Project 1 Life and Death Ethics Choices due Tuesday 9/19/17

Choose your topic by Tuesday and we will start working on the research.  Think about whether you wish to do a paper or other form of expression.  Here is my annotated list - if you think of another topic not on this list email me your idea.

Bioethical Issues with Annotation

Abortion

The termination of pregnancy.  Positions on this topic often need to clearly define when life begins: at conception, when a heartbeat is present, after second trimester, etc.

Abortion is a complicated topic because both sides of the argument have valid points.

Those in favor of abortion say that mothers have a right to choose since it’s their body in question and that they have a right to reproductive health. However, those against abortion say that abortion is murder, because the developing fetus is alive and has the right to live. In some places, abortion is decided upon when the parents don’t approve of the fetus’s gender (most commonly, parents don’t want a daughter).

In many places abortion is legal, provided that the mother meets several legal requirements. For example, the mother would need to be of sound mind (not mentally disabled), she would need the father’s consent, she would have to notify her parents (if she was a minor), the fetus couldn’t have exceeded a certain age, etc.

Abortion is also illegal in many places, but there are certain circumstances in which exceptions are made. For example, the mother may be allowed to abort her pregnancy if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest; if it is endangering her mental or physical health; or if the fetus’s development/condition is already impaired.

Unfortunately, in many places women can’t receive a proper abortion and so they resort to receiving an illegal abortion (an abortion done by someone not qualified to perform said procedure) or even trying to do the abortion themselves. This is extremely dangerous and pro-abortionists often use this as another reason to legalize abortion.

Death penalty/capital punishment

The legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime.  Issues that surround capital punishment include whether or not it is an actual deterrent, whether those accused receive adequate legal representation if they are poor, how the state can ensure there are no mistakes that would sentence an innocent person to death.  The ethics of ending a life as a response to the taking of life are often debated as well.

Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide

The practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. Euthanasia is categorized in voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia is legal in some countries. Non voluntary euthanasia (patient's consent unavailable) is illegal in all countries. Involuntary euthanasia (without asking consent or against the patient's will) is also illegal in all countries and is usually considered murder.

Suicide

The act of intentionally causing one's own death. Usually from mental disorders, personality disorders, alcoholism, substance misuse, or impulsive acts. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death worldwide. Methods of suicide vary in countries and what is available.

Stem-cell Research

Research on stem cells and their use in medicine. Biological research and Embryonic stem-cell research are two different fields. Both are conducted by biologists, while embryonic stem-cell research is performed on stem cells derived from embryos and on their use in medicine.

Eugenics

A set of beliefs and practices that aims at improving the genetic quality of the human population. Promotes higher rates of sexual reproduction for people with desired traits or reduce rates of sexual reproduction and sterilization of people with less-desired traits.

Cloning

Make an identical copy of. The process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects, or plants reproduce asexually.

Animal Slaughter

The killing of nonhuman animals, usually referring to killing domestic livestock. Generally killed for food or other reasons such as being diseased and unsuitable for consumption. The slaughter involves some initial cutting opening the major body cavities to remove the entrails and offal but usually leaving the carcass in one piece. Later, the carcass is usually butchered into smaller cuts.

Terminal Illnesses; research or treatment, such as AIDS, Cancer, morbid obesity

A disease that can be cured or adequately treated and reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This disease can be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as cancer or advanced heart  disease than for trauma.

Contraception/Teen Pregnancy

Contraception is birth control that is used to prevent pregnancy. Teen pregnancy rate has dropped due to the substantial increase in contraceptive use by sexually active teens and to a decrease in sexual activity among adolescents.

Medical Experiments

The basic research (also called bench science or bench research), applied research, or translational research conducted to aid and support the development of knowledge in the field of medicine. Other kinds of medical research include pre-clinical research, for example on animals, and basic medical research, for example in genetics.

Heroic Measures vs. DNR

DNR means do not resuscitate. If a patient’s heart stops beating or they stop breathing then the health care providers cannot do CPR. Due to DNR health care providers cannot save them from dying and make a heroic measure.

In vitro fertilization

In vitro fertilization is used to treat fertility or genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. Mature eggs are collected from the ovaries and fertilized by a sperm in a lab and then the fertilized egg is placed in the uterus.

Surrogacy

The practice by which a woman (called a surrogate mother) becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby in order to give it to someone who cannot have children. It is an agreement of carrying of a pregnancy for the intended parents. Intended parents may seek this arrangement when either pregnancy is medically impossible.

Self-defense/homicide

The deliberate and unlawful killing of one person by another, including all murder. Many, such as murder and manslaughter, violate criminal laws. Others, such as a killing committed in a justified act of defending oneself, are not criminal. Illegal killings range from manslaughter to murder, with multiple degrees of each representing the gravity of the crime.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

It is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological or other weapon that can kill a large amount of people, harm the biosphere, cause a lot of damage to man made structures, or natural structures. WEapons that are capable of causing indiscriminate, widespread death or injury on a large scale.

War

War is a state of armed conflict between different nations, states or different groups within a nation or state. An organized effort by a government or other organization to stop or defeat something that is viewed as dangerous or bad. A state or period of armed hostility or active military operations.

Non-combatancy

A term of art in the law of war and international humanitarian law, describing civilians who are not taking a direct part in hostilities; persons—such as combat medics and military chaplains—who are members of the belligerent armed forces but are protected because of their specific duties. Not being involved with those who are fighting during a war.

Pharmaceuticals

A compound manufactured for use as a medicinal drug. It is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Of or relating to the production and sale of drugs and medicine. It is an important part of the medical field and relies on the science of pharmacology for continual advancement and on pharmacy for appropriate management.

Genocide

The deliberate killing of a large group of people, usually a ethnic, racial or religious group,  in a whole or part. It is causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of a group, inflicting on a group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.