Bioethical Issues: Understanding and Responding to the Culture of Death (Ling)

Almost every week the media report a ‘new' bioethical issue.  Most people are confused and unsure about novel technologies such as saviour siblings, human cloning, three-parent IVF and regenerative medicine. Many have not even thought through the ‘old' bioethical issues of abortion, surrogacy, infanticide and euthanasia. If that is your position, this book, fully revised and updated, is for you.

We now live in a culture of death. Much of modern medicine has gone seriously wrong. In its ethics and practices, it has departed from its historic roots and has therefore become a threat to all men, women and children. This book does not seek trite, comfortable answers. Rather, it develops a rugged bioethical framework, based on principles derived from the Bible and supported by analyses of recent trends in medicine and science. But this book is not for cosy, fireside reading. It wants you out of your chair and doing. It calls for a head-heart-hand response of ‘principled compassion' to overcome this culture of death and gain a culture of life.

Author 

Dr John R. Ling was for many years a lecturer in biochemistry and bioethics at Aberystwyth University. He has taught, debated, broadcast and written about bioethical issues for the last thirty years, and is a trustee of LIFE, the leading pro-life charity in the UK. He and his wife, Wendy, have three children and eight grandchildren.

Endorsements  

"Thoroughly biblical, highly readable, concise yet remarkably comprehensive – a heartfelt call for all Christians to engage with bioethics. I hope many will both read it and respond to it." - Dr Trevor Stammers, Programme Director, Bioethics and Medical Law, St Mary's University, London.

"This revised and expanded edition of Dr Ling's still concise but broad-ranging book on Life issues is excellent. It is important for thinking Christians to keep abreast of the vital ethical issues that it covers so clearly. We give thanks to God for such an informative and challenging book." - Gary Brady, Pastor of Childs Hill Baptist Church, London.

"While medical advances have brought innumerable blessings to people in the last fifty years, they have also spawned a dizzying world of questions about life and death. John Ling’s Bioethical Issues is a welcome help to navigate these dangerous waters, offering a map of current medical options, and the compass of wisdom to discern what is right." - Dr Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

"This is a wonderful resource. In the complex and fast-moving arena of medical science, John Ling explains the ethical issues, sets out the biblical principles, and points us towards an appropriate response. We honour God by defending and cherishing human life, not only within our own families and church fellowships but also in our nation as an expression of our love for our neighbours." - Bill James, Pastor, Emmanuel Evangelical Church, Leamington Spa.

"The book is splendid: bang up-to-date and learned but wonderfully accessible to the layman. The style is so lively and engaging that it is a delight to read. I have read it from cover to cover with delight and admiration. We are ordering copies for all the Education team and the heads of Care and Communications." - Professor Jack Scarisbrick, National Chairman of LIFE.