Printed from: https://archive.cmf.org.uk/resources/publications/content/?context=issue&id=6039
Philippa Taylor considers the complexities of presumed consent. Plans are well underway in Wales to introduce legislation for an 'opt-out system' (otherwise known as 'presumed consent') for organ donation. This would permit doctors to remove organs from any dead patient, unless they had specifically registered a formal objection to it. ...
Pablo Martinez on anxiety and faith in Jesus Christ As the deer pants for streams for water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God' (1) Anxiety is one of the most common medical conditions today affecting about 20%...
Rob Waller shares his experiences of working with Christians struggling with mental health issues. The division between sacred and secular is felt keenly in our understanding of the mind and the soul. Until a few hundred years ago mental illness was in the domain of the Church, then Carl Gustav...
Mark Pickering suggests ways to strengthen CMF's local and regional support networks. The Christian Medical Fellowship's goal is to unite and equip Christian doctors. Much can be done through conferences, literature and public policy work, but there is a real need to strengthen and support the grassroots networks and relationships between...
Becky Macfarlane on the flight of failed asylum seekers 'I was a stranger and you invited me in; whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (1) These words of Jesus Christ which closed a previous article on 'Caring for Refugees' in...
Richard Brueton reflects on his journey to faith and subsequent overseas work in Malawi. I drove northwards out of Blantyre in the bright early morning sun, passing the stream of human traffic, barefoot in the dust, flowing towards me. Sitting beside me in the front of the Land Rover, the orthopaedic...
Perspectives One of the joys of my job as CMF Head of International Ministries is that I meet people who are working all over the world. It's a privilege to hear about their different challenges and learn from their different perspectives. The tip of the iceberg At last year's Developing...
Jennifer Bute recounts her experiences as a GP with early-onset Alzheimers' When I was asked to write about how my dementia affected my relationship with the Lord, my first reaction was to say it was the other way round! I had a wonderful, godly father who brought me up to...
Europe against euthanasia The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has adopted a non-binding resolution concerning Advanced Directives, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Consent to Treatment under the title: Protecting human rights and dignity by taking into account previously expressed wishes of patients. This resolution did not specifically...
Andrew Miller explores the healing of a man born blind. 'They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spat on the man's eyes and put...
Beyond the models of disease and choice Kent Dunnington Intervarsity Press USA, 2011 £19.99 Pb 199pp, ISBN 978 1 84619 186 2 This book explores varying ideas people have about addiction, seeking to advance from the false dichotomy of viewing it as either a disease or a matter of choice,...
words of Peace; Words of Faith; Words of Hope A Bible and prayer guide for people with dementia Scripture Union Year, 2010 £6.99 (each) Pb 48pp ISBNs 978 184427 522 9, 978 184427 521 2, 978 1 84427 520 5 These three books area response by Scripture Union to the...
Editors: Lisa Firth and Claire Owen Independence Educational Publishers £5.95 (each) Pb 28pp www.independence.co.uk/issues-today.htm Issues Today is an onging series designed for younger secondary school children. Six of the more recent titles are Cloning, HIV & AIDS, Fitness, Eating Disorders, Mental Health, and Self-Harm. Each topic is introduced with...
A surgical life Ken Clezy Wakefield Press, 2011 £19 Pb 288pp ISBN 978 1 74305 014 9 This is the autobiography of an Australian surgeon whose Christian faith pervades his writing. He shares his experience of working in places as diverse as Australia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Tasmania and Yeman....
Emily Jackson and John Keown Hart Publishing, 2012 £15 Pb 190pp ISBN 978 1 84946 178 8 The third volume in ths series Dabating Law allows two opposting experts around 30,000 words each to make their case, 'blind' of what the other will say. the result is accessible and engaging,...
Strategies from a Christian Physician John Dunlop Crossway, 2011 £9.99 pB 222PP ISBN 978 1 43351 347 3 Dr Dunlop writes from long experience as a Christian and a geriatrician. He garners from his experience stories of patients and acquaintances which illustrate strategies for preparing for an managing the end...
New understanding, new approaches, new hope Louise Morse Monarch Books, 2010 £8.99 Pb 256pp ISBN 978 1 85424 930 2 If dementia is a 'no go topic' for you as an individual or a clinician (whatever your speciality), or both, then read this book! It provides the corrective re-think...
Finding a path to freedom Will van der Hart and Rob Waller Inter-Varsity Press, 2011 £7.99 Pb 176pp ISBN 978 1 84474 543 2 Dedicated to those who worry The Worry Book offers 'a path to freedom'. With an attractive cover and written by two directors of the popular Mind...
Why not legalise same-sex marriage? Britain is coming under increasing pressure to legalise same-sex marriage and Prime Minister David Cameron is determined to drive it through. A consultation on same-sex marriage closed in Scotland in December 2011 and a new consultation has been launched in Westminster to consider how legalisation...
Mikey Bryant encourages junior doctors to explore overseas work I spent a year working in a clinic for children with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone after completing foundation training in Wales. This article explores some of the issues facing junior doctors who want to work abroad, and shows that it...
Review by Peter Saunders CMF Chief Executive Many people believe that homosexual and heterosexual are distinct biological categories like race – unchangeable, biologically fixed and genetically determined. It is on the basis of this view that the gay rights lobby and sections of the media argue that 'homophobia' is...
Review by Andrew Fergusson Chairman, Advisory Group, Care Not Killing Alliance The General Medical Council has launched a consultation ending 4 May, on 'Guidance for the Investigation Committee and case examiners when considering allegations about a doctor's involvement in encouraging or assisting suicide'. (1) The definitive version will primarily...
Review by Steve Fouch CMF Head of Allied Professions Ministries The last year has seen some significant changes relating to global major health problems. We saw that maternal mortality in the developing world was less than had been previously reported, (1) there were improvements in child health (2) and...
Review by Helen Barratt Speciality registrar in public health The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has called on the Prime Minister to address the current 'crisis' in the elderly care system. The Archbishop said it is 'widely acknowledged' that the existing funding arrangements are 'unfit for purpose' as...
