Bioethics - Euthanasia, Contraception, And Abortion: Christian Stand On The Rights Of The Weak, The Women, The Unborn

Bioethics:Euthanasia,Contraception,andAbortion:ChristianStandontheRightsoftheW eak,theW omen,theUnbornInpartialfulfillmentofther equir ementsInEthicsoftheChristianFaithCordova,JamesJucom,AlvinAntoineAngelicusKadile,GwynethMaeKiroquero,AngelicaMariLarena,GoldymyrrhFayeMari,KarlReadingandInterpretingtheChristianScripture3:EthicsoftheChristianFaithSectionA|GroupFJuly20,2023T ableofContentsI.Intr oduction...........................................................................................................................1II.Definitions............................................................................................................................3A.MainEthicalStandpoints................................................................................................3B.T opic................................................................................................................................3Euthanasia......................................................................................................................3Contraception.................................................................................................................4Abortion.........................................................................................................................4III.FactsSurr oundingtheIssue.............................................................................................5A.Euthanasia.......................................................................................................................5T ypesofEuthanasia........................................................................................................5MethodsofEuthanasia...................................................................................................5V ulnerableIndividualsandPalliativeCare....................................................................6ReasonsWhyPatientsResorttoEuthanasia..................................................................6LegalStatusofEuthansia...............................................................................................7LegalStatusofEuthanasiaAr oundtheW orld.........................................................7LegalStatusofEuthanasiainthePhilippines.........................................................7Interview:AT estimonytoPassiveEuthanasia..............................................................8Interview:ARomanCatholicV iewonEuthansia.........................................................8B.Contraception...................................................................................................................9T ypesofContraception..................................................................................................9LegalizationofContraceptioninthePhilippines.........................................................10ImportanceofContraceptiontoW omen......................................................................10ReducingUnintendedPr egnanciesandTheirConsequences................................1 1Impr ovingMaternalandChildHealthOutcomes..................................................12Pr eventsSexuallyT ransmittedDiseases................................................................12HealthandPsychologicalRisks...................................................................................13CriticismsofPotentialHealthRisksAssociatedwithHormonalContraceptivesandConcernsaboutSideEffectsandLong-T ermImpactsonW omen'sHealth....13PsychologicalandEmotionalConcernsRelatedtoAlteringNaturalRepr oductivePr ocesses................................................................................................................15Interview:ARomanCatholicV iewonContraception................................................15C.Abortion.........................................................................................................................16OverviewofAbortion..................................................................................................16W omenandAbortion..............................................................................................16AbortionasaShar edDecision...............................................................................17Men'sInvolvementinW omen'sAbortion-RelatedCar e.........................................17MethodsofAbortion....................................................................................................17RoevW ade..................................................................................................................18AbortionRatesAfterRoeV .W ade..........................................................................18Roev .W adeOverturned.........................................................................................19AbortioninthePhilippines..........................................................................................19StatisticsRegar dingAbortioninthePhilippines...................................................19WhoHasAbortionsinthePhilippinesandWhy?..................................................20Interview:AT estimonytoAbortioninthePhilippines...............................................22Interview:ARomanCatholicV iewonAbortion.........................................................22IV .Biblico-TheologicalBasisofEthicalStand(NIV).........................................................23A.Euthanasia.....................................................................................................................23EuthanasiaasMurdernotCompassion........................................................................23God sPlanandAuthorityoverHumanLifeandDeath...............................................24HonoringtheHumanBodyasGod sT emple..............................................................26EuthanasiaasaFormofSelfishness............................................................................27B.Contraception.................................................................................................................27TheCaseofOnan:CoitusInterruptus..........................................................................27DivinePurposeofSexualIntimacy..............................................................................27CounterAr guments......................................................................................................28C.Abortion.........................................................................................................................29GodRecognizestheHumanintheW omb...................................................................29AbortionasaDishonorableActuntoGod...................................................................31AbortionasaPaganPractice........................................................................................32AbortionasMurder......................................................................................................33V .EthicalPositioninConsiderationofChristianTheology...............................................34A.Euthanasia.....................................................................................................................34B.Contraception.................................................................................................................34C.Abortion.........................................................................................................................35VI.ConclusionandRecommendation..................................................................................36A.Conclusion.....................................................................................................................36B.Recommendations.........................................................................................................36VII.Refer ences.......................................................................................................................37E th ic sR ep orto nB io eth ic s,E uth an asia ,C on tr a cep tio n ,a n dA bortio n :C hris tia nS ta n do nt h eR ig h tso ft h eW ea k ,t h eW om en ,a n dt h eU nbornJ.Cordova,A.A.Jucom,G.M.Kadile,A.M.Kiroquero,G.F .Larena,&K.MariGr oupF ,CHS-3,SillimanUniversity ,DumagueteCityAbstract:AsChristiansofthemodernworld,wearefacedwithcontemporaryissuesthatposecontentiouslytotheteachingsoftheHolyScriptures.TheHolyBibleisahistoricalanddoctrinalaccountoftheJudeo-ChristianteachingscentraltoGod sword,whichguidestheprinciplesandwayoflifeforChristians.Howbeit,manysuchmodernissuestodayarenotmirroredexplicitlyintheoldtextsandthus,requirein-depthbiblical-theologicalanalysis.Hence,thispaperintendstoanalyzethecontroversialbioethicaltopicsofeuthanasia,contraception,andabortion,reviewedintheessenceandcontextofbiblicalpassagesintheOldandNewT estaments.Inaddition,thispaperdelvesaswellintotheHumanisticperspectiveinregardstosaidmatterstounderstandwhatgroundofreasontheseissuesholdintheirpersistenceamidstethicaldebateandChristiancontention.Bothviewpointsareacknowledgedtoarrivewithacollectivestandontherightsoftheweak,women,andtheunborn.TheresearchershavefoundthatthereisasignificantbasisthatdiminishestheethicalpositionofeuthanasiaandabortionastheyoverstepGod sauthoritytohumanlifeanddeathandviolatethesanctityofbothhumanlifeandbody .However ,therehasbeenlittlebiblicalgroundstosupportanoppositionagainsttheuseofcontraception.Conclusively ,thispaperstandsontheimmoralityofeuthanasia,theethicalqualificationofnon-abortivecontraception,andtheconditionalconsiderationsaroundabortion.Keywords:bioethics,humanism,euthanasia,contraception,abortion,vulnerableindividuals,women srights,autonomy ,empathy ,compassion,sanctityoflife,sanctityofthebody ,&sanctityofsexualintimacyI.Intr oductionTherehasbeenmuchdiscussionconcerningtheethicalimplicationsofeuthanasia,contraception,andabortionsparkingcontroversyaroundtheirmoralplacementintheparametersofChristiandoctrine.Thispaperthusaimstoexploretheethicaldimensionsofthesecontentiousissueswithinbothframeworksof(i)Christiantheologyand(ii)Humanismregardingtherightsofvulnerableindividuals,women,andtheunborn.RecognizingbothChristianandHumanisticperspectivesenablesforbroadercognitionandextensiveawareness,whichisconducivetoin-depthcontemplationinshapingethicalpositionsontheseparticularissues.Euthanasia.Ethicaldiscussionssurroundingeuthanasiaweightheprinciplesofautonomy ,compassion,andthepotentialforabuse,aswellasthebroaderimpactontherightsanddignityofvulnerableindividuals.ChristianethicsemphasizesthesanctityoflifeandthatlifeisagiftfromGod.ChristianteachingsoftenstressthatGodhastheultimateauthorityoverlifeanddeath.Fromthis,intentionallyendingalifeisseenasaviolationofHisauthorityandsacredgift,regardlessofgreataf flictionorterminalillness.ThehumanbodyisalsoseenasatempleofGodandtheindwellingoftheHolySpirit,whichstressesthesanctityofthebodyaswell.Harmingone'sbodyandthatofothersislikewiseseenasaviolationtothisChristian1concept.Advocatesfortherightsoftheweakar guethatsocietyshouldinsteadprioritizetheprovisionofpalliativecare,painmanagement,andsupportforindividualsfacingend-of-lifechallenges(Erdek,2015).Humanistethics,however ,emphasizethevalueofpersonalautonomyandrationality ,aswellasempathy .Humanistsar guethatwemustempathizewithandrespecttheautonomyandwishesofindividualswhoareofsoundmindandhavemadeaconsciousdecisiontoendtheirownlives,albeit,itisimportanttonotethathumanistethicsregardingeuthanasiadonotsupporttheterminationoflifeinnon-voluntaryorinvoluntarysituations(HumanistsUK,2021).Contraception.Theethicalconsiderationssurroundingcontraceptionrevolvearoundquestionsofreproductiverightsandautonomy ,thepurposeandsanctityofsexualintimacy ,andthepotentialconsequencesforrelationships,familystructures,andsocietalwellbeing.Christianethicsgenerallyviewcontraceptionasincompatiblewiththeprocreativepurposeofsexualintimacy ,advocatingforthepreservationofsexualintimacywithinthecontextofmarriageandtheemphasisonprocreation,asdetailedinatheologicalassessmentbyHollinger(2013).HealsopointsthatthetraditionalRomanCatholicviewperceivesitasinterferingwiththenaturalprocessesofreproduction.However ,itisworthnotingthatsomeChristiandenominations,e.g.,Protestantism,highlightcontraceptionasameansforresponsiblefamilyplanningandapracticeofmaritalloveandmutualconsent(Mehta,2018).Humanism,ontheotherhand,placesastrongemphasisonindividualfreedomandautonomyinmattersofsexualityandreproductiverights.Humanistethicssupporttheavailabilityanduseofcontraceptiontoempowerindividualsandpartnerstomakeinformedchoicesabouttheirreproductivelives.LikesomeChrsitiandenominations,humanistsar guethatcontraceptionallowsforthemoraldutyofresponsiblefamilyplanningandreducestheincidenceofunwantedpregnancies,promotingtheoverallwellbeingofindividualsandfamilies(Blake&Katrak,2002).Abortion.Theethicaldebatesurroundingabortioncentersontherightsoftheunborn,women'srights,health,andautonomy ,andthemoralstatusofterminatingfetallife.Balancingthesefactorswhilerespectingtherightsanddignityofbothwomenandtheunbornremainsasignificantchallengeinthefieldofbioethics.Christianethicsgenerallyregardabortionasadeliberateterminationofaninnocentlifeandishencemorallywrong,consideringtheunbornfetusasahumanlifedeservingofprotection,forthereasonthatthesanctityoflifefromconceptionisvaluedandtheprotectionoftheunbornisseenasamoraldutygroundedintheChristianconceptofhumanpersonhood,accordingtoMay(2012).ShealsostatesthatChristianethicsalsoconsidersthephysicalandpsychologicalrisksofabortion,itsimpactonfamiliesandcommunities,andtheavailabilityofalternativese.g.,puttingchildrenupforadoption.Humanistethicsapproachabortionfromaperspectivethatprioritizeswomen'sreproductiverights,bodilyautonomy ,andpersonalchoice.Humanistsar guethatawomanshouldhavetherighttomakedecisionsaboutherownbody ,includingthedecisiontoterminateapregnancy(HumanistsUK,2016).Theyprioritizeawoman'srighttoself-determination,herphysicalandmentalhealth,andherabilitytoplanherownlife,aswellasadvocateforlegalaccesstosafeandcomprehensivereproductivehealthcare,includingabortionservicesingeneral(McReynolds-Perez,2017).ImportanceoftheEthicalIssue.Theethicaldebatesurroundingeuthanasia,contraception,andabortionremainshighlyrelevantduetoitsprofoundimpactonhumanlife,dignity ,andautonomy .Theseissuestouchuponfundamentalquestionsofwhenlifebeginsandends,therightsofindividuals,thesanctityoflife,andthebalancebetweenpersonal2choiceandsocietalvalues.Associetycontinuestoprogressandscientificadvancementschallengetraditionalnorms,itbecomesimperativetocriticallyexaminetheethicalimplicationsofthesepracticesandtheircompatibilitywithChristianbeliefs.ImpactoftheEthicalIssue.Theethicalissuesofeuthanasia,contraception,andabortionhavefar -reachingconsequencesforindividualsandcommunities.Theseissuesimpactpeopledirectlybychallengingtheirmoralandreligiousconvictions,aswellastheirpersonalexperiencesandbeliefs.Discussionsaroundtheseissuesinfluencesocietalvaluesandnorms,aswellastherelationshipbetweenpersonalautonomy ,religiousbeliefs,andthecommongood.Communitiesarelikewiseaf fected,asthesedebateshaveimplicationsforpublicpolicy ,healthcaresystems,legalframeworks,andsocietalnorms.These,amongmanyotherissues,impactpeople srights,healthcare,education,andsocialservices.T osummarize,euthanasia,contraception,andabortionarecomplexissuesthatrequiremuchanalysisinconsiderationofBiblicalandHumanisticethics.Byexploringthesetopicswithinthecontextofbothopposingstandpoints,wecangainadeeperunderstandingoftheprinciplesandvaluesthatinformtheperspectivesontherightsoftheweak,women,andtheunborn,whichisessentialinfacilitatingacomprehensiveandrespectfuldialogueregardingtheethicaldimensionsofthesecomplexbioethicalissues.II.DefinitionsA.MainEthicalStandpoints1.Christianethics:ethicalprinciplesandvaluesderivedfromChristianteachingsandbeliefs;asystematicstudyofthewayoflifetaughtbyJesus,appliedtothemanifoldproblemsanddecisionsofhumanexistence,andguidedbyGod'srevelationinScriptureaboveothersystemsofthought,asitseekstoloveGodandneighborineverymoralandethicalissue(Harkness,n.d.)2.Humanism:ademocraticandethicallifestancethataf firmshumanbeingshavetherightandresponsibilitytogivemeaningandshapetotheirownlives,andstandsforthebuildingofamorehumanesocietythroughanethicbasedonhumanandothernaturalvaluesinthespiritofreasonandfreeinquirythroughhumancapabilities(AmericanHumanistAssociation,2022)B.T opic3.Bioethics:studyofethicalissuesarisingfromadvancesinbiologyandmedicineandinvolvestheidentification,study ,andresolutionormitigationofconflictsamongcompetingvaluesorgoals(Baltes,Smelser ,&Thiele,2001)4.Moraldilemmas:situationswheretwoormoreethicalprinciplesorvaluescomeintoconflict,makingitdif ficulttodeterminethecorrectcourseofaction(Kvalnes,2019)Euthanasia5.Euthanasia:thepracticeofintentionallyendingaperson'slifetoeliminatepainandsuf fering(UniversityofMissouri,n.d.)36.V ulnerableindividuals:peoplewhoareinastateofphysical,psychological,orsocialweaknessordependence(Battinetal.,2007)7.Autonomy:one sself-directingfreedomandespeciallymoralindependence(Merriam-W ebster)8.Empathy:theactionofunderstanding,beingawareof,beingsensitiveto,andvicariouslyexperiencingthefeelings,thoughts,andexperienceofanother(MerriamW ebster)9.SanctityoftheBody:atheologicalorphilosophicalconceptthatrecognizestheinherentdignity ,worth,andsacrednessofthehumanbody;thisperspectiveassertsthatthebodyisnotmerelyaphysicalobjectbutatempleoftheHolySpirit,createdintheimageofGod,anddeservingofrespectandprotectionthroughoutitsentireexistence;isoftenappliedtoawiderangeofbioethicalissues,e.g.,abortionandeuthanasia,andisconsideredthefoundationofmoralcivilization(Sproul,2017)Contraception10.Contraception:thedeliberateuseofmethodsordevicestopreventpregnancy(Merriam-W ebster)1 1.Sanctityofsexualintimacy:thebeliefthatsexualactivityisasacredandmeaningfulactthatshouldbereservedformarriageoracommittedrelationship;associatedwithreligiousormoralvaluesandisviewedasawaytoexpresslove,commitment,andintimacybetweenpartners(BowlingGreenStateUniversity ,n.d.)Abortion12.Abortion:theterminationofapregnancyafter ,accompaniedby ,resultingin,orcloselyfollowedbythedeathoftheembryoorfetus(Merriam-W ebster)13.W omen srights:encompassthelegalrightsandfreedomsthatwomenhaveinmakingdecisionsabouttheirreproductivecapacities;includestherighttoaccesscontraception,abortion,fertilitytreatment,reproductivehealthservices,andinformationabouttheirreproductivebodies;groundedinmultiplehumanrights,e.g.,therighttolife,therighttobefreefromtorture,therighttohealth,therighttoprivacy ,therighttoeducation,andtheprohibitionofdiscrimination(Schurr&Militz,2022)14.Sanctityoflife:meansthatbodilyhumanlifeisanintrinsicgood,andthatitisalwaysimpermissibletokillaninnocenthuman(Clarke,2023)15.Personhood:thebeliefthathumanbeingsaretheimagodeiortheimageofGod;Christianshavedif feredoverwheretolocatethisimagingofGodinhumans(Mitchell,n.d.)16.Adoption:thelegalprocessinwhichanadultbecomestheguardianofachildandincurstherightsandobligationsofaparent(CornellLawSchool,n.d.)4III.FactsSurr oundingtheIssueA.EuthanasiaEuthanasiaisthepracticeofterminatingapatient slifeforthepurposeoflimitingtheperiodoftheirsuf feringvianon-painfulmeans,withsolerespecttotheintentofdeathfromthepersonwhodies(Brassington,2020&UniversityofMissouri,n.d.).Administeringeuthanasiatypicallyappliestopatientswhoareterminallyillorexperiencinggreatagonyintheircondition.ItsetymologytracesbacktoGreecefromthewordseu(good)andthanatos(death).Theprincipleofthispracticeistosparepatientsfromaslow ,painful,orundignifiedend,suchthattheymayratherexperienceagooddeath(UniversityofMissouri,n.d.).T ypesofEuthanasia1.ActiveEuthanasia:theintentionalterminationofaperson slifeundertheintentofdeathbythepersonwhodies,throughthepurposiveadministrationofalife-endingsubstanceorprocedure(Brassington,2020)a.Self-administered:aconsciouspatient,byhisorherself,administersthemeansofeuthanasiatohisorherownself(UniversityofMissouri,n.d.).b.Other-administeredorAssisted:apersonotherthanthepatientadministersthemeansofeuthanasiaonthepatient,e.g.,physician(UniversityofMissouri,n.d.)i.V oluntary:thedeliveryofactiveeuthanasiaonaconsciouspersonundertheirexplicitconsent(UniversityofMissouri,n.d.)ii.Mercy-killing:thedeliveryofactiveeuthanasiaonapatientwithouttheirexplicitconsenttoendthepatient ssuf fering(UniversityofMissouri,n.d.)Involuntary:thedeliveryofactiveeuthanasiaonaconsciouspersonwithouthisorherexplicitconsent(Pereira,201 1)Non-voluntary:thedeliveryofactiveeuthanasiaonanunconscious,incapacitatedpersonwithouthisorherexplicitconsent(Pereira,201 1)2.PassiveEuthanasia:thewithholdingorwithdrawalofmedicaltreatment,i.e.,artificiallife-support,toallownaturaldeath(Brassington,2020&UniversityofMissouri,n.d.).MethodsofEuthanasiaEuthanasiabeadministeredthrough(i)oxygendeprivationoranoxia(Ogden,Hamilton,&Whitcher ,2010),orbymeansof(ii)oral,(iii)intravenous,(iv)intramuscular ,or(v)rectaladministrationofdrugs(AdministrationandCompoundingofEuthanasicAgents,1994).Thispaper ,however ,willnotgetintodetailconcerningthespecificdrugsthatmaybeusedforeuthanasiaandthatoftheirdosagesandprocesses.V ulnerableIndividualsandPalliativeCar eBattinetal.(2007)definevulnerableasthosewhoareold,female,withoutinsurance,oflowsocioeconomicposition,physicallyhandicappedorchronicallyill,younger5thantheageofmajority ,suf feringfrompsychiatricdiseases,e.g.,depression,orwhobelongedtoaracialorethnicminority .However ,FinlayandGeor ge(2010)disputedthestudy sfindingsonthegroundsthatsocioeconomicposition,race,orsexalonecannotcharacterizesomeone'ssusceptibilitytophysician-assistedsuicide(P AS)oreuthanasia.Additionally ,theystatethatsignificanttraitsofthevulnerableareone semotionalstate,responsetoloss,personalitytype,andfeelingburdened.Onanothernote,patientsareexposedtotheirdoctorspersonalopinionsonthesubjectofeuthanasia,aswellastheiramountofeducationandexpertiseinpalliativecare(Battinetal.,2007).Portenoyetal.(1997)indicatedthatasphysiciansbecomemoreknowledgeableaboutpalliativecare,theirsupportforP ASoreuthanasiadecreases.ReasonsWhyPatientsResorttoEuthanasiaEmanueletal.(2016)exploredintheirstudysomereasonsastowhyterminally-illpatientsinOregonandW ashingtonoptedtoendtheirlivesearlythrougheuthanasia.Theirstudyfoundthattheprimaryreasonastowhythesepatients,inparticular ,willinglyoptfortheprematureterminationoftheirlivesisduetothe(i)lossofautonomy ,thatis,theimminenceofacompleteinabilitytodecideforthemselvesduetounconsciousnessandincapacitationfromtheirailment.Whatfollowswouldbethe(ii)inabilitytoengageinusualactivitiesthusmakinglifelessenjoyable,(iii)lossofdignity ,(iv)lossofbodilycontrol,(v)puttingburdenontheirfamily ,friends,orcaregivers,(vi)feelingofconstantpain,and(vii)financialimplicationsforfurthertreatment.Theseareamongmanyotherreasonsyetsomeofthemostcommongroundsofconsiderationastowhypatientsunderterminalillnessorimmensepaindecisivelytakeituponthemselvestogeteuthanized,eitherbythemselvesorwiththeassistanceofaphysicianoratrustedindividual.F ig u re# 1.R ea so n