...Religious Beliefs Introduction: The term “ethics” can be derived from the Greek term ethos that means habit, custom, disposition or character. Ethics is defined as “a system of moral principals and a branch of philosophy which defines what is good for the individual and society. “ (Ethics, 2014) It is a collection of concepts acquired from philosophies, cultures, and religions. Some of these ethical concepts include the principals of autonomy, beneficence and social justice. Ethics provide a moral pathway in which individuals pick to find their way out of difficult issues. Individuals have many different derived concepts, or moral pathways, controversies that cause ethical dilemmas can become apparent. Such dilemmas can be seen in the health care delivery system of the United States and the policies that are enforced within it. One ethical argument in particular that poses issues and controversy regards society having the responsibility to provide or fund insurance that covers the cost of contraceptives when it is against the individual’s personal or religious beliefs. Ethical Dilemma/ Policy Issue: The term “conscientious objection” is the refusal to perform a legal role or responsibility because of personal beliefs. Conscientious objection in health care means that some practitioners might choose to not provide certain treatments to their patients as well as some parents may not choose to consent to certain treatments for their children. Under “Conscientious Objection”...
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...The ethical issue I will be discussing is IVF, in relation to the Christian religions Catholic and Anglican. IVF is used in cases of infertility –where the woman’s fallopian tubes are absent or blocked, the men’s sperm count is low, or the couple’s infertility is unexplained. It is an assisted reproductive technology in which one or more eggs are fertilized outside a female’s body. To do this, eggs are collected from the ovaries and placed in a dish with a large number of sperm for approx. 18 hours. The eggs are then placed in a special growth medium which allows fertilization to occur. Afterwards the embryo is either transferred back into the woman’s uterus or frozen and stored for later use. IVF has been a source of moral, ethical and religious controversy since its development. Although members of all religious groups can be found on both sides of the issue, the major opposition has come from the Roman Catholic Church. In 1987, the church issued a doctrinal statement opposing IVF on 3 grounds; the destruction of human embryos not used for implantation, the possibility of IVF by a sperm donor other than the husband-thus removing reproduction form the marital context, and finally the severing of an essential connection between the nuptial act and procreation. The use of IVF is said to violate the delicate innocence of those created, as God, their creator has not given them the gift of life, and therefore the fundamental value of ...
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...Impact of Reproductive Technologies on Society Melanie Pescud, Tammy Knox, Carly Malpass, Kellie Cue ?? ‘Infertility is estimated to affect more than 80 million people worldwide, and while developments in reproductive technologies have evolved rapidly, so have the ethical, social and political controversies which surround nearly all aspects of their use’ (Vayena et al, 1997) People have accepted the practice of various forms of fertility treatment for thousands of years. Despite this, controversy surrounds these new reproductive technologies because they challenge the traditional understanding of the relationship between sex and procreation. Consequentially, this also has the potential to challenge the structure of linage and kinship networks. This report will investigate the reported and perceived social implications of some commonly used reproductive technologies currently used today; including contraception, in-vitro fertilisation, gamete intra-fallopian transfer, intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, gamete donation and abortion. Equality of Access Reproductive technologies have had a significant impact to the lives of many infertile and sub-fertile couples around the world. However, due to the high financial costs of these procedures, the access to these technologies is largely limited to Western society; particularly middle to high income earners. Consequentially, developing countries whom have the highest rates of infertility...
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...Sex Ethics Essay Outline Thesis – Multiple outlooks have been taken on the ethics of pornography, and the means by which it may either negatively influence power in sexuality, or actually provide some sort of social value and worth. These different ethical perspectives display the flaws in the industry and what it represents; yet they also end up proving the fact that it can be modified with positive influence and that pornography is not something to be deemed utterly unethical. Intro – Power and sexuality are two topics that often tend to intersect, becoming a source for much controversy and ethical debate surrounding the issues that they may bring up. Although the interaction of power and sexuality has been a popular topic of interest historically, a more modern focused issue has been brought up on the topic of pornography. Paragraph 1 – Catharine MacKinnon looks at the issues of sex and power in pornography in her paper called Not a Moral Issue, where she sees no value in what it represents, deeming it as “central to the institutionalization of male dominance” (MacKinnon, 303). She believes pornography to be a misinterpretation of our sexual reality, which mirrors, creates, and reinforces negative connotations in real life. From her point of view, pornography is built solely on gender equality and power and “is a form of forced sex, a practice of sexual politics and an institution of gender inequality” (MacKinnon, 304). Her main issue is in how pornography emphasizes the...
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...This essay will highlight the mission statement of the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and focus on the ethical challenges that Midwives face on a daily basis. It will also emphasise the strategies that can be implemented by Midwives when challenged with ethical issues that may arise. Midwifery is a professional discipline that combines science, art, as well as strong ethical values (Ozcan & Akpinar & Ergin 2012) Individuals are not born with a set of values. The values are formed by interactions with environment, family, culture and through education. (Miles & Francis, 2010) The ACU’s Mission statement gives insight into the values that are imperative to model the aspects of a fair and equitable environment. ACU has a proven history of intellectual tradition which has a strong focus on higher education where academic integrity and a spiritual perspective are encapsulated. As well as a solid commitment toward quality teaching, research and service within the community. ACU also seeks to contribute in a universal scene through fundamental concerns of justice, equity and dignity for all human beings, whilst upholding the values of the common good. Midwifery as a profession values respect for privacy, client autonomy, justice and avoiding harm and working toward the common good for the community (ACU, 2010). Midwives have many roles as they care for women prenatally, during labour and postnatally, as they provide physical, educational and psychosocial needs of...
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...Teen pregnancy and resulting births pose many societal challenges, and as a result require the collective efforts of many to provide solutions. Teen pregnancy has been considered a "social ill" for centuries in the United States and has always challenged moral and ethical sensibilities. The economic costs of teens giving birth are significant, and there are many compelling reasons to reduce the teen pregnancy. Research shows that reducing the number of births to teens and increasing the age at which a women gives birth yields significant cost savings for the public sector. Efforts to reduce teen pregnancy are mainly focused on prevention and sex education is a large part of the effort. Current sex education programs focus on two main strategies, they are: abstinence only education and abstinence plus education. Abstinence only teaches that abstaining from sexual activity is the only truly effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy. Abstinence plus education focuses on delaying the initiation of sexual activity and recommends the use of contraception if a teen is sexually active. The success of abstinence only education has been exaggerated according to many sociologists and researchers. Scientific research indicates that abstinence plus education is actually much more effective in preventing teen pregnancy. Solving the problem of teen pregnancy has largely been relegating to treating the symptoms of the problem and employing prevention strategies aimed at young women. Sociologists...
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...Control Technologies because I am very interested in seeing how things have changed over time whether positive or negative when it comes to birth control. I do believe the usage of birth control is important when it comes to helping control the growth of the population. What other purposes does it serve? How did it become such a politically driven issue? Government always feels the need to step in and control people’s lives but is it really necessary. It also has become evident that women are pressured into taking precautions when it comes to sex and reproduction. Whereas, men are not required to have the same responsibility even though several different methods of contraception have been created for them as well. So I plan to explore the history, significance, future, political implications and many other aspects of birth control. I. Module 1: Definition of the problem. Birth control is used in the prevention of pregnancy and assists with the timing of pregnancy when warranted. People have used birth control methods for thousands of years. Today, there are many safe and effective birth control methods available to women and men. However, birth control methods are not one-size-fits-all. A method that’s perfect for one woman may not be right for another. According to www.womenshealth.gov website there are options that one can choose from to fit their situation listed below: Types of Birth Control • Continuous abstinence means not having sex (vaginal, anal, or...
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...are insufficient data to quantitate the relative contribution of postfertilization effects. Despite the lack of quantitative data, the principles of informed consent suggest that patients who may object to any postfertilization loss should be made aware of this information so that they can give fully informed consent for the use of oral contraceptives. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:126-133 Oral contraceptives (OCs) are among the most extensively studied and used medications in the world,1 and are accessible without a prescription in some countries, although still virtually unavailable in others. In America, OCs have contributed to an increased acceptability of birth control,2 although, for many patients, decisions about contraception still have moral, ethical, and religious implications.3,4 For patients who believe that human life begins at fertilization (conception), a method of birth control that has the potential of interrupting development after fertilization (a postfertilization effect) may not be...
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...Don Marquis, a philosopher makes a non-theistic argument for the immorality of abortion. What primarily makes killing wrong is neither its effect on the murderer nor its effect on the victim’s friends and relatives, but its effect on the victim. The loss of one’s life is one of the greatest losses one can suffer. The loss of one’s life deprives one of all the experiences, activities, projects, and enjoyments which would otherwise have constituted one’s future. Therefore, killing someone is wrong, primarily because the killing inflicts (one of) the greatest possible losses on the victim. This is one of the most hotly contested topics in today’s society. People adopt different viewpoints on this which include: • Abortion is wrong whatever the reasons • Abortion is permissible if the woman’s life is at risk • Abortion is acceptable for a variety of reasons Your opinion on whether abortion is acceptable or not very much depends upon your set of values. If you feel that it is a woman’s right to choose then you are likely to favor the ‘pro-choice’ stance. But if you argue that the fetus has rights and should be treated the same as any other human being then you will adopt the ‘pro-life’ stance. Opponents of abortion cite several reasons for their opposition which include the killing of an innocent human being, the fetus’s right to life, the responsibility of the woman towards the fetus and respect for all forms of life. There are people who are against abortion on principle...
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...less careful to protect the fetus from harmful substances. An individual’s or a couple’s choice of contraceptive method should be made carefully, with complete knowledge about advantages, disadvantages, and side effects of the various options. Important things to consider include the following: * Personal values * Ability to use a method correctly * How the method will affect sexual enjoyment * Financial factors * Status of a couple’s relationship * Prior experiences * Future plans The widespread use of contraceptives points to both an increased awareness of responsibility for contraception and options available. Understanding this concept, its work and how they compare in terms of benefits and disadvantages is necessary for successful counseling. Legal and ethical issues must also be considered when counseling clients. The arguments about contraception fall into several groups: * philosophical arguments such as the "natural law" argument * arguments based on different ideas of marriage, sex and the family * human rights arguments such as * 'procreative liberty' * a woman's right to control her own body * human rights arguments about mass birth control programs * arguments based on the good or bad consequences of birth control (consequentialism) * arguments about the environmental and resource problems caused by over-population * religious arguments Background of the Study The Reproductive Health Bill, popularly...
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...Specimen Paper, timed- 45 minutes a) Explain the Natural Law Theory (25 marks) b) ‘Natural Law is not the best approach to euthanasia’ (10 marks) The theory of Natural Law is a deontological theory, which means that it is based on duty, proposed by St Thomas Aquinas, which also comes from a teleological worldview based on Aristotle’s idea that the good is defined by the final cause. A key aspect to Aquinas’ natural law is also the idea of the synderesis principle, which states that we “naturally do good to avoid evil”. St Thomas Aquinas’ argument was sought to reconcile Christian thought with the Greek thinking of Aristotle’s work, which could be seen in Islamic libraries in the Fall of Toledo, where Christian armies reconquered Spain. Aquinas sees goodness in the Divine Essence (nature of God), which was his first law. His second law was the idea of ‘eternal law’ which he said was reflected in our own human nature and the ends in which we rationally pursue, which draws parallels to the synderesis principle, which opposes the idea of ‘reformation’ which proposes the idea that “we have all sinned and fall short of Gods glory” as portrayed in Romans 3-23. God’s Divine and eternal Laws are further proposed in the Holy Scriptures, such as the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. From these observable, rational ends, we get the five primary precepts. The Primary Precepts are “good wills” that we rationally pursue, and are absolute. They consist of preservation of life, order...
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...Searches Abortion Abortion; Pro-Choice Movement; Pro-Life Movement Abortion Acid rain SEE ALSO Pollution Acid Rain Acid Rain Adoption (interracial, unmarried persons, gays) Adoption; Gay parents; Interracial adoption Adoption AIDS AIDS (Disease); AIDS (Disease) in children AIDS (Disease); Pediatric AIDS (Disease) Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease Animal rights Animal experimentation; Animal rights Animal experimentation; Animal rights Anorexia and Bulimia SEE Eating disorders Athletes and drugs Doping in Sports Drugs and Athletes Banking Bailout (2008) Bailout Battered women SEE ALSO Wife Abuse Abused women Conjugal abuse Birth control Birth control; Contraception Birth control; Contraception Black Reparations Movement Reparations; Slavery--Law and legislation Reparations Body language Body language; Gesture; Nonverbal communication Nonverbal communication Bullying Bullying Bullying; Cyberbullying Business ethics Business ethics; Corporations - Corrupt practices Business ethics; Business enterprises, Corrupt practices Capital punishment (Death Penalty) Capital punishment; Death row Capital punishment Cancer Cancer--Prevention SEE ALSO types of cancer, such asBreast--Cancer Neoplasms--Prevention and Control;Cancer Treatment Censorship SEE ALSO Freedom of the Press Censorship; Prohibited books Censorship; USA Patriot Act 2001-US AND Civil liberties; Filtering software;Banned books ...
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...Children and Sexual Education Frankie Hellyer Harrison College Children and Sexual Education "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death”, (S.F.Heart.com, 2012). [Albert Einstein, "Religion and Science", New York Times Magazine, 9 November 1930] In 2000 my first and second grade children arrived home from school with a surprising question for me. I was asked what “69” meant. My response was “the number after 68 and before 70”. That was not the correct answer to the specific question they were asking, yet they were too naive to know any different. I did not feel they were at the appropriate age for a response to that question, but it meant it was time for a small bit of conversation regarding sexual education. Sexual education is opposed by some for religious beliefs, infringement of parental rights, and parental fears of a higher level of sexual promiscuity. Those opposed typically promote abstinence programs, (which have failed our society). Regardless what age a child is, sexual education is a very important topic and I feel it is crucial to start educating about sex now; in the schools; rather than wait for the latter possible unplanned STD, pregnancy, or even the unfortunate act of molestation. Since the beginning of time biblically, our society has been...
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...When dealing with an ethical issue there are many factors that one will have to look at. One unique factor that has to do with genetic engineering is that it could cure and eliminate many heritable diseases. However, is changing the genetic makeup of a child morally correct? The research done by Sullivan made many real-life points on the moral counsel of designer babies and situations in which it made miracles (2007). This research was done by using case studies and showed how it affected the lives of families who were interested in genetic engineering. Studies have been done to analyze how the procedure works and if it is the most effective. The ethical side of designer babies has also been heavily researched. This is where the analysis...
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...alone: health complications and rape or incest. A third and a much bigger pillar, social reasons, have been ignored. Statistics show that a whopping 93% of abortions are due to social reasons (Finer and Benshaw 13). More attention should be focused on addressing the social aspects affecting abortion in contemporary society. The social reasons that make women want to abort include poverty, fear of heavy emotional and financial responsibility, and Incrimination of Teen pregnancy and unwanted pregnancy. Poverty trims down a mother’s capability to provide for a child, increasing the incentive to abort. As much as this may be reduced by existing social or welfare aid programs, abortion is still stigmatized as the problem of the poor. The less money one has, the less likely one will be able to afford bringing up a child, making abortion the only plausible option. This is made worse by the heavy emotional and financial responsibility to provide for children with little resources that poor people possess. Statistics show that over 750,000 teenagers become pregnant yearly and 80 % of the pregnancies end up in abortion (Phillips 65). Additionally, unlike rich women who may have better access to other contraception techniques, for instance condoms, surgical sterilization, and birth control pills, if a woman is not financially stable or does not have the resources to give the best for an additional baby, then...
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