Jewish and Catholic Bioethics

by Pellegrino, Edmund D.; Faden, Alan I.

• ISBN13: 9780878407460
• ISBN10: 0878407464
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Georgetown Univ Pr

Summary

Drawing on multiple interconnected scriptural and spiritual sources, the Jewish tradition of ethical reflection is intricate and nuanced. This book presents scholarly Jewish perspectives on suffering, healing, life, and death, and it compares them with contemporary Christian and secular views.The Jewish perspectives presented in this book are mainly those of orthodox scholars, with the responses representing primarily Christian-Catholic points of view. Readers unfamiliar with the Jewish tradition will find here a practical introduction to its major voices, from Spinoza to Jewish religious law. The contributors explore such issues as active and passive euthanasia, abortion, assisted reproduction, genetic screening, and health care delivery.Offering a thoughtful and thought-provoking dialogue between Jewish and Christian scholars, Jewish and Catholic Bioethics is an important contribution to ecumenical understanding in the realm of health care.

Author Biography

Tom L. Beauchamp, Ph.D.: Professor of Philosophy, Senior Research Scholar, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Baruch A. Brody, Ph.D. Leon Jaworski Professor of Biomedical Ethics; Director, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine; Professor of Medicine, Rice University, Houston, Texas Rev. Joseph Daniel Cassidy, O.P., Ph.D. Special Lecturer in Philosophy, Providence College, Rhode Island Alan I. Faden, M.D. Professor, Georgetown Institute for Cognitive and Computational Sciences, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Shimon Glick, M.D. The Gussie Krupp Professor of Internal Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Bever Shevav, Israel Ronald M. Green, Ph.D. Director, Institute for the Study of Applied and Professional Ethics, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire Rev. James Keenan, S.J. Professor, Weston Jesuit College of Theology, Cambridge, Massachusetts Edmund D. Pellegrino, M.D., M.A.C.P. The John Carroll Professor of Medicine and Medical Ethics; Director, Center for Clinical Bioethics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Fred Rosner, M.D., F.A.C.P. Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Director, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Services, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, New York Avraham Steinberg, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, Sha'are Zadek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel Rabbi Moshe Tendler, Ph.D. Professor of Biology, Yeshiva University, New York David C. Thomasma, Ph.D. The Father Michael I. English, S.J., Professor of Medical Ethics; Director, Medical Humanities, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment	ix
Contributors	xi
Issues in Biomedical Ethics: Comparison of Jewish and Christian Perspectives	xiii
Alan I. Faden
Section One: Ethics as Philosophy	1	(14)
Spinoza and Judaism	3	(12)
Tom. L. Beauchamp
Intellect (Reason) and Imagination	4	(1)
Mathematical Ideal	5	(1)
Ethical Orientation	5	(2)
The Role of the Imagination: Falsity and Fictions	7	(1)
Reason	7	(1)
God	7	(1)
Freedom and Determinism	8	(1)
Ethics	9	(1)
The Theologico-Political Treatise	9	(2)
Evaluation and Conclusion	11	(1)
Notes	12	(3)
Section Two: The Sanctity of Human Life	15	(60)
Jewish Reflections on Life and Death Decision Making	17	(8)
Baruch A. Brody
The Withdrawal of Life Support	18	(3)
The Cost of Life Support	21	(3)
Notes	24	(1)
Jewish Teaching on the Sanctity and Quality of Life	25	(18)
Ronald M. Green
Prenatal Decision Making	28	(5)
Decision Making at The End of Life	33	(7)
Notes	40	(3)
The Jewish Approach to Living and Dying	43	(11)
Shimon Glick
Notes	53	(1)
The Sanctity-of-Human-Life Doctrine	54	(21)
David C. Thomasma
The Sanctity-of-Human-Life Doctrine	54	(1)
The Jewish Tradition	54	(2)
The Christian Tradition	56	(3)
The Sanctity of Life and Bioethics	59	(1)
Vitalism	59	(1)
Consistent Ethic of Life	60	(2)
Respect For Human Life	62	(1)
The Value of Human Life	63	(1)
The Preservation of Life	64	(1)
The Doctrine Today	65	(1)
Antivitalism	65	(1)
Rationalism	66	(1)
Pluralism	67	(2)
Toward A Reconstruction	69	(1)
Conclusion	70	(1)
Notes	71	(4)
Section Three: Suffering and the Sufferer	75	(22)
The Meaning of Suffering: A Jewish Perspective	77	(6)
Avraham Steinberg
Definition of Terms	77	(1)
Scientific Background	77	(1)
Causes For Suffering	78	(1)
Suffering as Punishment and Atonement For Sin	78	(1)
Suffering Brings Man Closer To God And To Penitence	79	(1)
Suffering As a Vehicle To The World To Come	79	(1)
Suffering As a ``Trial''	79	(1)
Attitudes Toward Suffering	80	(1)
Conclusions	81	(1)
Notes	81	(2)
The Meaning of Suffering?	83	(14)
Rev. James Keenan
Religious Response To Suffering	84	(3)
Listening	87	(2)
Voice	89	(2)
Directives For Health Care	91	(2)
Notes	93	(4)
Section Four: Healing and the Healer	97	(47)
The Imperative to Heal in Traditional Judaism	99	(7)
Fred Rosner
Introduction	99	(1)
The Physician's Imperative to Heal	99	(1)
The Patient's Obligation to Seek Healing	100	(1)
The Physician's Obligation to Heal Patients with Contagious Diseases	101	(3)
Conclusion	104	(1)
Notes	104	(2)
On the Interface of Religion and Medical Science: The Judeo-Biblical Perspective	106	(9)
Rabbi Moshe Tendler
Introduction	106	(1)
Limitations of Scientific Research	106	(1)
Biblical Ethics and Scientific Methodology	107	(1)
Applied Ethics	108	(1)
Infertility as an Illness	108	(1)
Pro-Choice or Pro-Life	108	(1)
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Art)	108	(1)
Master of the DNA Molecule: Is Knowledge an Absolute Good?	109	(4)
Notes	113	(2)
Healing and Being Healed: A Christian Perspective	115	(12)
Edmund D. Pellegrino
Introduction	115	(1)
Origins of the Christian Perspective	115	(2)
A Christian Philosophy of Healing	117	(4)
The Christian Perspective in Practice	121	(3)
Conclusion	124	(1)
Notes	125	(2)
A Catholic Christian Perspective on Early Human Development	127	(12)
Rev. J. D. Cassidy
``Imago Dei'': Created in God's Image and Likeness	127	(4)
The Church and Modern Genetics	131	(1)
The Church and the Earliest Stages of the Human Cell Cycle	131	(1)
From Beginning of Life Research vs. The Technological Imperative	132	(1)
Consistent Human Rights and Responsibilities	132	(1)
Origin of Human Rights in Human Dignity	133	(1)
Concluding Religious Reflections	134	(1)
Dedication	135	(1)
Notes	135	(4)
Epilogue: Religion and Bioethical Discourse	139	(5)
Edmund D. Pellegrino
Notes	144