Webmaster Xenotransplantation concerns the transplantation of an organ or tissue of a given type of animal to another type of animal or to a human being. This type of transplantation has gained interest because of the shortage of human organ donations. At the end of the 20th century there was great enthusiasm about xenotransplantation, especially because …
F.J. van Ittersum and L.J.M. Hendriks 1.5.1 Preventive diagnostics and preventive treatment 1.5.1.1 Shift from emphasis on therapeutic to preventive medicine in the 20th century In the second half of the 20th century, the focus in medicine shifted more towards prevention and early detection of diseases, even though much of the attention of doctors and …
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Information on authors of chapters available online His Eminence Willem Jacobus Cardinal Eijk, MD PhD, STL, is Archbishop of Utrecht. He completed his medical studies with a MD. Degree in 1978. After his medical training, he began his specialization training in internal medicine, but, before completing his specialization, he switched to philosophical and theological studies, …
After the introduction of the first edition in 2014, the Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics has found its way to many interested parties: medics, moral theologians, priest students and other students, among others. It is in use as a study book and reference work. The printed version from 2014 is still remarkably up-to-date. In a …
The author expresses his gratitude to Mr. Alan Ashfield for his contribution in reading and correcting the manuscript and offering useful suggestions. The views and insights that are presented in this booklet can be found in: Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics, edited by W.J. Cardinal Eijk, MD, PhD STL, L.J.M. Hendriks STD, and J.A. Raymakers, …
2.4.1 Absolute respect for human life The life of every person is a gift of God and the direct consequence of a creating act of God: the creation of the individual human soul, the immaterial principle of life of every human being. God creates every human being out of love, for the sake of that …
2.3.1 Changes to the body by pharmacological or surgical interventions Any such intervention has to be judged by the therapeutic principle or the principle of totality and by the criterion that no violence will be done to human dignity. This means that at any intervention one should consider if the person is not going to …
2.2.1 The term ‘autonomy of the person’ in the light of the teaching of the Church Autonomy (literally: to lay down one’s own law) means authority over oneself as a person and its domains, body and spirit. This can only extend so far as it is not in conflict with natural law and the commandment …
