Religious Education Coursework

Ahmed Al-Rubie 10s

Coursework – Religion and Medical Issues

A i)

Medical treatments for infertility have come a long way over the past decade offering the possibility of parenthood to most couples seeking medical intervention. While the process of selecting a medical practice for fertility treatment can often be a confusing and emotionally draining experience for couples faced with infertility, the choices you make about your medical care can profoundly affect your future.

Medical technology has provided many solutions for couples in the modern world which are known as embryo technology – all at a price of course. They are the following:

IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) – is of Latin origin. It’s basically a method of assisted reproduction that involves combining an egg with sperm in a laboratory dish. If the egg fertilizes and begins cell division, the resulting embryo is transferred into the woman's uterus where it will hopefully implant in the uterine lining and further develop. The woman’s partner’s sperm or a donor may be used.

AIH (artificial insemination by husband): A procedure in which a fine tube is inserted through the cervix into the uterus to deposit a sperm sample from the woman's mate directly into the uterus. AIH is distinguished from artificial insemination by donor (AID) in which the donor is a man other than the woman's mate. AIH is also known as homologous insemination.

Egg donation – this is when an egg is donated by a random woman and fertilized by IVF with the husband ‘s sperm and then transferred to the wife’s womb.

Embryo donation is when both the egg and the sperm were donated and fertilized by IVF

A surrogacy arrangement – in short - is one in which one woman agrees to bear a child for another woman through IVF or a couple (the intended parents) and surrender it at birth.

These methods are being used all over Britain in this present time but have been subject to morality. Infertile couples are calling these methods wonder treatments because of the amazing benefits that they bring.

ii) Christian and another Religion’s attitudes to infertility treatments

Some Christians are totally against those treatments available for infertile couples, and

Some are in favour of it.

 The ones against it are from the Roman Catholic sect. They believe in the

sanctity of life. This means God and only God has the right to give and take life and

people to attempt to create babies without God’s permission, is a sin. “These are

gravely immoral acts” (Catechism of the Church.) Also, masturbation in the Christian

Religion is forbidden. In order to make test tube babies, as they’re often referred to; a

man needs to masturbate to produce the sperm. This coincides with the masturbation law so it backs up their argument.  Furthermore, in Christianity, the act of sex and the

product of children are gifts and if you’re not blessed with the ability to create children,

you must accept it as it’s what God wants and you cannot challenge Him.. In addition, in

egg donations, where the sperm is donated anonymously, the resulting baby will never

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know its rightful parents and in Christianity that is sinning. The child must know its

parent to lead a normal Christian life. Moreover, Christians believe that if a couple are

infertile, it paves the way for doing a good deed and adopting a child which further backs

up their idea that IVF treatment is forbidden.

On the other hand, other Christians believe that everything has a purpose in life and humans’ purpose is to worship God and have babies. “Go fourth and Multiply,”(Bible) God wants humans to experience the joy of having kids and if you don’t, you’re ...

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