Printed from: https://www.cmf.org.uk/advocacy/pressrelease/?id=33
Published: 29th September 2004
The Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), in tandem with Christians in Science, is to host a conference on the impact of future technologies on science, society and medicine this Saturday (2 October), in response to concern over the moral dilemmas faced by Christian health professionals as scientific knowledge advances into previously uncharted territory.
The one day conference, to be held at St Paul's Church, Robert Adam Street, London, will look at issues such as stem cell research, cybernetics, nanotechnology, and new ways to sustain and prolong life. The programme, which begins at 9.30am, will feature contributions from, among others, Professor Andrew Briggs, from Oxford University and Professor Ross McKenzie, from the University of Queensland, both experts in nanotechnology, Philippa Taylor, from the Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy and John Bryant, Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Exeter.
Peter Saunders, General Secretary of the CMF, said: “We now have the ability not only to 'take' human life, but also to 'remake' human life. Advances in scientific knowledge and technology are bringing a whole host of new issues to the fore, which will have a huge impact on our personal and professional decision-making.
“How do you answer a parent who desperately wants to cure their terminally ill child and believes the only hope of a cure is through the cloning of human embryos? Our patients have higher expectations and this together with financial and resource constraints, and the loss of a moral consensus, are creating a minefield of ethical conflicts for Christians health professionals.”
Steven Fouch (CMF Head of Communications) 020 7234 9668
Alistair Thompson on 07970 162 225
Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) was founded in 1949 and is an interdenominational organisation with over 5,000 doctors, 900medical and nursing students and 300 nurses and midwives as members in all branches of medicine, nursing and midwifery. A registered charity, it is linked to over 100 similar bodies in other countries throughout the world.
CMF exists to unite Christian healthcare professionals to pursue the highest ethical standards in Christian and professional life and to increase faith in Christ and acceptance of his ethical teaching.
