Kurjak Asim, Carrera Jose Maria, McCullough Laurence B, Chervenak Frank A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
J Perinat Med. 2007;35(5):376-83. doi: 10.1515/JPM.2007.088.
In this paper we show that the question, "When does human life begin?", is not one question, but three. The first question is, "When does human biological life begin?", and is a scientific question. A brief review of embryology is provided to answer this question. The second question is, "When do obligations to protect human life begin?", and is a question of general theological and philosophical ethics. A brief review of major world religions and philosophy is provided to answer this question but has no settled answer and therefore involves irresolvable controversy. The third question is, "How should physicians respond to disagreement about when obligations to protect human life begin?" and is a question for professional medical ethics. A review of the ethical concept of the fetus as a patient is provided to answer this question. Physicians should manage the irresolvable controversy surrounding the second question by appealing to the ethical concept of the fetus as a patient. It is philosophically sound, respectful of all religious traditions and the personal convictions of patients and physicians alike, and clinically applicable.
在本文中，我们指出“人类生命始于何时？”这个问题并非一个问题，而是三个问题。第一个问题是“人类生物生命始于何时？”，这是一个科学问题。本文提供了胚胎学的简要回顾来回答这个问题。第二个问题是“保护人类生命的义务始于何时？”，这是一个一般神学和哲学伦理学问题。本文提供了世界主要宗教和哲学的简要回顾来回答这个问题，但尚无定论，因此存在无法解决的争议。第三个问题是“医生应如何应对关于保护人类生命的义务始于何时的分歧？”，这是一个职业医学伦理学问题。本文提供了将胎儿视为患者的伦理概念回顾来回答这个问题。医生应通过诉诸将胎儿视为患者的伦理概念来处理围绕第二个问题的无法解决的争议。这在哲学上是合理的，尊重所有宗教传统以及患者和医生的个人信念，并且在临床上适用。
