J Relig Health. 2015 Feb 14. [Epub ahead of print]
Religious Perspectives on Human Suffering: Implications for Medicine and Bioethics.
Fitzpatrick SJ1, Kerridge IH, Jordens CF, Zoloth L, Tollefsen C, Tsomo KL, Jensen MP, Sachedina A, Sarma D.
Author information
- 1Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Bloomfield Campus, Locked Bag 6005, Orange, NSW, 2800, Australia, scott.fitzpatrick@newcastle.edu.au.
Abstract
The
prevention and relief of suffering has long been a core medical
concern. But while this is a laudable goal, some question whether
medicine can, or should, aim for a world without pain, sadness, anxiety,
despair or uncertainty. To explore these issues, we invited experts
from six of the world's major faith traditions to address the following
question. Is there value in suffering? And is something lost in the
prevention and/or relief of suffering? While each of the perspectives
provided maintains that suffering should be alleviated and that
medicine's proper role is to prevent and relieve suffering by ethical
means, it is also apparent that questions regarding the meaning and
value of suffering are beyond the realm of medicine. These perspectives
suggest that medicine and bioethics have much to gain from respectful
consideration of religious discourse surrounding suffering.
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