Bioethics and a Truly Human Society

“Fish is what I like and so are bear’s paws; but if I cannot have both I will forgo the fish and choose the bear’s paw. Similarly I love life and I love righteousness; but if I cannot have both I will forgo life and choose righteousness”

Meng-tse or Mencius. 372-289BC Book VI Part 1 chapter 10

“Fish is what I like and so are bear’s paws; but if I cannot have both I will forgo the fish and choose the bear’s paw. Similarly I love life and I love righteousness; but if I cannot have both I will forgo life and choose righteousness”

Meng-tse or Mencius. 372-289BC Book VI Part 1 chapter 10

Bioethics

“The application of ethics to the biological sciences, medical health care and related areas as well as the public policies directed towards them.”

New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Administration.

Bioethics

“The application of ethics to the biological sciences, medical health care and related areas as well as the public policies directed towards them.”

New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Administration.

The biomedical ethical principles that govern health care

Benificence

Non-malificence

Respect for autonomy

Justice

Confidentiality

Truth - telling

Dignity PDS Course Otago Medical School

The biomedical ethical principles that govern health care

Benificence

Non-malificence

Respect for autonomy

Justice

Confidentiality

Truth - telling

Dignity PDS Course Otago Medical School

What does it mean to be human?

What distinguishes humans from other animals?

What does it mean to be human?

What distinguishes humans from other animals?

A human beingA human being

Is in relationship to other humans, all creation and God – love.

Has both the capacity to remember and the capacity to imagine - hope and faith.

Is capable of communication.

Has the possibility of making choices – free will

Is in relationship to other humans, all creation and God – love.

Has both the capacity to remember and the capacity to imagine - hope and faith.

Is capable of communication.

Has the possibility of making choices – free will

What do we mean?What do we mean?

Community (n) society; the social state; common ownership, liability; agreement; identity; communion;

Society (n) the aggregate of persons living together in a more or less ordered community;

Shorter Oxford English Dictionary

What is a truly human society?

Community (n) society; the social state; common ownership, liability; agreement; identity; communion;

Society (n) the aggregate of persons living together in a more or less ordered community;

Shorter Oxford English Dictionary

What is a truly human society?

A truly human societyA truly human society

- cares for all people physically, mentally and spiritually- does not exploit any of its members- is open to others- is compassionate to all especially the most vulnerable- is equitable - enables growth in all its members- enables each to contribute to the common good- has reverence for truth and beauty- cares for all creation- has peaceful means of solving conflict- tolerates diversity- values all its members- values wisdom as well as knowledge- recognisies limits to human action- reflects on the past as well as imagining the future

- cares for all people physically, mentally and spiritually- does not exploit any of its members- is open to others- is compassionate to all especially the most vulnerable- is equitable - enables growth in all its members- enables each to contribute to the common good- has reverence for truth and beauty- cares for all creation- has peaceful means of solving conflict- tolerates diversity- values all its members- values wisdom as well as knowledge- recognisies limits to human action- reflects on the past as well as imagining the future

Humanizing & dehumanising aspects of society

Humanizing & dehumanising aspects of society

HUMANISING

Reverence for embryoEarly bonding :recognising humanity

Child – unique giftTo parents and community

Broad education body/mind/spirit

Promotion of wise reflection before changes

Enough food, work, time to be, health care

Acceptance of disabled, vulnerable, old

Reverence for created world

Acceptance of death as part of life

Undervaluing wisdom

HUMANISING

Reverence for embryoEarly bonding :recognising humanity

Child – unique giftTo parents and community

Broad education body/mind/spirit

Promotion of wise reflection before changes

Enough food, work, time to be, health care

Acceptance of disabled, vulnerable, old

Reverence for created world

Acceptance of death as part of life

Undervaluing wisdom

DEHUMANISING

Sex selection, PGD, embryo experimentscloning

Child as possession, right, May be made to be used for other, reject any abnormality

Lack of educationBody/mind/spirit

Overvaluing of scienceCanonising new developmentLack of food, work, time to be, health care. Too much food etc

Rejection of disabled, vulnerable old

Exploitation of created world

Denial of death – or wish to control it by euthanasia

Ethical issues at beginning of life

Ethical issues at beginning of life

When does human life begin?

Children as possession or gift

Cost of technology ($ 9.3 million in NZ)

Donated eggs & sperm,

Surrogacy;

Multiple parents in IVF with donated eggs, sperm and surrogacy

Meaning of motherhood and fatherhood

Embryo issues

When does human life begin?

Children as possession or gift

Cost of technology ($ 9.3 million in NZ)

Donated eggs & sperm,

Surrogacy;

Multiple parents in IVF with donated eggs, sperm and surrogacy

Meaning of motherhood and fatherhood

Embryo issues

QuestioQuestionsns

Embryo issuesEmbryo issues

: embryo selection to reduce disease

: embryo selection to provide therapy for siblings

: embryo enhancement

: inserting genes from others

: cloning; therapeutic and reproductive

: destruction of embryo for stem cells

: disposal of ‘spare’ embryos

: adoption of spare embryos

: embryo selection to reduce disease

: embryo selection to provide therapy for siblings

: embryo enhancement

: inserting genes from others

: cloning; therapeutic and reproductive

: destruction of embryo for stem cells

: disposal of ‘spare’ embryos

: adoption of spare embryos

“There are persistent moral quandaries and moral remainders”

“There are pressures for premature closure”

“Good ethical dialogue is inclusive, identifies sources of power, and the ethical platforms asks the question: what kind of a society do we want?”

“There are persistent moral quandaries and moral remainders”

“There are pressures for premature closure”

“Good ethical dialogue is inclusive, identifies sources of power, and the ethical platforms asks the question: what kind of a society do we want?”

Michael Burgess, International Ethics Conference

Ethical issues at End of LifeEthical issues at End of Life

What is ‘normal’ treatment?

Cost of technology

Letting die and euthanasia

Persistent vegetative state

Withdrawal of life support

Quality of life

Resources available

What is ‘normal’ treatment?

Cost of technology

Letting die and euthanasia

Persistent vegetative state

Withdrawal of life support

Quality of life

Resources available

Right to DieThe moral basis of the right to die is the right to a

good quality life

Right to DieThe moral basis of the right to die is the right to a

good quality life

“Lawyers and doctors distinguish between withholding treatment with death as a result and giving treatment that causes death. …But in fact there is no difference between them;... Like the doctrine of double effect, which allows death hastening levels of analgesia to be given…the distinctions are fictitious. Political and religious sentiments may obscure the interests of the patient in (right to die) cases , which is why the dispassionate assessment of the facts in a court of law is the best way to reach a conclusion”

Leader in BMJ 9 April 2005

AC Grayling, Professor, School of Philosophy Birkbeck College

“Lawyers and doctors distinguish between withholding treatment with death as a result and giving treatment that causes death. …But in fact there is no difference between them;... Like the doctrine of double effect, which allows death hastening levels of analgesia to be given…the distinctions are fictitious. Political and religious sentiments may obscure the interests of the patient in (right to die) cases , which is why the dispassionate assessment of the facts in a court of law is the best way to reach a conclusion”

Leader in BMJ 9 April 2005

AC Grayling, Professor, School of Philosophy Birkbeck College

Pertinent Questions for new Developments

Pertinent Questions for new Developments

Does this reverence each person?

Does it care for the most vulnerable?

Does it lead to growth and freedom?

Does it lead to oppression?

Is it open to political or economic manipulation

so that people will be oppressed?

Does it reveal in a new way the love of God.

Does this reverence each person?

Does it care for the most vulnerable?

Does it lead to growth and freedom?

Does it lead to oppression?

Is it open to political or economic manipulation

so that people will be oppressed?

Does it reveal in a new way the love of God.

“How do we encourage moral strangers to cooperate?”

“Ethical dialogue is a process of awakening communion”

Paul Reeves, Chairman of the Bioethics Council

“How do we encourage moral strangers to cooperate?”

“Ethical dialogue is a process of awakening communion”

Paul Reeves, Chairman of the Bioethics Council

“Let us avoid moralizing or suggesting we have a monopoly of truth”

Cardinal Wojtyla to the Second Vatican Council

“Let us avoid moralizing or suggesting we have a monopoly of truth”

Cardinal Wojtyla to the Second Vatican Council

“Society is never finished but must always be built up anew on the basis of conscience “

Cardinal Ratzinger

“Society is never finished but must always be built up anew on the basis of conscience “

Cardinal Ratzinger