Brief, concise account of the R.C. Church’s position on medical ethics topics, edited by J.A. Raymakers, MD PhD with advice from the board of the Catholic Medical Ethics Foundation. Original title “Concise Medical Ethics in question and answer form according to the teachings of the Catholic Church”. October 2014 edition.
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 …
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, …
1.2.1 Main principles used in medical ethics These are: In situations of conflict one may refer to the following principles: 1.2.2 The thrapeutic principle or principle of totality The therapeutic principle, also called the principle of totality, means that any intervention or treatment of the human body or directed at psychical functioning of a person, …
Catechism of the Catholic ChurchCharter of Healthcare WorkersMCME: Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics The menu on the left will guide you through the chapters of this booklet. The original version in question-answer form can also be downloaded from this website.
1.1.1 Ethics Ethics is the science in the domain of philosophy that studies human actions in relation to their being morally good or bad, i.e. in as far as those actions are good or bad by themselves or by the intention of the person who is executing them. Circumstances can play a part in the …
