Printed from: https://www.cmf.org.uk/resources/publications/content/?context=issue&id=6175
When I was in hospital recovering from an operation a few years ago, I was visited by a robot. It was part of a project being piloted in the hospital to cheer up bored and lonely patients. It stood on my tray table (it was only two or three feet...
Medicine is a moral enterprise. What I mean by that is, fundamentally, medicine has a moral dimension to it. The essence of the profession is to provide healing, treatment and comfort to the patient. When practised correctly, we believe that the medical action performed was the morally right thing to...
Medical history-taking is an intrusive business. Alongside finding out about patients' current symptoms, history of illness and medication profile, we ask about their bowel habits, menstrual cycles and alcohol intake. Not to mention those times when we need a detailed sexual history or a comprehensive account of their recent suicide...
'What you believe is harmful and has no place in healthcare!' We may hear this statement, or at least variations of it, either explicitly or implicitly from classmates, lecturers or consultants. It can feel piercing and undermining, casting doubt over our core beliefs and values, which have often been the driving...
'I 'm sorry, I can't sign those'. So began a discussion of conscientious objection to abortion when I (Laurence) was an obstetric SHO. Often, we were presented with sets of notes where we were expected to provide a second signature on the legal form needed to authorise an abortion, and...
Only a year ago, there was no vaccine available against COVID-19. The development and rollout of such vaccines in some parts of the world has been remarkable, with some countries achieving very high rates of coverage. However you interpret Covid-related figures in the UK, it is difficult to deny that...
Over 1,000 students, spike ball and pesto pasta in a field — it can only be Forum. Forum is held by Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) every summer to help people involved in university Christian Unions (CUs) hit the ground running in making Jesus known on campus. One of...
COVID-19 increases prevalence of anxiety and depression globally 'First global estimates of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health suggest an additional 53 million (28 per cent) cases of major depressive disorder and 76 million (26 per cent) cases of anxiety disorders were due to the pandemic.' 1This conclusion...
This was a cleverly devised question asked to our Lord by the infamous Pharisees. Crafted in such a way that no matter which way he answered, he was going to get into trouble, or so it seemed. If he said 'Yes', the Pharisees would have said to the people that...
I am blessed to have grown up mostly in a Christian family and environment, but a major life crisis caused me to grapple with and re-evaluate many concepts that I took for granted, or never fully understood, including that of grace and fairness. Though my circumstances may not be the...
disappointment and growing mistrust In an age where stories of use and abuse in the church seem to be travelling faster than stories of reconciliation, I am thirsting for clarity and openness from the church. It is hard to escape a real sense of hopelessness, as one after another independent investigations...
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared...
'During a recent GP placement, my GP tutor took me on a home visit to see a patient for a 'routine elderly review'. One of the priorities of the visit seemed to be discussion of end-of-life scenarios, and completion of a 'Do Not Resuscitate' form. The patient was very worried...
What did you do this weekend? I travelled to Nepal for my medical elective — from my living room. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions, it is likely that my medical elective will be cancelled this year. In normal circumstances, CMF would help connect us with Christian organisations...
