Religious Perspectives on Human Suffering: Implications for Medicine and Bioethics

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 m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of religion and health
Authors: Fitzpatrick, Scott J. (Author) ; Zoloth, Laurie 1950- (Author) ; Tollefsen, Christopher 1968- (Author) ; Karma Lekshe Tsomo 1944- (Author) ; Jensen, Michael P. 1970- (Author) ; Sachedina, Abdulaziz Abdulhussein 1942- (Author) ; Sarma, Deepak 1969- (Author)
Contributors: Kerridge, Ian H. (Other) ; Jordens, Christopher F. C. (Other)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer Science + Business Media B. V. [2016]
In: Journal of religion and health
RelBib Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
NCH Medical ethics
Further subjects:B Medicine
B Religion
B Bioethics
B Suffering
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1573-6571
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s10943-015-0014-9