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BIOETHICS - Coggle Diagram
BIOETHICS
Humans are Stewards of their Bodies Which Belong to God
Definition
God created life and we will return to God, thus, the gift of life does not belong to the individual alone. Humans are the guardian of life, not the owner, and therefore to take a life is to steal from God. God alone chooses when our life begins and ends.
God gave humans their bodies and lives in sacred trust. Humans are the stewards of their bodies and have a duty to maintain their own health because their bodies belong to God
If a person is unable to act as a good steward of his or her own body, then decisions are made for them in accordance with Jewish Law (HALACHA)
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The process for making decisions on bioethical issues is a three-way partnership, because human beings are stewards of their bodies.
The medical professional is obliged to give sound medical advice and to treat the patient.
The patient, who has the duty to seek medical help, has the autonomy to choose the medical professional and to seek advice from a rabbi.
The rabbi is required to make an ethical ruling on the proposed medical procedure.
Sacred Text
The land and the fullness thereof are the Lord's; the world and those who dwell therein.- Psalm 24:1
“You preserve the soul within me and will in the future take it from me” (daily prayers)
“So God created humankind in his image” (Genesis 1:27)
“For everything there is a season … a time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
“You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15 - Commandment #8 )
“Man is duty bound to preserve his life” (Talmud; Berachot 32b) and his health. (Berachot is a section of the Talmud)
Scholar
Autonomous decisions that do not comply with the required moral standards are overridden by higher moral values, as determined by Jewish law. - Adam Steinberg, Medical Ethics in an Interreligious Comparison: Judaism
Bioethical example
Euthanasia
Active Euthanasia: one is not permitted to take the life of another when it does not pose a threat to the life of another. God has given each person a body and soul for time, as we are holding the body in 'trust', we have no right to tamper with it in any way.
"there is a time to be born and a time to die"(Ecclesiastes 3:2) --> God is determiner of our lives. Jews cannot adminster lethal dose to a person who is dying to prevent suffering, hastening the death of a patient
"one must struggle until the last breath of life(Dr Rachamim)
Passive Euthanasia: permitted when death is inevitable - allows natural end to life. Choose not to embark on treatment if it will extend the life of a person without curing them
"the value of human life is infinite and beyond measure"(Lord Jakobovits, former UK chief Rabbi)
Can pray for the feath to allieviate suffering, giive what is necessary to sustain life e.g.must be given food and drink - nutrition given intra-venously would count as extraordinry measures and could be ceased. A patient whose death is not anticipated to be imminent must be treated likeany other patient and all resuscitative measures must be carried out (pika nefesch)
Variants
Ultra-Orthodox Jews
Euthanasia in any forms is not accepted
Reform Jews
withdrawing medical help is acceptable as it wouldn't cause death but it would allow death to happen. If a dying person refuses life-sustaining treatments (passive Euthanasia accepted), active not permissable
All support Palliative Care: removes suffering associated with illness