All medical ethics articles
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ShowsShould we try to save every one? Ethical dilemmas and Christian values when treating very premature babies
A recent Guardian article looked in depth at advances in neonatology – the care of extremely premature babies – and the complex ethical challenges now faced by parents and doctors alike. Modern medicine can now save the lives of babies born at just 21 or 22 weeks old, but does this come at too great a cost?
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ShowsPrenatal screening: Is all knowledge a good thing?
Pregnant women today are offered a battery of tests and screening for their unborn child, looking for an ever-increasing range of conditions and risks. But is the onward march of technology in this sphere always an unmitigated good thing? With abortion for a disability legal in the UK up to term, women are being given terrible choices previous generations never faced: give birth to a child who probably has a life-limiting or even fatal condition, or end the pregnancy early.
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ShowsThe infected blood scandal
A UK inquiry revealed NHS’s use of contaminated blood, causing infections like HIV. Particularly tragic were non-consensual experiments at a haemophilia school, resulting in deaths. This discussion probes the ethics of medical trials, healthcare improvements, and the role of Christian humility in medicine.
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ShowsThe unintended consequences of sperm donation
A recent Netflix documentary, The Man With A 1000 Kids, has shone a light on the often under-discussed topic of sperm donation. It exposes a Dutch man as a prolific and deceptive sperm donor who compulsively fathers children around the world via donated sperm.
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ShowsMatters of Life & Death: How much is too much to genetically screen your children?
In the first half of this episode we explore new research into public opinion around polygenic embryo screening. This technology allows people undergoing IVF to see what genes each potential embryo has and then choose to reimplant the one with the ‘best’ genetic make-up.
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ShowsMatters of Life & Death: ADHD, over-diagnosis and should Christians enhance our brains with stimulants?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the faster growing mental health diagnoses of our age. More and more people, including those well into adulthood, are seeking out and being diagnosed with ADHD.
