The document provides an overview of bioethics including: - A definition of bioethics as attempting to order biological and medical behavior according to ethical principles. - A timeline of key events in the development of the field including the Nazi experiments, Tuskegee study, Roe v. Wade, cloning of Dolly, and legalization of physician-assisted suicide. - Discussion of prominent bioethics organizations and the author's experience studying Christian approaches to bioethics including their focus on human dignity and the moral status of the embryo in the abortion debate.

1. Introduction to Bioethics
A (Very) Brief Summary of the Christian Bioethics Movement

2. What is Bioethics?
A brief history and definition
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3. A Definition
Gk. “Bios” – life
Gk. “Ethos” – behavior
Bioethics is an attempt at ordering biological and medical
behavior according to a set of principles
Includes medical ethics, animal ethics, and environmental ethics
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4. A Timeline
1940s
• Nazi war crimes for human
experimentation
• Led to development of Nuremberg
Code
1972
• First uncovering of Tuskeegee
Syphilis Study
• Shocking use of unethical research
practice
1973
• Roe v. Wade
• allows access to abortion before
viability
1996
• Birth of Dolly the sheep
• Challenged definition of unique life
• Promoted question of cloning
humans
1997
• Oregon passes “Death with Dignity”
act
• Legalizes PAS and euthanasia
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5. Notable Bioethics Organizations
 The Hasting Center
 Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues
 Trinity University’s Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity
 Cedarville University’s Center for Bioethics
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6. My Experience with Bioethics
 BDOC 354 – Christian Ethics (Premedical)
 Dr. David Smith, M.D., MA
 Palliative care physician
 Graduate of Trinity CBHD
 Personal interest:
 Christian bioethics moral philosophy
 Lockean Natural Law
 Pursuing M.D./Ph.D. next fall
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7. Abortion and the Right to Life
A Discussion on Human Dignity and the Moral Status of the Embryo
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8. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Letter to Planned Parenthood on 12/11/2015
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9. A Worldwide Pandemic
 World Health Organization
 1 in 5 pregnancies are terminated by abortion
 42 million abortions worldwide in 2003 (Best 141, citing Guttmacher In Brief)
 1.2 million abortions in the U.S. in 2008 (Best 155, citing Guttmacher In Brief)
 Landmark case: Roe v. Wade in 1973 (410 US 113) legalized abortion in the U.S.
 Recent victory: Gonzalez v. Carhart (550 US 124) upheld Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act
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10. The Question of Right to Life
 Debate over “Right and Life” and “Right to My Own Body”
 Question on human dignity
 Two major areas of discussion:
 Scientific definition of conception
 Religious concept of the soul
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11. A Timeline of Human Development
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12. Human Embryology
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Image Credit:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HumanEmbryogenesis.svg

13. Human Embryology
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Image Credit:
http://www2.sfasu.edu/cte/Michelle_Files/HMS_353_Web_Content/stages_o
f_human_dev.jpg

14. When Is Abortion Performed?
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15. Abortion Procedures – A Timeline
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(Lim and Singh 860)

16. Abortion Procedures – Vacuum Aspiration
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17. The Question of Right to Life
 Debate over “Right and Life” and “Right to My Own Body”
 Question on human dignity
 Two major areas of discussion:
 Scientific definition of conception
 Religious concept of the soul
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18. A Secular Approach
 Utilitarian Ethics: Four Principles
 Consequence principle
 Utility principle
 Hedonistic principle
 Universal principle
 Major proponent: Peter Singer from Princeton University
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19. Peter Singer’s Practical Ethics
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20. Peter Singer’s Practical Ethics
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21. A Christian Approach
 Christians generally support a moral dualism
Idea of a marriage between body and soul
Rich history of discussion since Augustine (and even Aristotle!)
 The concept of imago dei
What is this? Still hard to identify
Human essential vs accidental characteristics
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22. Genesis 1:26-27 (KJV)
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23. Genesis 9:6 (KJV)
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24. Psalms 139:13-16 (KJV)
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25. Luke 1:41-44 (KJV)
Word for “babe” is Greek “βρεφος”, same as for Jesus in Luke 2:12
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26. Luke 2:12 (KJV)
Word for “babe” is Greek “βρεφος”, same as for John in Luke 1:44
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27. Some Biblical Conclusions
The Christian should recognize the dignity of all human
life made in the Imago Dei
The Bible confirms the continuity between embryo and
baby
In addition, Scripture teaches a respect for the unborn
embryonic human
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28. Embryo: A Defense of Human Life
 A 2008 book by Robert George and
Christopher Tollefsen
 Argues for protection of every human from
the moment of conception
 Establishes the concept of an unalienable
“human essence” demanding respect
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29. George and Tollefsen’s Embryo (pp. 3-4)
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30. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
 A 2012 book by Megan Best, a palliative care
physician and bioethicist at CBHD
 Surveys the ethical implications of
reproductive technology, especially the moral
status of the embryo
 Contrasts secular and Christian perspectives
within this debate
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31. Megan Best’s Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (p. 50)
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32. Michael Clancy Video
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33. Future Directions
The ongoing search for the definition of human dignity
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34. Defining Dignity
 Towards a Public Theology of Protecting Embryonic Humans
 Lockean Natural Law Theory and the Definition of “Dignity”
 Finding the Defining Property Which Confers Dignity
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35. Suggested Resources
 Megan Best’s Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
 George and Tollefsen’s Embryo: A Defense of Human Life
 Nathan Guy’s Thesis: “Is Dignity Out on a Limb?” (see me for access)
 In addition, I am providing a few copies of a recent paper I submitted as a review of George and
Tollefsen and another book, Sacred Cells, by Peters et al.
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36. Works Cited
 Best, D.M. (2012). Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Ethics and the Beginning of Human Life (Kingsford, N.S.W.: InterVarsity
Press).
 Elkins, G.S. (2010). Sacred Cells? A Reply to Peters, Lebacqz, and Bennett. Ethics Med. Int. J. Bioeth. 26, 147–160.
 George, R.P., and Tollefsen, C. (2011). Embryo : a defense of human life (Princeton, New Jersey: Witherspoon Institute, c2011.).
 Kilner, M.J.F. (1992). Life on the Line: Ethics, Aging, Ending Patients’ Lives, and Allocating Vital Resources (Bannockburn, Ill.: Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).
 Lim, L.M., and Singh, K. (2014). Termination of pregnancy and unsafe abortion. Best Pract. Res. Clin. Obstet. Gynaecol. 28, 859–
869.
 Peters, T., Lebacqz, K., and Bennett, G. (2008). Sacred cells? : why Christians should support stem cell research (Lanham, Md. :
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, c2008.).
 Sansom, D.L. (2010). How Much Respect Do We Owe the Embryo? Limits to Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Ethics Med. Int. J.
Bioeth. 26, 161–173.
 Human Embryonic Development | HHMI’s BioInteractive.
 Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Animation | HHMI’s BioInteractive.
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