Bioethics issue

[sdtPikachu]

In some ways yes it is true... but then you know my feelings on matters like this. I just see it as a parable explaining to religious people that the actions of what they may see as a god may in fact be "disguised" as human intervention. Hey ho.

If I am correct in thinking that all doctors must take the Hippocratic Oath, surely there is some moral (possibly even legal?) obligation for the doctors and nurses in question to take some knd of action? Though guessing by the negative press these life saving (or merciful endings IMO, in the case of euthanasia) actions get, it doesn't look like they'd be encouraged to.

In my first year at UCL I lived with a 4th year medic called Rob. He told me that UCH (our hospital) had instructed their students, doctors and nurses alike never to intervene is someone asks for a doctor because of possible legal ramifications (i.e. there have been far too many cases where a doctor has tried to save someone involved in an accident and, as a result of either an unfamiliar filed of lack of equiment or just plain old bad luck, they and the hospitals have had their arses sued off).

Something to think about.

[LeonMagnolis]

There have been cases of children being harmed in accidents and given emergency blood transfusions, only to find that their parebts belong to some religion that doesn't allow blood transfusion, and have refused to accept the child back, as it is now possessed by the devil or something.

Parents*

Just to clarify, the Bible tells not to eat the blood or flesh of another human. The problem with this is the law was to prevent canniblism, and to keep the isrealites safe from food poisoning. And it worked for the most part. In no way am I agreeing with this though. And should someone argue that it is, tell them that they've sinned and must now sacrafice their favorite goat in a dirty, bloody, cruel, and all around disgusting ritual sacrafice.


Normally I wouldnt' agree with STD pikachu because he seems to have a belief system opposite to mine, but he has several excellent points. I'll be the first to admit that many times religion blinds people from seeing facts. And many times, religion is a cause of fallacy. Here, the religion does blind people. IMO, this is not much differant from the tribal africans who sacrifice babies to their Gods. It's a pointless waste of human life.

I think it's also important to point out that there is a huge differance between believing God will provide for something and refusing a blood transfusion. The blood transfusion does have a basis-- flawed as it is. But putting so much "trust" in God's provision that you miss when he does provide for you is foolishness and nothing more.