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IV.1.5 Preventive Medicine
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 …
IV. Medical Care for Life: Therapeutic Intervention
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Authors
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, …
Preface to on-line texts (as of 2023)
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 …
Notes and acknowledgements
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. The sick person – the end of life
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 Unnecessary and undesirable treatments and interventions
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 Respect for the human person, acknowledging human dignity
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 …
2.1 Incipient human life
2.1.1 The essence and the purpose of marriage according to the teaching of the Catholic Church Marriage is a union for life and a communion between a man and a woman. Instituted by the Creator, and based on mutual love, its purpose is the propagation of mankind by the procreation of children who will find, …
