
blogs


Embryonic stem cells from cloned human embryos – six reasons for caution
The newspapers are full today of the news that scientists in the US state of Oregon have produced embryonic…

Joy, sorrow and satisfaction – medical mission in Ecuador
My own personal journey to becoming a medical missionary began when I finished secondary school and went…

It’s exam time! Can smart drugs make you smarter at this testing time?
While a cup of strong coffee is probably the choice of drink for most people studying for exams, perhaps…

The ‘Groningen protocol’ for euthanasia of disabled babies in the Netherlands
In an interview this morning on BBC Five Live (at 0705) on the Paul Lamb case (listen here) I was asked…

Don’t be fooled by Lord Falconer’s ‘modest’ assisted suicide proposals
Lord Falconer has finally announced that his long awaited assisted suicide bill will be tabled in the…

Doctors should not be forced to provide emergency contraception
The Independent has run the story of a ‘Christian-run NHS GP surgery’ which has apparently ‘attracted…

Several leading bioethicists defend the practice of infanticide this week in leading medical journal
In February 2012 two bioethicists provoked international outrage with an article advocating infanticide.
Writing…

Marie Fleming loses Supreme Court appeal challenging ban on assisted suicide
A 59-year-old Irish woman today lost her Supreme Court challenge to the ban on assisted suicide.
Marie…

What the UK needs to learn from the worldwide Church
Last week there was a meeting between David Cameron and leaders of major UK NGOs on the process to find…

GMC and RCM must now move urgently to review their abortion guidance in light of Glasgow midwives court ruling
Two Roman Catholic midwives have today won a landmark legal battle to avoid taking any part in abortion…

Losing trust – why immunisation programmes fail
What do South Wales, North Nigeria and Northwest Pakistan have in common? They all have outbreaks of…
Claims that GM embryos will help boost IVF success rates are pure spin
Claims by the Times newspaper (and the BBC) that allowing GM embryos will ‘give a massive boost to IVF success rates’ are pure spin aimed at seducing regulators into giving a green light for highly controversial research. Research scientist Dr Kathy Niakan, from the Francis Crick Institute in London, made her case last week to be the first […]
Serving students for Christ
As Head of Student Ministries at Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), John Greenall spends his days ministering to students, helping them navigate minefields and make connections that keep them centred in Christ. ’I love working with students. I think there is nothing more exciting than investing in young lives,’ says John who has worked with CMF […]
Designing our descendants: Brave New Britain takes the lead again
There will be a number of individuals who will be absolutely delighted to hear that UK scientists are likely to be allowed to genetically engineer human embryos in the lab for the first time, using a powerful and efficient new technology. John Harris and Julian Savulescu have maintained for years that would-be parents are morally […]
‘I feel like CMF is family’
From her desk at the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) in London, Vicky Lavy is writing an email. It is a message of comfort to a doctor in the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa. The doctor oversees a district health centre which was recently attacked by rebels. Eight people, including a nurse, have been […]
How God called me into communications
On a wall in John Martin’s office is a large year planner. It is like a road map, charting the purpose of John and his team, who comprise the communications department at Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF). Each year, John, CMF’s Head of Communications, and his team work with other departments on flagship programmes and projects […]
Have a heart for God
As Head of Graduate Ministries at Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), Pablo Fernandez helps Christian doctors make much needed connections to other believers. It is a role he enjoys immensely. ‘What I like most about this role is its sense of purpose,’ says Pablo. ‘We have a very clear purpose of discipling, encouraging and equipping people. […]
A man with a heart for Jesus
From his tidy office, Graham Sopp and his team quietly make sure Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) and all its much needed ministries have the impact God intends. As Head of Operations, Graham oversees many of the central services that keep CMF functioning. ‘We are there to make sure other departments can do their work. We […]
Organ donation – Giving the gift of life
Two CMF members are using the Christmas season to share a special message about God’s love. As Christians get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Justin Thacker and Simon Howell are using their experiences to ask others to share Christ’s love and service in a new way – by signing up to become organ […]
Student bursaries for nurses and midwives: should they be scrapped?
Protests and petitions about the government’s proposal to scrap bursaries for student nurses and midwives from 2017 should surprise no one. Let’s look at some of the issues: Who is ‘For’ this Proposal and Why? UK university faculties in nursing and midwifery have actively been pushing the Treasury to scrap the system. It has led to a […]
Rape and fatal fetal abnormality: is legalising abortion the answer?
A high court judge ruled last week that Northern Ireland’s near ban on abortion breaches the human rights of women and girls, including rape victims. This ruling will affect women who are pregnant after rape or incest, and women carrying a fetus with a fatal abnormality. Both situations are incredibly traumatic for the pregnant […]
The wisdom of repugnance
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has just published its findings in answer to the question ‘what do we mean when we talk about nature, natural/ unnatural and ‘naturalness’? They set out five broad understandings of naturalness: 1. Neutral or sceptic – the view that there is no real distinction between natural and unnatural; ‘natural’ does […]
Why is the government giving preferential treatment to those backing compulsory sex education in schools?
Campaigners are pushing for sex and relationships education (SRE) to be made compulsory in all English schools (see here, here and here). Currently local authority maintained schools in England are obliged (See House of Commons briefing) to teach SRE from age 11 (year 7) upwards, and must have regard to the Government’s SRE guidance. Academies […]