Ethical Concerns In Stem Cell Research

Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into different types of cells in the body. Stem cells also act as a repair system for many tissues in the body by dividing repeatedly to replenish other cells within a person (National Institutes of Health). Stem cell research seeks to further the advancement of the use of stem cells as well as to find an ethical way to study them. In November 1998, researchers found a way to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells, (Bevington 2005). The ethics of stem cell research has been debated over the years and some people fully support the use of stem cells, whereas others are completely against the use of stem cells. This has been an ongoing battle for scientists over the span of two decades prior to the 1998 finding.

When talking about the ethical issue surrounding embryonic stem cells their are 2 main moral principles:

In recent years, stem cell research has become a prominent way of treating: heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, spinal problems, and much more ; moreover, in recent years as Stem cell research became more popular, it has sparked controversy over the religion aspect of stem cell research. Stem cell research begins with culturing an embryonic cell and then injecting the stem cell into the area of concern(Robertson). Pluripotent stem cells are gathered and used to treat the areas, pluripotent stem cells are those that are in the earliest stages of development ; in addition, at this stage, cells can learn the jobs and take shape of cells that did the job once before (Robertson).

Throughout the course of history, healthcare advancements have been some of the most important events to happen to the human race. Whether it was the invention of the first stethoscope or the first vaccine for polio, these findings have helped lengthen and improve human life, as well as aid scientists in better understanding humans as a species. In recent years, embryonic stem cells have been discovered to offer a variety of benefits to many different diseases and disorders. However, despite their amazing potential, the source of these lifesaving cells have brought up the question of ethics and morals in the scientific and medical communities as well as mainstream media. Is stem cell research worth the dangers and moral controversies in

“Now science has presented us with a hope called stem cell research, which may provide our scientists with many answers that have for so long been beyond our grasp.” (Nancy Reagan). Most cells within our bodies perform one specialized task. Contrary to these single job cells are stem cells. These cells are unspecialized and can morph and perform any task that is needed within the body. However, the way that stem cells are harvested has caused a lot of controversy. The way that the stem cells are taken destroys the embryo. We should support the recent decision to allow embryonic stem-cell research in the United States and federally fund the work to use these stem cells to cure diseases. Better stem cell research would provide safer procedures and medical practices for everyone.

Stem cell research is often at the forefront of heated ethical debates due to its assessment of human life. If stem cell research cannot be ethically defended, then it should not be conducted. “You cannot defend a study ethically unless the presumed cost is lower than expected benefits. The cost-benefit analysis of scientific research needs to include human/animal discomfort/risks, environmental issues, material costs, etc” which is necessary to support the positive outcome which the research claims to provide (experiment-resources, 2008).

The society is not at an agreeable point when it comes to the research of stem cells obtained from human embryos. The disagreement narrows down to a clash between the two fundamental principles of ethics: The duty to prevent and alleviate suffering, and the duty to respect the value of human life. In most situations, both principles can be satisfied. However, in the research of embryonic stem cells, it might not be inherently possible.

Some research has opposed to this medical study and other have approved of the human stem cell study. This is Destruction of a humans’ life an embryo is a developing baby and is un ethical regardless if it’s benefits. The stem cell is obtained from a living person and the mother embryo is removed from her ovaries. For harvesting this will kill and destroy the embryo there are other forms of stem cells. The adult cells are non-embryonic theses are from placentas and umbilical cords and does not cause destruction to a human being. For the Ethical in this medical cell study the adult and embryonic stem cell have to be equal. So if the fetal cells are collected from a miscarriage or a stillborn birth there is medical possible way to be able to remove a fetus still alive from the mother womb without any harm done to the mother or fetuses than there are no ethical issues. On the other hand, if the mother wants an abortion the fetus stem cells will be collected this as unethical destruction killing a human the umbilical cord is not attached at birth or an infant than collecting the umbilical cords blood is ethical to obtain the stem cells. There is the adult stem cell these are a different that are non-embryonic cells. Which are located in the human’s placentas and umbilical cords of a baby or infant collecting the cells from these does not cause destruction

The advancement of embryonic stem cell therapies and transplants has drastically changed the realm of medical research. However, the use of human embryos is an ethical concern among researchers around the world. There are several benefits for embryonic stem cells therapy. Embryonic stem cells are beneficial to researchers due to their unique ability to replicate themselves and make specialized cells for any tissue in the body. These cells serve as a potential to cure various diseases and disabilities that threaten the survival of humankind. Since the early 1960’s, there have been ethical deliberations behind the destruction of the embryo. The FDA has stepped in many times throughout the years due to the moral implications of the use of

Catholics are absolutely against embryonic stem cell research. News is already talking about how the Catholics approve for stem cell research but inside of an interview with Catholic News Service Nancy O’Brien wrote: “Declaring that the stem-cell research does not present a conflict between science and religion, the U.S bishops overwhelmingly approved a statement June 13th calling the use of human embryos in such research “gravely immoral” and unnecessary” (O’Brien “Catholic News Service”). As you can see from that message, Catholics are all for the stem cell research however they hate the fact that embryos are involved and are even working up to get that taken care of. This research is honestly going against everything that Catholics believe in. Multiple times inside of this document that was submitted and approved was multiple statements of immoral judgements. One quote inside of this document that really stood out is, “The issue of stem-cell research does not force us to choose between science and ethics, much less between science and religion” (O’Brien “Catholic News Service”). This quote really hit the spot on this view because it has a good point, science and religion are starting to seriously get some tension between them. The more we become technology oriented and the more we find out different ways to do stuff then the more we are going to step on someone’s toes. This quote really hit that by saying that ethics and science don’t go as much together as science and

We have an amazing items in our body called stem cells. Stem cells are cells that have the ability to transform into any type of tissue cell in the human body. After a sperm fertilizes an egg, the cell they form is known as a zygote or a totipotent cell. This cell goes through numerous mitotic divisions and after about four days forms a blastocyst. This blastocyst has an outer layer and an inner layer, part of which is hollow. The outer layer grows to form what will become the placenta. The cells contained in the inner layer are known as pluripotent cells. They are what the term stem cell generally refers to.

While some people might say that stem cell research is immoral and unethical, others believe that it is a magical solution for almost any problem, thus leading to a very controversial issue. Scientists have been searching for years for ways to eradicate incurable diseases and perform other medical procedures that yesterday's technology would not fix. With the rapidly arising, positive research on stem cell technology, the potential that exists to restore any deficiency is in the same way, likely to destroy humanity. America is suffering from its inability to choose who holds precedence over this issue. Too many of us find it impossible to reach a basis for which our differing opinions can be shared and formed into a universal and

In this essay I decided to write on Stem. Initially, I began by defining what stem cell is and the different types of stem cell scientist work with. I include the medical scenario of a woman from Huston by the name of Debbie Bertrand who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. I also included Dr. Lall, discovery of stem cells in baby teeth, because I found the article to be very interesting. Philosophical question were asked and answered. The point of view of natural law was also mention to support my argument. The controversy from a religious point of view was that they have a strong belief in this matter. I conclude with the philosophical argument of Utilitarianism and Consequentialism.

Stem Cell Research is the new frontier of Medical Science that the world so sorely needs. Every day thousands die from disease and disabilities that could be treated or possibly even cured through the use of stem cells; however these people continue to die as political and medical dignitaries argue over the ethics of the issue. The common “ethical issues” used to argue against stem cell research generally fall under the realm of religious constraints; however with the unresolvable differences between religious views, there will never be common ground on which the issue could be resolved. Even with the simplest scientific procedures there is always someone somewhere willing to argue the ethics, but their voice is overpowered by the benefits

The new millennium has brought with it astonishing discoveries in biomedical sciences. Microarray technology, completion of the human genome sequence and improved efficiencies of drug discovery, ultrahigh screening technologies brought modern society into completely new approach of treating major chronic diseases that seemed to be dreadful for life in the earlier stages of humanity. Along with these outstanding medical advances a self-renewing stem cell that regenerates and gives rise to all cells and tissues of the body was discovered. The controversy of such finding of abilities of stem cell is that they can only be extracted from the human embryo. In order to extort stem cells from the embryo it needs to be aborted. The extraction needs