Consider:
A committed and conscientious Hindu mates seeks in vitro fertilization (IVF). Six eggs are fertilized, 4 are implanted and 2 mature and are delivered. The mates is asked whether they privation to destruct the two fertilized embryos, donate them for aesculapian research, donate them to a childless (and perchance non-Hindu) mates oregon wage for the indefinite freezing. They are shocked with their choices since respective of them struggle with their Hindu beliefs successful ahimsa (non-violence).
What is the Hindu presumption successful IVF? On the alleged leftovers (fertilized embryos)? What are the ethical responses?
This script raises respective questions. Does “Hinduism” connection a unified position? Are determination Hindu leaders who tin talk connected behalf of the traditions of Hinduism? Are determination situations erstwhile it is permissible to prosecute in, oregon adjacent permit, a constricted benignant of violence? And if so, past what are the consequences? And are they imperishable oregon are they temporary?
Though Hinduism is often heralded arsenic the oldest religion, broader usage of the word “Hindu” is acold much caller and commonly utilized to notation to someone’s geography, alternatively than their spiritual affiliation. Hindu was primitively meant to notation to the Indus River Valley portion portion Hindus referred to the radical who inhabited this land. The word dilatory evolved into a spiritual 1 erstwhile it was utilized by Muslims, Christian missionaries and British colonizers and aboriginal appropriated by colonized Hindu reformers. Consequently, “Hindu” has present go however astir Hindus self-identify.
Many of the beliefs and spiritual traditions associated with Hinduism alteration importantly crossed the region. Thus, wide generalizations astir circumstantial “Hindu” practices and beliefs arsenic they use to the lawsuit described earlier would beryllium misrepresentative. Other than the content successful karma, determination are nary shared texts, beliefs oregon doctrines successful Hinduism from which to gully prescriptive guidance.
In Hinduism, prescriptions for enactment are one’s dharma. Dharma are discourse babelike and alteration successful presumption of what varna (class) individuals progressive successful the enactment belong, their jati (caste), age, ashrama (stage of life) and gender. The interaction of one’s actions manifests arsenic one’s karma. The punya (positive) and papam (negative) karma are known erstwhile one’s actions successful earlier lives impact some the rebirth and events that hap successful a aboriginal life. According to Brahminical doctrine, the couple’s prime to dispose of the fertilized embryoes would surely person karmic consequences due to the fact that their actions are considered violent, albeit indirectly. Their papam mightiness beryllium contiguous and could hap wrong one’s beingness oregon could beryllium delayed oregon adjacent gradual and hap successful aboriginal lifetimes.
It whitethorn beryllium permissible, wrong a Brahminical Hindu context, for the mates to destruct the “leftovers” truthful agelong arsenic they are alert of the (temporary) consequences.
There are important ethical issues successful reproductive medicine successful Hinduism. Knowing a small astir Hinduism and Hindu ethics, healthcare providers would payment from respecting the divers beliefs successful the discourse of occidental standards of attraction and expectations.
By Dr. Deepak Sarma, prof of spiritual studies and of Bioethics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Want to larn much astir this topic? Check retired our upcoming Grand Rounds Nov. 9 astatine 5 p.m. CT connected “Patient Perspectives connected Reproductive Decision Making: An Interfaith Panel” featuring Dr. Deepak Sarma on with Claire Horner, J.D., adjunct prof successful the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy astatine Baylor College of Medicine and manager of the Clinical Ethics programme astatine Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, and Rabbi Pamela B. Silk, Congregation Emanu El, Member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Register here.
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