What do we mean by "Quality of Life"?

Human Dignity Doesn't Hinge on "Quality of Life,"
" A person's dignity does not depend on his "quality of life," which nowadays is sometimes interpreted as merely the ability to experience pleasure, says John Paul II. Increasingly "so-called quality of life is interpreted primarily or exclusively as economic efficiency, inordinate consumerism, physical beauty and pleasure, to the neglect of the more profound dimensions -- interpersonal, spiritual and religious -- of existence," stated the Pope in a message addressed to the participants in the general assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
The papal message, addressed to Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the academy, is a defense of the right to life of persons "who are still not capable or are no longer capable of understanding and loving.""The essential quality that characterizes every human creature," the Holy Father said, is his "being created in the image and likeness of the Creator himself.""This level of dignity and quality belongs to the ontological order and forms a constitutive part of the human being, it remains throughout life, from the first instant of his conception until natural death," John Paul II observed. "Therefore, man must be recognized and respected in every condition of health, illness or disability."Starting from the recognition of life and the peculiar dignity of every person, society must promote, in cooperation with the family and other intermediary bodies, the concrete conditions to develop harmoniously the personality of each one, according to his natural capacities."
The Pope continued: "All the dimensions of the person -- the corporal, psychological, spiritual and/or moral -- must be promoted in a harmonious way. This implies the presence of social and environmental conditions capable of fostering a harmonious development.""The socio-environmental context, therefore, characterizes this second level of quality of human life, which must be recognized to all men, including those living in developing countries," he added. However, a different concept of "quality of life" is now spreading, "reductive and selective," the Holy Father warned.This concept consists in "the capacity to enjoy and experience pleasure, or in the capacity of self-awareness and of participation in social life," continued the Pope.This mentality "denies all quality of life to human beings who are not yet capable or who are no longer capable of understanding and loving, or those who are no longer able to enjoy life as sensation or relationship," he said.After pointing out that the concept of "health" has suffered a similar diversion, the Pope focused on a paradox of contemporary societies.On one hand, "humanity appears today, in ample parts of the world, as the victim of the welfare it itself has created," he wrote."In other, much larger parts, it is the victim of widespread and devastating illnesses, whose virulence stems from misery and the degradation of the environment," the Pontiff added.The Pope's message concluded appealing for the mobilization of "the forces of science and wisdom at the service of the genuine good of the person and of society in all parts of the world, in the light of the background criteria which is the dignity of the person, in whom the very image of God is imprinted."

UN Declaration Against Human Cloning

UN Adopts Pro-Life Declaration Against Human Cloning

In a monumental victory for the pro-life movement, the UN today
adopted a declaration condemning human cloning. The UN called on Member
States to adopt urgent legislation outlawing all cloning practices "as
they are incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human
life."
"This is a powerful message to the world that this morally questionable procedure is outside the bounds of acceptable experimentation," said Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, one of the main NGOs involved in the negotiation.
Countries were divided mainly over whether to protect "human life" or
the "human being." Costa Rica, Uganda, the United States and others who
sought to ban all forms of human cloning, supported "human life."
Countries including Belgium, Singapore and the United Kingdom, who wanted
to ban only cloning that would result in born human beings, insisted on
protecting the "human being," which according to some international legal
documents would protect only those already born.

The declaration also calls on countries to "prevent the exploitation of women." Cloning requires harvesting eggs from women, and delegates from
developing countries feared their women being turned into inexpensive "egg
farms." The declaration calls on wealthier nations to direct attention and
funding to pressing medical issues such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria. It also condemns all applications of any genetic engineering
techniques that threaten human dignity.

The declaration sets an international ethical standard that sends a
clear signal to countries that encourage human cloning. For instance, in
the United Kingdom, two "licenses" for research cloning have been issued.
The first is currently subject to a legal challenge on the basis that the
cloning "license" is unlawful and unnecessary. It is due to be heard in
the High Court shortly. Cloning opponents in the United Kingdom welcomed
the UN's resolution and look forward to Member States fulfilling their
international obligations.

ANNUAL RETREAT for Catholic Doctors

All Catholic Doctors(Non Members included) and their spouses, Catholic Nurses / Pharmacists and their spouses and Medical students are invited to join us for our annual retreat.

Retreat Master: Rev Fr Gino Henriques (S'pore)

Venue: Silverpark Condominium, Fraser's Hill

Date for Check in: 7pm Friday, 29th April 2005
Date for Check out: 1pm Monday, 2May 2005(public holiday)

Cost: RM 90 per person per day (Total : RM 270.00 inclusive of Breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 tea breaks ) for twin sharring accomodation with attached bath.

Contact our Secretary, Dr Assunta at 012-3070204. Let us know if you need transport arrangements.

Contact CDAM at : cdamail@yahoo.com for comments and suggestions or more info.

Volunteer Doctors needed for Aceh

We need doctors to volunteer for the next 3 months to run a clinic in Medan or Banda Aceh on a weekly basis.
The JRS has a clinic each in Banda Aceh & Medan.
The clinic is meant for treatment of refugees from the tsunami disaster. Air fares to Medan will be free of charge courtesy of Air Asia. We will provide food and accomodation but you need to stay for a week after which a new doctor will come and replace you.

Please contact Dr Chong at : cdamail@yahoo.com or Call Dr Assunta at 012 3070204 if you are intersted.