The Contribution of Foundational New Testament Theological Themes to the Meaning of Basic Bioethics Principles
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Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fall 2011 The onC tribution of Foundational New Testament Theological Themes to the Meaning of Basic Bioethics Principles R. Dennis Macaleer Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Macaleer, R. (2011). The onC tribution of Foundational New Testament Theological Themes to the Meaning of Basic Bioethics Principles (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/848 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE CONTRIBUTION OF FOUNDATIONAL NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGICAL THEMES TO THE MEANING OF BASIC BIOETHICS PRINCIPLES. A Dissertation Submitted to the Center for Health Care Ethics McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By R. Dennis Macaleer, D.Min. December 2011 Copyright by R. Dennis Macaleer, D.Min. 2011 THE CONTRIBUTION OF FOUNDATIONAL NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGICAL THEMES TO THE MEANING OF BASIC BIOETHICS PRINCIPLES. By R. Dennis Macaleer, D.Min Approved September 22, 2011 Gerard Magill, Ph.D. Sean P. Kealy, C.S.Sp. Professor of Health Care Ethics Professor of Biblical Studies The Vernon F. Gallagher Chair for the Department of Theology Integration of Science, Theology, Duquesne University Philosophy and Law (Committee Member) Duquesne University (Dissertation Director) ______________________________ ______________________________ Henk ten Have, M.D., Ph.D. James Swindal, Ph.D. Director and Professor Center Acting Dean of the McAnulty College for Healthcare Ethics and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University Duquesne University (Committee Member) iii ABSTRACT THE CONTRIBUTION OF FOUNDATIONAL NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGICAL THEMES TO THE MEANING OF BASIC BIOETHICS PRINCIPLES. By R. Dennis Macaleer, D.Min. December 2011 Dissertation supervised by Gerard Magill, PhD Beauchamp and Childress‘ Principles of Biomedical Ethics is a well accepted approach to contemporary bioethics. Those principles are based on what Beauchamp and Childress call the common morality. This dissertation employs New Testament theological themes to enhance the meaning of contemporary principles of bioethics. Beginning with the incarnation in the New Testament, the invitation-response hermeneutic is developed as a hermeneutic to use in studying the New Testament. The primary New Testament text for this study is the twin commands from Jesus to love God and love one‘s neighbor. Three theological themes are developed from this study and these three themes are employed to enhance the meaning of contemporary bioethics principles. The three themes of the image of God, the covenant, and the pursuit of healing are deeply embedded in the New Testament and in the ministry of Jesus Christ in iv particular. Three contemporary bioethics principles are used for this dissertation, based on The Belmont Report. They are the principle of respect for persons, the principle of justice, and the principle of beneficence. In each case, the theological themes are shown to enhance the meaning of these bioethics principles. Each of the three principles, as understood through the three theological themes, is applied to a current bioethics issue to demonstrate the efficacy of this approach. The three current issues addressed are the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment, the distribution of health care in the Untied States, and the use of palliative care. v DEDICATION To Karen, she knows why. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION ............................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION: CONNECTING SCRIPTURE AND BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES .......................................................................................... 1 A. Contemporary Principles of Bioethics .................................................................... 1 B. Connecting Scripture and Bioethics Principles ..................................................... 11 C. Furthering the Work of Paul Ramsey .................................................................... 26 D. This Dissertation Focuses on the New Testament .................................................. 34 E. Endnote ................................................................................................................. 47 CHAPTER TWO - THE INVITATION-RESPONSE HERMENEUTIC ....................... 52 B. The Hermeneutic of Paul Ramsey ......................................................................... 93 C. The Hermeneutic of Allen Verhey ....................................................................... 103 D. The Hermeneutic of Robin Gill .......................................................................... 108 E. The Hermeneutic of Gushee and Stassen ............................................................. 111 F. Summary ............................................................................................................ 114 G. Endnotes ............................................................................................................ 117 CHAPTER THREE - THREE THEOLOGICAL THEMES ......................................... 123 A. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 123 B. The Primary Text To Be Evaluated Is To Love God And Neighbor ..................... 124 C. The Image of God ............................................................................................... 146 D. Covenant ............................................................................................................ 161 E. The Theme of Healing in the New Testament ...................................................... 176 F. The Three Themes of the Image of God, the Covenant, and the Pursuit of Healing ................................................................................................................................ 191 G. A Comparison To Paul Ramsey‘s Analysis ........................................................ 197 H. Summary ........................................................................................................... 207 I. Endnote ............................................................................................................... 210 CHAPTER 4 – BIOETHICS PRINCIPLES ................................................................. 218 vii A. The Three Principles ........................................................................................... 218 B. The Principle of Respect For Persons .................................................................. 225 C. The Principle of Justice ....................................................................................... 248 D. The Principle of Beneficence .............................................................................. 267 E. Summary ............................................................................................................ 281 F. A Comparison to Paul Ramsey‘s Work ............................................................... 285 G. Endnotes ............................................................................................................. 294 CHAPTER FIVE - APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF BIOETHICS USING THE THREE THEOLOGICAL THEMES .................................................................. 299 A. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 299 B. Withholding and Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment............................... 300 C. The Distribution Of Health Care In The United States ........................................ 324 D. Palliative Care ................................................................................................... 353 E. Summary ............................................................................................................ 376 F. Endnote ............................................................................................................. 380 CHAPTER SIX – SUMMARY ................................................................................... 386 A. Introduction: Connecting Scripture and Bioethics Principles .............................. 386 B. The Invitation-Response Hermeneutic ................................................................ 389 C. Three Theological Themes .................................................................................. 392 D. Bioethics Principles ............................................................................................ 397 E. Application of the Principles of Bioethics Using the Three Theological Themes . 402 F. Summary ............................................................................................................. 408 G. Endnotes ............................................................................................................ 409 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................