Unit One: The Right To Life

This unit explores the idea of the sanctity of life and looks at key medical issues and the arguments for and against them. The Sanctity of Life This is the key Christian belief that all life is sacred because only God can give and take life. It is a central argument to use in this section. There are many quotes that support the idea of the sanctity of life. Fill in the table below to explain what each of these quotes means. Quote before I knew you I formed you I the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart man was made in the image of God thou shall not kill your body is the temple of God Explanation, this means.

Abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy that results in the death of the embryo or foetus. In the UK abortion is legal if: Two doctors agree it The pregnancy has not passed 24 weeks There is a risk to the mothers health, physically or psychologically There is a significant risk that the baby will be born with disabilities Abortion is carried out either medically (using drugs) or surgically (using surgery). In the early stages of pregnancy a pill can be used to abort the foetus and in the later stages a surgical procedure is necessary. When does life begin? Christians believe that a human person exists before birth because in the Bible it states before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart

When does life begin? At the moment of conception

Who and why do they think this? Catholics human life must be respected from the moment of conception the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath of life Some Christians argue life begins when the soul enters the body (ensoulment) and that this takes place when breathing begins

At ensoulment

Pro Life and Pro Choice Catholics are completely against abortion (Pro Life). The Church of England and Non Conformists believe it is acceptable if the health of the mother is in danger or the embryo is severely deformed. (Pro Choice) Complete the table below with arguments for each side Pro Life (against abortion) thou shall not kill Pro Choice (in favour of abortion) love your neighbour as you love yourself

Alternatives to Abortion Many Christians argue that more should be done to support women who are considering an abortion. There are many ways they may be helped: Direct social and financial support from the church Counselling people By accepting and welcoming single mothers into the church life Offering fostering provision In extreme cases where the mother cannot adequately care for and love the child adoption may be offered

Christian should never agree with abortion Do You Agree? (6 marks) Euthanasia Euthanasia literally means an easy or good death. It is sometimes referred to as mercy killing It is often defined as the act of killing someone painlessly, especially to relieve suffering from an incurable illness. In the UK euthanasia is illegal, HOWEVER, each case is considered individually. There are lots of cases at present that you can refer to in your exam: E.g. Tony Nicklinson locked in syndrome http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17336774 Voluntary Euthanasia: when a terminally ill person asks a doctor or friend to help them die peacefully and with dignity. It can be called mercy killing or assisted suicide. An example you could use here is the case of Diane Pretty. Involuntary Euthanasia: when a persons wishes cannot be given for some reason, e.g. being in a coma Active Euthanasia: where something is actively done to end a persons life e.g. a lethal injection is given or pills are taken Passive Euthanasia: where something that could be done to pro long a persons life isnt e.g. not giving them medical treatment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daE3lcMFmls Christian Responses to Euthanasia Christian arguments for euthanasia Agape and compassion for the person who is suffering Christian arguments against euthanasia thou shall not kill

Christians should never agree with euthanasia Do You Agree? (6 Marks) Christians should not agree with euthanasia because the Bible has many teachings that say you should not take life. The Bible says thou shall not kill Also in the Bible Jesus healed many people. The Bible is important for Christians as it guides them in life. They should follow the rules in the Bible and also try to be like Jesus. Some Christians think that God has given them freedom to decide what they should do. They may think that helping someone who is in great pain is a way of showing love and mercy Using the A02 mark scheme how many marks would you give this answer? Why? What targets would you set it to improve? The Quality Of Life The debate about the quality of life is central to euthanasia. The question often arises when is life no longer worth living? A good example to use here is the case of Tony Bland. At 17 Tony Bland was severely brain damaged after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. His parent and the hospital asked permission to withdraw the artificial food and water that was keeping him alive. The High Court and the House of Lords agreed.

The Right to Self Determination Self determination refers to the right to make decisions for yourself in your life. It is an argument used by those who agree with voluntary euthanasia. Dignity in Dying is one organisation which campaigns for a choice at the end of life and a dignified death for all. For some Christians because life is sacred they believe there should be some quality to it and people should have the right to decide for themselves if that standard of life is too low.

The Hospice Movement Hospices are special where people go to die with dignity. In 1967 Cicely Saunders founded the Hospice movement and there are now over 220 hospices in the UK Many Christians argue the hospice movement is a better alternative to euthanasia because It emphasises compassionate care with expert pain relief It emphasises healing either physically or spiritually It emphasises valuing the person and every moment of their life

Possible exam questions: Explain the difference between active and passive euthanasia (2 marks) There is no need for euthanasia because we have hospices What do you think? Explain your opinion (3 marks) Give three reasons why a woman may wish to have an abortion (3 marks)

THE RIGHT TO LIFE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT OF ALL SO WE SHOULD NOT KILL

THE RIGHT TO LIFE MEANS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHEN AND HOW WE DIE