Recent advances in medical science have brought complex ethical dilemmas, particularly around the beginning of human lives (abortion, embryo research, IVF, gene therapy, stem cells) and its ending (switching off ventilators, persistent vegetative state (PVS) and ‘dying with dignity’ or assisted suicide).
Although none of these topics occurs directly in the New Testament, references to ‘life’ abound, and healing was the centre of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Can our approach enable the Biblical material to assist contemporary medical debates?
The Revd Canon Professor Richard Burridge is Visiting Professor of Ethics and Theology at Gresham College. He has been Dean of King's College London since 1994 and is thus responsible for overseeing the spiritual development and welfare of students and staff. Professor Burridge is also a Church of England priest and in 2008 he received a personal Chair in Biblical Interpretation at King’s College London.
