In this week's episode, Sally and Ben do a deep dive into the case of David Hunter – the British Cypriot who was released by the Cypriot courts following the intentional killing of his terminally unwell wife. The episode explores the international landscape of euthanasia and mercy killing, reflects on the legal and ethical aspects of this tragic case, and discusses how Christian medics could respond if the UK legalises medically-assisted dying. 

References:

• Sky News report of David Hunter Case:
  https://news.sky.com/story/david-hunter-sentenced-to-two-years-for-manslaughter-of-terminally-ill-wife-in-cyprus-12930993
• Our Duty of Care Website:
  https://ourdutyofcare.org.uk/latest/
• John Wyatt, Right to Die?- Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide and End-of-Life Care (IVP, 2015)
• Association of Palliative Care website:
  https://apmonline.org/
• BMA Survey on Physician-Assisted Dying:
  https://www.bma.org.uk/media/3367/bma-physician-assisted-dying-survey-report-oct-2020.pdf
• Running the Final Lap- Finding Support, seminar by John Wyatt at Keswick Convention 2023:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI8ufbZrtjc&list=PLiH8SxyNwkiFZPgJhf9bQQKH9qq4c6og3&index=6&t=4035s

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With AI hitting the headlines on a daily basis, Sally and Ben tackle the topic of deepfakes and their consequences on human connection. How will we be able to tell the difference between truth and fiction from this moment onwards and why does this matter?

References

• Simon Cowell Sings on Stage: America’s Got Talent 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPU0WNUzsBo 
  
  
• SAG strike: Why Hollywood actors have walked off set https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66208226 
  
  
• Martin Lewis says deepfake scam of him is 'frightening' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66131229 
  
  
• Illegal trade in AI child sex abuse images exposed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65932372 
  
  
• Matters of Life and Death, a Podcast by John Wyatt https://www.johnwyatt.com/podcast/ 
  
  
• Revelations 13 (NIV)
  
  
• The AI Dilemma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVJKj8lcNQ 
  
  
• “2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity”, John Lennox (Zondervan Reflective) 
  
  
• “The Robot Will See You Now: Artificial Intelligence and the Christian Faith”, John Wyatt (SPCK Publishing) 
  
  
• First Principles for Medical AI (Triple Helix Spring 2023) https://www.cmf.org.uk/resources/publications/content/?context=article&id=27451 (CMF article)
  
  
• Is AI a Tool or a Creature? (LICC July 2023) https://licc.org.uk/resources/is-ai-a-tool-or-a-creature3/ (LICC article) 

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'Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.' 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV).  

Compared to many others, as doctors we can find ourselves with more money than we have time, and to be honest, at the end of a long week it’s hard to find the energy and motivation to think about whether we are using our money wisely.  

It’s all too easy to compare our lifestyles with those slightly better off than us, and adjust our expectations without even noticing.  

This is a stand-alone episode of the Junior Doctor Foundations' podcast series focused on the topic of managing the money God gives us; it combines Biblical principles with practical recommendations on how we tackle subjects such as giving, spending, saving, and debt.   

Your host is Lizzy Kennedy (a junior doctor based in Devon); she is joined by guest Laurence Crutchlow (London based GP and Associate Head of CMF Student Ministries).   

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In the week that the NHS turns 75 years old, Sally and Ben discuss the current state of the NHS. With patient satisfaction at an all-time low and staff sickness at an all-time high, is the NHS beyond repair? And what should we make of the recently announced government Long Term Workforce Plan?

References:

• Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2022: Results from the British Social Attitudes Survey kingsfund.org.uk/publications/public-satisfaction-nhs-and-social-care-2022
• All is not well: Sickness absence in the NHS in England nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/all-is-not-well-sickness-absence-in-the-nhs-in-england
• NHS Long Term Workforce Plan england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/nhs-long-term-workforce-plan-v1.1.pdf
• Nurse Practitioners Doing TAVI? What’s Gained and Lost Tctmd.com/news/nurse-practitioners-doing-tavi-whats-gained-and-lost
• International Christian Medical and Dental Association (ICMDA) icmda.net

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'Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest...' 
Matthew 11:28, The Message

How can we find rest in God as trainee doctors?

What could that look like amongst chaotic shift patterns, study, and juggling church and family responsibilities?

This stand-alone episode of the Junior Doctor Foundations podcast series focuses on the Sabbath. Why do we need a Sabbath rest, why can it be hard to achieve, and what habits and practices do we need to cultivate this often-neglected discipline of Christian living?

Your host is Lizzy Kennedy (a junior doctor based in Devon); she is joined by Felicia Wong (a GP and CMF Head of Conferences and Equipping), and guest speaker James Adams (GP, Founder of Charity No 11, and leader of a church plant in Manchester).

Recommended Resources:

• Sabbath: The Ancient Practices by Dan B Allender
• Zeal without Burnout by Christopher Ash 
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer 
• Garden City: Work, Rest and the Art of Being Human by John Mark Comer 
• From Sabbath to Lord's Day edited by D.A. Carson 
• Serving without Sinking by John Hindley 
• A Busy Christian's Guide to Busyness by Tim Chester 
• Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung 
• Every Good Endeavour by Timothy Keller

Please email any feedback to: [email protected]

Find out more about CMF's support for junior doctors at cmf.org.uk/ministries/juniors/ or email [email protected] 

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'Finger on the Pulse' is a new 1st incision series which aims to explore current affairs and contemporary issues related to medicine, the NHS and ethics, discussing them from a Christian perspective. 

In this episode, we reflect on the recent sentencing of Carla Foster for a late-term, home abortion and discuss current abortion practices and beginning-of-life ethics. 

• RCOG Guidelines on Abortion Care: rcog.org.uk/guidance/browse-all-guidance/best-practice-papers/best-practice-in-abortion-care-best-practice-paper/ 
• Wegienka, G. and Baird, D. D. (2005) ‘A comparison of recalled date of last menstrual period with prospectively recorded dates’, Journal of Women’s Health, 14(3), pp. 248–252. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2005.14.248.
• The King v Carla Foster, Sentencing Remarks: judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/R-v.-Foster-sentencing-remarks-12.6.23.pdf
• Chang B. Christ and the Culture Wars: Speaking for Jesus in a World of Identity Politics. Tain: Christian Focus Publications, 2023
• Choices Islington  - choicesislington.org
• Trafford, A.M. et al. (2023) Temporal trends in eating disorder and self-harm incidence rates among adolescents and young adults in the UK in the 2 years since onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based study, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health [Preprint]. doi:10.1016/s2352-4642(23)00126-8.
• Scrivener E. A New Name. London:IVP. 2012
• Pollock J. personhood. CMF file. No. 75. June 2023. cmf.li/3CIok2f

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Today we start our brand new series 'Finger on the Pulse', which aims to explore current affairs and contemporary issues related to medicine, the NHS, and ethics, and discuss them from a Christian perspective. Last week saw the start of the new series of Love Island, and so Sally and Ben discuss issues raised by the show, particularly around body image and how we should relate to our bodies. 

Resources:

"Mental Health Foundation criticises new series of Love Island as it releases new statistics about body image and reality TV", Mental Health Foundation
https://cmf.li/42Exozw

"Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality", Nancy Pearcey (Baker Books)

"Issues Facing Christians Today", John Stott (IVP)

"'Because you're worth it? The BMA and the junior doctors' strike", Mark Pickering (CMF Blogs)
https://cmf.li/3UrX7ZK

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This is a mini-series focussing on healthcare leadership. In this series of interviews, we want to share what it looks like to be a Christian leading in the healthcare arena and so we hope you will find this a helpful and inspiring series.

Today we’re delighted to hear from Dr Chimwemwe Kalumbi, an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in Surrey. Chim is Early Pregnancy Consultant Lead and Divisional Lead for Woman and Children’s Health and is Clinical Lead for Quality and Safety. She is President of the Christian Healthcare Professionals Network and is president and founder of a small charity, Every Mother and Child Matters Foundation that focuses on supporting women’s health services across Sub- Saharan region in underprivileged communities to help reduce avoidable maternal and neonatal deaths.

This was a fascinating conversation about leading yourself before leading others, making a global impact and how to grapple with failure. Find out more about the Christian Healthcare Professionals Network at https://www.chpnet.org.uk and the Christian Healthcare Leadership Network at cmf.li/CHLN 

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In this episode of the Christians in Healthcare Leadership Network (CHLN) podcast, John catches up with Dr Eugenia Lee.

Eugenia is a GP in South East London with a portfolio career in management, education and commissioning. She has worked with the local, regional and national bodies such as the CCG, Health Education England, Healthy London Partnership, and NICE.

For more information about CHLN, visit: https://cmf.li/CHLN

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Welcome to the sixth and final episode in this new mini-series, Junior Doctor Foundations, released as part of CMF’s 1st incision podcast. 

This mini-series of six episodes focuses on thriving as a Christian junior doctor living and working in a culture described as a ‘Digital Babylon’. 
 
Life in the twenty-first century is accelerated and more complex than ever before. As Christians, especially junior doctors, it can feel like we are exiles living in a culture hostile to our faith. So how might we keep running the race of faith despite all the challenges?
 
Today we are unpacking the topic of countercultural mission and asking, ‘What really matters in life?’ and ‘What counts for a life well lived?’. 

Your host is Lizzy Kennedy (a junior doctor based in Devon); she is joined by John Greenall (a Paediatrician and CMF Associate CEO) and Felicia Wong (a GP and CMF Head of Doctor’s Ministries).

Faith for Exiles: 

This podcast series is inspired by the book Faith for Exiles. Written by members of the Barna Research Group who have interviewed around 100,000 young adults, it focuses on what we can learn from the practices of those young people who have kept going with their faith.
To find out more about the book Faith for Exiles, check out  faithforexiles.com   
You can find more about the CMF research on this topic here at cmf.li/ResilientDisciple 

Resource recommendations: 

• Further information about the CMF resources John mentioned can be found at: cmf.org.uk
• ‘Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions’, a book by Greg Koukl 
• LICC: licc.org.uk/  
• OCCA: theocca.org/ 
• Evangelical Alliance: eauk.org/ 
  
  

CMF pastoral support: 

• Find out more about CMF’s support for junior doctors at cmf.org.uk/juniors/  
• Email address: [email protected]  

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