrogacy - Jewishness is passed on through the mother But they accept : Egg donation - so long as egg comes from the mother -Reform Jews accept all types of infertility treatment as they believe that jewishness is passed on through the upbringing |
Transplant surgery -
In both Christianity and Judaism there are three views towards transplant surgery :
1. Yes to all transplant surgery
2. No to all transplant surgery
3. Yes only to organs from a live donor ( such as kidneys and livers )
1. Yes to all transplant surgery
2. No to all transplant surgery
3. Yes only to organs from a live donor ( such as kidneys and livers )
Christian views to transplant surgery -
Yes (Most christians)- The belief that the body and soul are separate so once the soul has left the body after death the body is no longer needed
- The teaching "love thy neighbour" and the most loving thing to do would to be to give a person organs to keep them alive - the teaching "do unto others" generally if you were going to die without an organ transplant you would want someone to help you - St Paul also teaches when the body is resurrected it will be transformed and no longer need organs |
No- Because of the teaching sanctity of life meaning only God should create or take a life and humans should't try to change Gods wishes
- Also it could be seen as playing God and usurping his role - It could prevent doctors looking for new better cures and they may be spending more of the money on transplants rather than on looking for other more successful cures - It could cause problems if doctors know a patient well they may give a transplant to this person rather than one that needs it more |
Only from live donors- Organs such as the heart are intrinsic part of the person ( meaning their made for a particular person)
- Organs from the living aren't vital - The teaching "love thy neighbour" - Christians don't want to be usurping Gods role |
Jewish views on transplant surgery -
Jews have the same views however some believe that its only acceptable if the organs come from living donors that are close relatives the views for this are in the third column -
Yes- Many Jews believe that God wants humans to use technology advances to save lives
- The Mitzvot teaches "Love thy neighbour" and the most loving thing to do would be to give a sick person a transplant - However they feel that paying would be wrong as this exploits the poor which is forbidden by the Tenakh |
No- Some jews feel that its breaking the rule of the sanctity of life as only God should be able to create and take life
- They also believe that the organs have been made by God specifically for that person and therefore shouldn't be given to anyone else - Jews believe that Jewishness is passed on from generation to generation therefore having a transplant from a non Jew could affect their Jewishness |
Only from live close relatives- They believe that some organs that can't be given until after death for example the heart have been made by God for that specific individual
- Organs from non Jews could make them less Jewish as Jewishness is passed on through birth - The mitzvot teaches we should preserve life and we can do this by giving organs from living donors |