The fifth lecture, organized by the Health Committee of the ARCL Regional Board took place on Wednesday, 30th of January, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. The subject of the day was, “The moral assessment of some of the health issues”.
After listening to the march of ARS, and the opening word of the Health committee, nursing expert Sossi Balian was invited to deliver her lecture. At the beginning of the lecture Sossi Balian said that subjects with moral questions are disputable. There are behaviors which are not acceptable and these are called taboos. Then she explained the difference between the “anathema” and “debatable subjects”, and stated that the anathema is international, such as murder which is reprihensible, robbery, cannibalism, as well as incest. What concerns abortion, false testimony some consider these as taboos, while others accept them as disputable subjects.
She mentioned that in the last fifty years there has been a lot of changes in the formation of a family and its needs. In any religion there are marriage ceremonies, which should be performed, but nowadays people are living without any commitment or marriage. Others are making civil marriages. In the last 20 years, there is a lot of development in the aspect of homosexuality, and they are demanding their rights as well.
Another aspect which is very noticeable in the society is conceiving by artificial means. Women are lately delaying to get pregnant, which is leading to abnormal births. Adoption of children was a common aspect, however, it is diminished nowadays. Divorce, and human organ transplant are common aspects in the present time. Also the lecturer noted that families are not taking care of their elderly and putting them in nursing homes. For some it is a debatable and controversial issue but for others it is totally acceptable.
Sossi Balian said that technology has its positive points like when a child is born the umbilical cord is kept in a proper way to be used later, and another example is the transplant of clogged blood vessels during a heart operation.
Abortion is not permitted in Lebanon. It is allowed if the mother’s life is in danger. Artificial abortion is a debatable subject, however, the pregnancy of a minor due to rape it is unacceptable.
The lecturer also mentioned that sexual education is important, and it should start in the house and completed at school, so that when teenagers become adults and get married they will have a happy family life.
At the end of the lecture the audience asked questions to the lecturer, and a souvenir was given to the lecturer Sossi Balian in the name of the health committee.
Then nutritionist Sarine Shegian talked about International Day of Tonsils and its diagnosis which coincides in January.
