Etyczno-medyczne aspekty początków ludzkiego życia

Abstract

Knowledge can be gained through research but also through logically justified reasoning. Some people claim rational reasoning is based on constant fundamental principles, the origins of which can be found in the dogmas of faith and revealed truths. There are three methods of analysis and knowledge gaining: a scientific method, a philosophical and ethical approach, and a religious one. Everything that is knowable through scientific research should be analyzed with the help of his method. However, there are issues significant from the existential point of view that can be researched solely by means of philosophical and ethical methods, including those based on natural law. While the scientific approach allows a universal consensus, it is often impossible to reach a widely accepted agreement using the other two methods. This is demonstrated by the contradictory stands on the acceptability of contraception, abortion and in vitro fertilization. The differences stem first and foremost from various approaches to the right to life of all human beings. The ethical judgment of acceptability of procedures significant from the point of view of natural human needs may vary considerably depending on what ethical stand we adopt. At this stage of civilizational progress a consensus on those issues is not possible. The paper discusses not only ethical but also relevant medical aspects of contraception, abortion and in vitro fertilization. It stresses the need to take account of various viewpoints while dealing with health care in a broad sense of the term.