Page "Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits" Paragraph 9

Rabbi Jakobovits was the most prominent figure in 20th century Jewish medical ethics, a subdiscipline in applied ethics which he virtually created, and a pioneer in religious bioethics.

His speciality was the interaction between medical ethics and halakha.

Thanks to his academic training in Ireland, Rabbi Jakobovits approached his comprehensive volume, Jewish Medical Ethics, in light of Roman Catholic medical ethics, with which he often compares Jewish ethics.

Whether developing or disputing his analysis, subsequent Jewish bioethicists have utilized his work on abortion, euthanasia, the history of Jewish medical ethics, palliative care, treatment of the sick, and professional duties.

Likewise, he is credited with popularizing the claim that Judaism supports the nearly absolute sanctity of life.