Key Definitions Flashcards
Abortion
The deliberate termination of a pregnancy, resulting in the death of an embryo/foetus through medical procedure, usually before the foetus is 24 weeks old. Legalised in the UK in 1967 -200,000 women went to Backstreet abortionists
Sanctity
The quality of life being SACRED or HOLY - we have something special in us from God
Euthanasia
Inducing a painless death with compassion, to ease suffering. From the greek meaning ‘Good Death’. Some Christians believe it os ‘mercy killing’, while others see it as taking a life
Quality of life
A measure of fulfilment
Active euthanasia
When something is done to the person to deliberately end their life. Illegal in the UK
Passive euthanasia
When something necessary for life is not done/given to the person, resulting in the loss of life. Practised in the UK, but not identified as the cause of death
Assisted suicide
Legal in Switzerland. Different to euthanasia : the person who is ill has to perform the final action themselves. You have to have a terminal illness
Physician-assisted suicide
When the death involves the assistance of a doctor
Voluntary euthanasia
When a terminally ill person asks a doctor or friend to help them die peacefully and with dignity
Hospices
Special places where people go to die with dignity. Founded by Cicely Saunders in 1967, because the moments at the end of your life are just as special as any others. Compassionate, comfortable, supportive and pain-relieved. Medical and spiritual needs taken care of, and they offer 24-hour care
Palliative care
Keeping severe pain under control (expert pain relief)
Respite care
The family have a break from looking after the sick relative. Macmillan nurses often visit the patients and their families in the hospice and at home
Artificial Insemination (AI)
Sperm medically inserted into the vagina to assist pregnancy. Wrong: only God can make new life, technology should not be involved in a man & wife’s relationship
Artificial Insemination by Husband (AIH)
When a woman is made pregnant by the sperm of her husband, but not through having sexual relations with him. Morally justified: can correct nature; not donor (CoE) because it brings another person into the marriage
Artificial Insemination by Donor (AID)
When a woman is made pregnant by the sperm of a man other than her partner, but not through having sexual relations with him. Morally justified: if the husband doesn’t want to pass on an inherited degenerative disease
Surrogate mother
The one who has the baby for another woman. She is called the HOST mother
Genetic mother
If the woman’s egg is used. She will have a genetic link to the child
Biological mother
The mother who carries the baby and gives birth to it
Legal mother
The one who gives birth
Hagar and Ishmael
A Biblical example of surrogacy
Cloning
The scientific method by which animals or plants are created with EXACTLY THE SAME GENETIC MAKE-UP as the original, because the original animal/plant’s DNA is used. The first cloned animal was Dolly the sheep in 1997. Cloning of humans (for reproductive purposes) is totally illegal
Embryo
Fertilised ovum at about 12-14 days when implanted into the wall of the womb
Hybrid embryos
Mixtures of both human and animal tissue. The UK law is against hybrid embryos being grown in humans
Reproductive cloning
The use of cloning techniques to produce a baby. Illegal for humans in the UK to be born like this
