This document discusses religious views on ethical issues in medicine from Christian and Muslim perspectives. It addresses the sanctity of life and the belief that life is precious as it is given by God. Specific issues covered include abortion, euthanasia, and IVF. Students are prompted to consider religious teachings on these topics and whether anyone has the right to end another's life. The document provides background and discussion questions to help students understand different viewpoints.

1. DNA: Big picture
• Stick in your big
picture sheet.
• Look at the key
words, find out and
write down the
meanings of any
words you don’t
know.
Religion and medicine.
ethical decisions
prolife or prochoice
Christian views on abortion
Muslim views on abortion
euthanasia
Christian views on Euthanasia
Muslim views on Euthanasia
IVF (In vitro fertilization)
Christian and Muslim attitudes to IVF
Key words:
Sanctity pro-life pro-choice freewill conscience quality
of life Hippocratic oath ensoulment Allah euthanasia
dilemma hospice

2. Religion and medicine
• Learning intentions:
• To be able to identify
and recall Christian and
Muslim attitudes to
sanctity of life.
• Success criteria

3. Key words
Sanctity of life
The belief that life is precious and given
by God.

4. Think, pair, share
What is special about human beings?

5. • Many people whether
they are religious or not
believe that there is
something special about
human life and that it
should be valued.
• Religious believers often
refer to the sanctity of
life as why life is special.
Task:
Create a list/ mind map of all the
features that make human beings
special or different to other
animals.

6. Christianity:
‘don't you know that your body is a
temple of the holy spirit, who lives in
you and was given to you by God?
You do not belong to yourselves but
to God.’ (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Islam:
‘No one dies unless God wills’
(Qur’an 3:145)
Explain what these quotes might say about how
some Christians and Muslims might say about how
much control people have over their lives.

7. The importance of life
• Whilst religious believers say the sanctity of
life tells them that life is important. It is not
the only reason for protecting life.
Stick in your copy of the Hippocratic oath. This is something
all doctors must promise to follow.
How do you think it would apply to doctors action?

8. Does anyone ever have the right to
end someone else’s life?

9. Read through the situation below. Use the ideas and teachings we
have covered so far to think about and write down your ideas on
how different people would respond.
Should a doctor do everything in their power to
save some someone who has just been brought in
by an ambulance, her injuries are so serious it is
very likely she will never wake up or recover from
her coma. She will probably be brain dead and
only kept alive by life support machines. Should
the machines be left on?

10. 8 mark question.
‘If all life belongs to God, nobody should
intervene.’ Do you agree? Give evidence for your
answer, showing you have thought about more
than one point of view. You must include
reference to religious teachings in your answer.
For
Against
Religious view
My view
Evaluate the
Religious view

11. Plenary
What is meant by the sanctity of
life.
Why might religious people
believe life is precious?
Why might people who are not
religious believe life is important?