Ethics Update - 2007
2007 has been the most controversial year for a long time and issues pending now will continue beyond 2008, with huge consequences. There are three main threats.
1. Hybrids – threat to human dignity
The year began with a massive campaign by scientists and the biotechnology industry to make the government reverse its proposed prohibition on creating animal-human hybrids.
Because there is a shortage of human eggs to use, via cloning, to generate human embryonic stem cells for research, two UK laboratories have applied to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) for permission to use cow and rabbit eggs, into which human nuclear genetic material would be inserted. These ‘cytoplasmic hybrids’ or ‘cybrids’ would be more than 99% human, but would contain up to 1% animal DNA. They would be subject to the same restrictions regarding research as human embryos – research must stop 14 days after ‘conception’ and the product must not be placed into a woman’s womb. See www.cmf.org.uk/literature/content.asp?context=article&id=1939
A parliamentary committee has sat and recommended approval for this groundbreaking ethical departure, the HFEA has carried out a public consultation and concludes there is little public opposition, and draft legislation in the Human Tissue and Embryos (HTE) bill has been considered at length by a special parliamentary committee. The government is now promoting a no-limits approach: if Parliament supports the concept of hybrids, then the HFEA should decide on their nature, potentially allowing anything up to ‘true hybrids’ produced by fusion of animal and human gametes.
Christians believe human beings are made ‘in the image of God’ and are fundamentally different from animals; that the biblical concept of ‘kinds’ should be respected; and that animal-human hybrids assault human dignity. Because all the clinical benefits from stem cell therapy are coming from non-embryonic sources (‘adult stem cells’) the research is also unnecessary.
Prayer points:
- That we will all respect the fundamental dignity of human beings made in the image of God
- That Parliament will prohibit the creation of any hybrids
- That ethical science will prosper – eg with adult stem cells
2. No ‘need for a father’ – threat to the family
The HTE bill contains more controversy in that it proposes to remove from the current legislation the ‘need for a father’ when children are created by artificial reproductive technologies. The government prefers two parents but they need not be of different sexes. The ‘welfare of the child’ should still be taken into account.
Christians believe God’s ideal is for children to be born into and brought up in a stable family with two parents of the opposite sex married for life.
Prayer points:
- That we would all recognise that no one has an absolute right to have a child
- That God’s plan for families would be upheld and encouraged
- That Parliament will reject the extreme proposals in the HTE bill
3. Even more abortions – threat to human life
Although the HTE bill nowhere mentions abortion, its scope is so broad that either side of the debate can propose amendments to the current abortion law. (The 1967 Abortion Act was last amended when the 1990 HFE Act came in.)
The pro-choice lobby has a well organised campaign to bring in ‘abortion on demand’ in the first trimester of pregnancy, with health professionals other than doctors allowed to perform abortions and in premises (such as patients’ homes) not currently approved. This would almost certainly lead to more abortions than ever – just when 2006 figures reached an all time high. There were 201,173 abortions in England and Wales and a further 13,081 in Scotland, totaling 214,254. Almost one in four pregnancies ends in abortion and one woman in three in England will have an abortion.
A new network of groups believes that in this 40th Anniversary year of the Abortion Act, and after 6.7 million abortions, it is ‘time for change’. See www.timeforchange.org.uk
Prayer points:
- Pray for marking on 27 October the 40th Anniversary of the Act
- Pray that abortion law will not be liberalised but tightened
- Pray for women facing unplanned pregnancies and for Christians seeking to meet them where they are
Other ethical concerns
Although defeated again and again, the euthanasia movement is more active than ever. Dignity in Dying has a large staff and is continuing to lobby for change in the law. The next attempt at legislation may well be in Scotland.
Although much of the newly operative Mental Capacity Act is necessary and welcome, its support for statutorily binding advance refusals of treatment could mean that vulnerable incapacitated patients might have their lives ended prematurely, and this could be a back door into euthanasia.
The National Health Service
Many nurses and other allied health professionals graduating in 2007 have remained unemployed, and feel forced to consider other careers. The Modernising Medical Careers programme for doctors (MMC) has led though the Medical Training Application Service (MTAS) fiasco to unemployment and disillusionment among doctors too.
Although welcome new amounts are being spent on the NHS, and are promised for the future, its greatest assets have always been the willingness of the workforce and the support of society.
Global health needs
Our UK concerns pale almost into insignificance in the light of overwhelming global health needs that could so easily be met. The Micah Challenge network campaigns to remind government that its commitment to implementing the Millennium Development Goals currently looks unlikely to be met. See www.micahchallenge.org.uk
Prayer points
- Pray against pressure for euthanasia and for safe application of the Mental Capacity Act
- Pray for all staff in the NHS and for wisdom in allocating resources
- Pray for a just and effective response to overwhelming global health needs
