Desperate for organs
‘What can a man give in return for his life?’ asks Jesus rhetorically of his disciples and the crowds…
I’m a Christian working in the NHS. The system is broken. Here’s how you can pray for us
I’ve just got home from a shift in the emergency department (ED).
The hospital is in ‘critical incident’…
Podbabies: Who are they kidding?
Ectogenesis – the gestation of children in artificial wombs – has long been considered by many…
An appreciation of Sir Eldryd Parry 1931-2022
Sir Eldryd Hugh Owen Parry KCMG OBE, a CMF member, died aged 91 on 13 November 2022. I wanted to write…
Canada’s home MAiD disaster?
My first recollection of the impact legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide would have – for that…
Celebrating two Black British nursing pioneers
To mark Black History Month, we wanted to tell the story of two prominent Black nurses from British history,…
Acting with a clear conscience? WMA, GMC, BMA, and moral injury
Having reasonable freedom to act in accordance with our conscience is something that Christian healthcarers…
Our workforce is on its knees: it’s time for us to be as well
A response to the RCN and RCM strike ballots
Propping the staff room door open with her foot, Maria leans…
Praying for patients – punishable or permitted?
A Christian doctor who offered to pray for patients has agreed to attend a course on 'boundaries' after…
Queen Elizabeth II
We were all greatly saddened to hear yesterday evening (8 September 2022) of the passing of Her Majesty…
Brain death, resurrection, and Archie Battersbee
Since June, when I last wrote about the deeply distressing case of Archie Battersbee, his ventilator…
The Supreme Court steps where politicians fear to tread
‘What is a woman?’ It’s the question that causes even seasoned politicians to break out in a cold sweat. We are currently awaiting a verdict from the UK Supreme Court, which is attempting to settle the question legally, once and for all. The hearing is the culmination of a long-running case, initially brought by campaigners […]
a day of darkness and expectation
I was deeply saddened as the speaker of the House of Commons read out today that Kim Leadbeater’s private members bill had passed its second reading with 330 MPs voting in favour and 275 against. Many CMF members and friends have met each evening throughout November to pray that the Lord would prevent this outcome. […]
legalisation of ‘assisted dying ‘ opposed by the British Geriatrics Society
Ahead of the forthcoming second reading of the Leadbeater ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’, the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) has published its current position statement on this vital issue on 31 October, based on an open, anonymised, and invited survey of its cross-professional membership, analysed and delivered by an openly constituted and transparent […]
a palliative care doctor’s response to the Leadbeater Bill
November 29, 2024, is a day that could be pivotal in our nation’s history. No turning back. However, I believe it won’t be, not if we unite. A few weeks ago, the story of David and Goliath was preached in my church. Never has a sermon spoken to me more clearly. As my husband gripped […]
what is Kim Leadbeater proposing?
With less than three weeks until MPs will be asked to debate and vote on her Bill, Kim Leadbeater has finally published the text of her ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’. Amidst busy schedules, this hardly seems a reasonable time frame for MPs to consider what Ms Leadbeater herself said is ‘potentially one […]
Truth and trust in transplantation
Transplant medicine is one of the greatest medical advances of the last century, but public trust is essential for it to attract potential donors – both living and deceased. For deceased donations to progress in most countries, even if the donor has expressed a wish to be a donor, their family members generally have to […]
Dying with dignity? The problems with the latest move to legalise assisted suicide
Dying with dignity in a caring, compassionate environment, surrounded by those we love. I don’t think anyone would want their or any other person’s end of life to be anything other than like this. However, how we achieve such a good death has become an increasingly hot topic of controversy. The fundamental disagreement over the […]
We are a multitude of voices
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who […]
What can we say as Christians about the Lord Darzi Rapid Review on the state of the English NHS?
Ara Darzi’s independent review into the performance of National Health Service (NHS) England, commissioned soon after the Labour election victory in July, was published on 12 September. The report has been well received as an honest appraisal of the current state of the NHS. The fact that the NHS is in serious trouble will come […]
Legalising assisted suicide: why now?
The papers are reporting that Sir Keir Starmer supports fast-tracking a bill to make a seismic change in British law. He reportedly wants to legalise assisting the suicide of terminally ill adults with a vote in parliament before Christmas. But why is this apparently among his top priorities? Whilst some high-profile supporters of assisted suicide […]
The NMC Code in the light of Jesus – ‘Preserve Safety’
(Read The Code online – The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk) I have recently been prompted to re-engage with our Nursing and Midwifery Code of Professional Conduct, and in this blog, I consider this in light of the biblical principles by which I seek to live my life. Perhaps one of the things that prompted […]
Speak kindly – your comatose patient may be listening
At least ‘one quarter of people with brain injuries who seem unresponsive can hear things going on around them and might even be able to use brain-computer interfaces to communicate‘, according to a recent article in Nature. We have little idea of how many patients there are in the UK with Prolonged (more than six […]