This article will review the promises, perils, science, and current statistics of uterine transplantation from the specific view of research ethics. It will analyze the ethical permissibility or impermissibility of continuing research or approving this type of infertility treatment from the lens of the Belmont Report, with additional attention to the Montreal Criteria, traditional transplant ethics, the epistemology of science, the purpose of medicine, the particular view of Christian bioethics, and biomedical ethics.
Category Archives: Original Article
The Moral Status of the Embryo in the Ethical Debate over In Vitro Fertilization
In this paper I argue that an embryo has moral status based on what I call its “organic destiny,” which reveals its goodness of existence. I explain this according to the inner directivity of biological life to mature through the stages of being an embryo, newborn, toddler, to adulthood.
Professional Integrity in Healthcare Professionals: What, Why, and How
In this article, the authors discuss some empirical and conceptual basics of professional integrity of conduct in healthcare professions, such as nursing and medicine. They do so in three sections: the basics of professional conduct, including what they are, why they are, and how they work together, integrating original research as well as practical applications.
When I Am Vulnerable, Imitatio Dei?
An analysis of patient autonomy through the lens of the theology of vulnerability and the Trinitarian approach to holistic healthcare decisions.
Variance in Viewpoints: Protestant Perspectives on Birth Control and Assisted Reproduction
Through an examination of historical landmarks and varying Protestant perspectives, this article demonstrates how one’s theology of sexuality, or lack thereof, influences reproductive decisions.
Ethics and Empirical Knowledge: A Critical Ethical, Partially Detached Interpretation of Experiences of Relatives of Patients Who Received Euthanasia
In this article, we propose a four-step framework for the meaningful synthesis of empirical knowledge and ethical reflection.
Does the Use of Puberty-Suppressing Drugs Satisfy the Requirements of Informed Consent?
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (“puberty blockers”) have rapidly become the preferred method of treatment for childhood gender nonconformity or for teenagers experiencing various levels of gender dysphoria. Use of these drugs raises questions regarding the ability of prepubescent children to give an informed consent to life-altering interventions with unknown future effects. The article argues the use of puberty blockers fails to meet the standard of informed consent.
Human Flourishing and Contentment in a Biotechnological Context
Flourishing and contentment are connected but distinct. In Christian perspective, the goal of human enhancement is not conducive to human flourishing, whereas a therapeutic approach to the body is. However, the virtue of contentment means willingness to forgo even therapeutic treatment under certain circumstances. This article attempts to argue for these conclusions with reference to the contrast between the natural and the transhuman and by considering the significance of disability and the church as the body of Christ.
Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy, the Embryo, and Community
Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), also known as mitochondrial donation (MD), is promoted as an option to prevent transmission of mitochondrial disorders to offspring. Since its first reported use in humans, MRT has raised numerous ethical and medical concerns. This article will explore the technology behind MRT and arguments in favor of and opposing it, concluding that a response through the lens of Scripture promotes flourishing of individuals and families affected by mitochondrial disorders without sacrificing others in the process.
On the Ethics of Global Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Kenyan Perspective
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to be achieved through large-scale vaccination of the global population. So far vaccination against COVID-19 has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity, minimize economic and social burdens, and ensure that people resume their everyday activities. Fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is critical in ensuring ethical distribution globally. This paper discusses ethical allocation of COVID-19 vaccines, focusing on models that have been proposed for global allocation, as well as provides a discussion on a Christian response to the pandemic.