By John M. Grondelski
This book is unusual. It has two forewords—one by Bishop Joseph Strickland and the other by Creighton University School of Medicine ethicist Charles Camosy. The men are usually polar opposites, which already shows that Mychaskiw can bring people together. But George Mychaskiw is also unusual. He is an osteopathic physician with a specialization in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology who is working to establish Catholic osteopathic medical schools in the United States.
The 34 chapters of this book were originally blogs about contemporary bioethical questions, especially the beginnings and ends of life. Mychaskiw unhesitatingly calls out and even gores many “mainstream” shibboleths.
His positions are uncompromisingly pro-life. At one point he states: “Every human life, from conception to natural death is inherently and unconditionally valuable, regardless of age, disability, economic circumstance, parentage, or any other modifier.” That that claim and especially its implementation are controversial reveals how far we have come in allowing a “quality of life” ethic to displace a “sanctity of life” one.
Topics are very au courant. The chapter entitled “Abortion Saves Lives?” confronts the red herring but nevertheless politically effective claim that post-Dobbs pro-life laws threaten women’s lives. It specifically addresses ectopic pregnancy and preeclampsia. But Mychaskiw exposes the question pro-abortionists want to hide: Is there one patient or two? That answer will affect the course of one’s treatment. But it is precisely the idea that there is another patient with whose rights and interests one should reckon that pro-abortionists ideologically demand ignoring and that the modern American mind, disaccustomed to logical argument over emotive appeal, shirks from thinking about.
To read the remainder of this article, visit the Celebrate Life Magazine site at clmagazine.org/post/review-follow-the-science.
To read additional pro-life articles that will inspire and educate, visit clmagazine.org.