Edexcel A-level Religious Studies (9RS0) · Religion and Ethics: Medical Ethics
Mini-Lesson
Medical Ethics
Medicine forces hard choices at the beginning and end of life. This lesson examines the key concepts and applies ethical theories to abortion, embryo research and euthanasia.
Two ideas frame the debate: the sanctity of life and the quality of life, along with the question of personhood. Answer the questions and collect ⭐.
Key concepts
Sanctity and quality of life
Sanctity of life: life is intrinsically valuable, often because it is God-given; this supports strong protection of the innocent.
Quality of life: value depends on capacities such as awareness, freedom from suffering and relationships.
Personhood: which beings have full moral status? Answers shape the debate on embryos and the dying.
Beginning of life
Abortion and embryo research
Natural law upholds the sanctity of life; it may permit an act with a foreseen but unintended death via the doctrine of double effect.
Situation ethics asks what agape demands for all involved.
Peter Singer, a preference utilitarian, ties moral status to personhood (rationality, self-awareness), giving early embryos weaker claims.
Check
Sanctity of life
1The "sanctity of life" principle holds that:
End of life
Euthanasia
Euthanasia means a deliberately caused death for the person’s benefit. Distinguish:
Voluntary (at the person’s request), non-voluntary (person cannot consent), involuntary (against their will).
Active (an act that causes death) vs passive (withholding/withdrawing treatment).
Arguments turn on autonomy, compassion, and the slippery slope worry.
Check
Types of euthanasia
2A competent patient asks a doctor to end their life. This is:
Applying theories
Applying the theories at the end of life
Natural law: preserving life forbids intentionally killing, but double effect can permit giving pain relief that foreseeably shortens life, since death is not intended.
Situation ethics: could permit euthanasia if it is the most loving option.
Utilitarianism: weighs suffering, autonomy and consequences (including the slippery slope).
Check
Double effect
3Under the doctrine of double effect, high-dose pain relief that hastens death can be acceptable because:
Personhood
Personhood and the sanctity debate
The clash is sharpest over personhood. Singer argues that mere membership of a species does not confer full moral status; what matters is being a person with interests. Defenders of sanctity of life reply that this dangerously withdraws protection from the most vulnerable — embryos, the disabled and the dying.
Sort it
Which position?
Sort each argument by the position it supports.
✝️ Sanctity of life
📈 Quality/autonomy
👤 Personhood (Singer)
Match
Term to meaning
Match each term to its meaning.
Statement
Answer
Recap
The big ideas to know
Framing concepts: Sanctity of life vs quality of life; personhood
Beginning of life: Abortion and embryos: natural law, situation ethics, Singer
End of life: Euthanasia types (voluntary/active etc.); autonomy vs slippery slope
Double effect: Permits foreseen-but-unintended harm from a good act
Apply theories to real cases and weigh sanctity against quality and autonomy. Press Finish.
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