1. Matters of life Religion, morality & life; Fertility treatment;
Keywords; Morality, ethics, absolute morality, relative morality, sanctity of life, value of life, quality of life, fertility treatment, in vitro fertilisation
insemination by donor (AID), transplant surgery, blood transfusion, human genetic engineering, embryology, embryo, designer baby, stem cell, saviour
(IVF), test-tube baby, artificial insemination, surrogacy, artificial insemination by husband (AIH), artificial
siblings, cloning, conception, quickening, ensoulment, viable, human-animal hybrid , experimentation
Religion, morality & life;
We all make moral decisions. Believers base their morality upon the teachings of the faith they follow. Some religions such as Judaism have very clear laws, where as other religions such as Buddhism provides guidance as the laws are open to interpretation.
Christians & Muslims believe that life is sacred as it is a gift from God.
Fertility treatment;
Fertility treatment can be given to those couples who can’t conceive naturally.
Surrogacy;
Usually the surrogate mothers egg and fathers sperm are used, with pregnancy being achieved by AI.
The father automatically has equal rights over the child with the surrogate mother.
After 6 weeks both parents can apply for a Parental Order, removing any claim the surrogate mother had.
OR;
If the genetic mother has working ovaries then a surrogate can carry the baby conceived through IVF from the parents eggs and sperm.
Here the surrogate MUST hand over the baby at birth.
IVF & AI;
Involves the collection of sperm, which Roman Catholics see as ‘spilling the seed of life’, so are against.
AID is often most objected to because;
Donor is a stranger
Could be seen as adultery
Allows unmarried women to have children
Allows gay couples to have children
Problems from the child later in life when they find out
Donor may not want identity to be revealed
Transplants & transfusions;
Organs can not be sold for transplants in the UK. Patients will be required to take medication for the rest of their lives to prevent rejection.
UK Law;
The surrogate can be paid expenses, but must receive no fee.
Matters of life
For IVF;
Compassion
Everyone has the right to be a parent
Child maybe loved more
God has given the intelligence to develop technique
Against IVF;
Not natural – so against God.
Wrong people parents
Expensive – no guarantee of pregnancy
Human transplants;
Organs can be given by live donors – kidneys, part of liver, small bowel, pancreas & bone marrow
Can be taken from patients who are brain dead, a machine keeps then ‘alive’ until the organs can be harvested
Have to carry donor card
Link to sanctity, quality & value of life
Animal organ transplants;
Mainly pig organs or products used (insulin was first harvested from pigs)
Acceptable for Muslims as a last resort
Transfusions;
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that life is carried in the blood, so will not have transfusions. They will accept ‘bloodless transplants’. NO other Christians believe this.

2. Human genetic engineering; When does life begin?;
Key religious beliefs; Christian; ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God lives in you?’ 1 Corinthians 3:16, ‘Hannah had none… and the
Islam: ‘If anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.’ Qur’an 5:32, ‘He bestows (children) male or female according to his will.’
Lord had closed her womb.’ 1 Samuel 1:2,5, ‘Love your neighbour as (you love) yourself.’ Luke 10:27-28
Qur’an 42:49, ‘It is He (Allah) who created you from a single person.’ Qur’an 7:189
Designer babies;
In theory this is possible, scientists in USA have developed a genetically modified embryo
Human genetic engineering;
The ability to change the genes in a cell to allow cures to be found for genetic disorders. Scientist have now ‘mapped’ the entire length of human DNA.
When does life begin?;
Before conception
(Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus)
Conception
(Roman Catholic)
After 14 days
attachment to the womb
3 weeks
Heart beat
Quickening - 9 weeks
First movements
Ensoulment - 19 weeks
(Muslims )
Viability - 24 weeks
(abortion is not legal after this point unless extreme cases)
Birth
No further genetic experimentation is allowed after this point
UK Law;
Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill May 2008
Aims to define what UK scientists can and can’t do
For;
Prevent disease
Allow healthy babies to be born
Good quality of life for baby
Against;
Encourages scientist to ‘play’ God
Creates many unused embryos that are destroyed – murder (Roman Catholics)
Maybe used to cure deafness or blindness
Removes sanctity of life
Reproductive;
An identical copy of an animal, plant or even human, however it is ILLEGAL to clone humans. Most famous clone – Dolly the sheep
Islam;
Muslims agree with the points that refer to the sanctity of life and disposal of unwanted embryos, but when the soul arrives is key. They believe that Allah gave humans skills to be used to help others.
Cloning;
The creation of a genetically identical organism. There are 2 types;
Problems:
March ‘08
Clinical tests of drug TGN1412 go wrong
Human hybrids & experiments;
Hybrids:
Scientists have created a cow-human hybrid that had survived for 3 days. It is hoped that it can be used to treat Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.
Experiments;
Is testing on animals reliable?? All drugs undergo a final stage of testing on humans, it is usually safe for the paid volunteers
Lab testing
(animals)
Human testing
(3 stages)
Drug is licenced
Religious beliefs;
Christianity;
Psalm 139: 13, 15
Leviticus 19:18
Leviticus 17:11
Exodus 20:13
Islam;
Qur’an 17:33
Therapeutic;
Also known as stem-cell cloning. Allows biological material to be cloned from cells that have not been determined – fewer organ shortages in the future?
UK Law;
UK labs are strictly licenced, embryos are destroyed at 14 days.