If my current obstetrics and gynaecology placement has taught me anything, it's the need for Christian medics to be firmly rooted in their convictions. I'd considered myself pretty clued up ethically: I believe abortion isn't right, I've worked through in my mind why I think this (I've even written for Nucleus about it!) and, on starting this attachment, I wasn't prepared to attend any termination procedures. Yet only the other day I found myself stuttering and spluttering as I tried to defend both my decision and my reasons as tactfully as possible to my colleagues. I'm sure they were baffled by my bizarre behaviour; I even failed on the 'standard' theoretical questions about abortion for rape or fetal handicap.

I didn't attend the termination list, but the experience left me shaken up: putting my theoretical knowledge into practice was by no means easy. I suspect though that it would have been even harder had I not thought about the issues beforehand. I've been very fortunate to go through medical school with a group of close Christian friends who I'm able to talk things through with, but I've also benefited enormously from resources published by organisations like CMF that have been a real help in situations like this, allowing me to get my head around problems before I encounter them.

For some preclinical readers, experiences like mine with the abortion list may seem a long way off, but it's never too early to start thinking 'Christianly' about the issues we'll all have to face during our careers. For others the story will be all too familiar. This edition of Nucleus is intended to make all of us, at whatever stage, refocus on what it means to be Christian medical students and remain accountable before God. You'll notice a strong theme running throughout (see pp2,3 for more details) as we consider how we can harness the legacy of Hippocrates, taking a stand for strong ethical principles in a world that increasingly denies the existence of universal morals.

As ever though, we remain committed to addressing contemporary issues within a Christian worldview. On pp22-29 Paul Bickley looks at the increasing problem of pornography and what might be done to tackle this. Jacky Engel and Mark Pickering reflect on how far we should go in opposing abortion (pp7-8). Chris Downing considers our reasons for studying medicine (pp30-36).

Nucleus is your journal and we're always in need of feedback: how could we help you to live more effectively as a Christian medical student? Is there anything you'd like to see covered? Let us know at nucleus@cmf.org.uk