Ethical Issues In Fetal Tissue Research

Embryonic stem cell research is important for further development in the medical field. It strongly supports the idea that every life has value, an idea known as human dignity. Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God, and thus, are all equal. The idea of radical equality before God leads us to think no less of someone regardless of their physical appearance, religious beliefs, cultural background, or anything else. It is through virtues such as charity, mercy, and justice that our human dignity is preserved. By living through these virtues and realizing how to effectively instill them within us, we are able to live a virtuous life. This paper argues that although issues involving embryonic stem cell research are controversial, research in this area is typically permissible for further development in the medical field when looking to preserve human dignity. In order to defend this thesis, this paper will be structured into three sections as followed: the description of embryonic stem cell research, the development of a moral lens, and the moral argument and analysis of this case.

Nelson & Meyer discusses coming to a compromise on the disposal of the extracorporeal human embryos (EHEs). One should not link the extracorporeal human embryos to the possibility of developing into a real human. As long as the human embryo is outside of the human body, it does not have the potential to develop into a child. Religion can affect a persons’ beliefs and morals to the point where compromise is not possible. It is agreed that disposal should be done respectfully but where and how is the question. Nelson &

The introduction and expansion of embryonic stem cell research initiated a highly debated ethical topic. Can our society agree to disagree? What are embryonic stem cells? What are stem cells? Is all stem cell research considered abortion? Debates surrounding embryonic stem cell research is further complicated by social standards and needs, religious beliefs, and personal morals.

This report describes how ethics involving embryos has been ongoing for 25 years but has significantly increased with the stem cell controversy. Another issue brought up by this report is whether or not federal funds should be spent on an issue that is so ethically

Research on human fetal life involves numerous complex medical, moral, and legal aspects. It is not always easy, nor desirable, to seal off one aspect from another. Both sides of fetal tissue use will be equally focused on as a moral issue. The topic is a timely and important one because research on human fetal life is reportedly a growing industry and the subject of legal developments both in the United States and around the world.

Even on the patient consent form, patients at Planned Parenthood sign a form that says “I agree to give my blood and/or the tissue from the abortion as a gift to be used for education, research or treatment.” for scientic research on diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and AIDS. A professor of University of Wisconsin-Madison’s law, medicine and public health, explains that it makes sense that money is involved in the procurement of tissue and organs, even if that involves fetal specimen. The professor, R. Alta Charo says, “It’s been going on for 50 or 60 years; it’s ordinary practice,” she says. “There is good reason for it. We want to help the people who are living or may be living in the future.” But according to Eric Ferrero, vice president of communications at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, says the research has advanced vaccines, treatments for life-threatening diseases, and goes toward finding cures for specific maternal and infant health conditions. The National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act even allows for “reasonable payments associated with transportation, implantation, processing, preservation, quality control, or storage of human fetal issue.” This law doesn’t define “reasonable payments”, so violations can be difficut to prove. Most Planned Parenthood facilities and any abortion provider don’t have control over how fetal tissue is ultimately used and many women (patients) are uninformed of the possibilities of how their “donation” is used in the consent forms. Research to develop skin cosmetics and anti-aging products has also benefitted from the collecting of fetal tissue (non-medical) and there isn’t a standing law that prevents

Tissue from human fetuses is now being used in medical research, as it can supposedly be used to find potential treatments for a wide range of common diseases. A certain bioethicist at the University of Wisconsin even said that fetal tissue research has benefited “virtually every person in this country.”

While few can debate the potential “miracle cure” aspect that seems to be wrapped within stem cell research, the method for obtaining such cells has been a topic for debate. The process of extracting pluripotent cells destroys their host embryo, and as yet, no pluripotent cells have been found in older adult tissues. Opponents of research on embryonic cells claim that embryos – from the moment that fertilization occurs – are sentient human beings and should therefore be afforded the same protections against abuse as anyone else (“The Cases For”). But what if a method were readily available were viable stem cells could be extracted from an embryo in a manner that would not deny life – however such life were defined – to the unborn fetus? What if such a potential solution could ease the minds of not only those who oppose stem cell research but also help to quell the dispute of another “Do Not Kill” issue – abortion?

But anti-abortion activists have also scored big when it comes to blocking new medical research that may lead to better contraceptives and earlier medical abortions; like RU 486, as well stem cell research for the treatments for numerous diseases. “Fetal tissue research, for instance, has led to advances in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and leukemia. Despite the fact that organs from the corpses of murder victims can be donated, antiabortion activists believe tissue donation from aborted fetuses encourages abortion and should therefore be prohibited,” (Hontz,1998) .

Embryonic stem cells research has challenged the moral ethics within human beings simply because the point at which one is considered a “human,” is still under debate and practically incapable to make a decision upon.

That separates the decision to terminate a pregnancy from any research that it might later contribute to. So there’s no “maximiz[ing] the value of body parts,” as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie claimed, to “sell on the open market for profit.” (On Abortion: A Lincoln Position). A number of Republican candidates in the debates, from businessman Donald Trump to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, suggested that what’s wrong with fetal tissue research is that it expresses disrespect for human life. “I believe that we should have a culture of life,” as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush put it, reminding voters that “we ended partial birth abortion” and “were the first state to do a ‘choose life’ license plate.” The Supreme Court has indeed held that government can regulate in ways designed to promote respect for the unborn, even if doing so saves none. It’s easy to understand how it expresses respect for human life, for example, to restrict the use of fetal tissue for trivial purposes like producing cosmetics, or even insufficiently worthy reasons like teaching high school biology. (Stem Cell Research: Medical Miracle or Moral

New technological advances and scientific methods continue to change the course of nature. One of the current controversial advances in science and technology is the use of genetically modified embryos in which the study exceeds stem cell research. Scientists have begun planning for research involving human embryos in the genetic modification field. Many technological developments are responsible for improving our living standards and even saving lives, but often such accomplishments have troubling cultural and moral ramifications (Reagan, 2015). We are already beyond the days in which virtually the only procreative option was for a man and a woman to conceive the old-fashioned way (Reagan, 2015). Genetic modification of human embryos can be perceived as a positive evolution in the medical process yet it is surrounded by controversy due to ethical processes. Because this form of genetic modification could affect later born children and their offspring, the protection of human subjects should be a priority in decisions about whether to proceed with such research (Dresser, 2004). The term Human Genetic Engineering was originally made public in 1970. During this time there were several methods biologists began to devise in order to better identify or isolate clone genes for manipulation in several species or mutating them in humans.

Embryonic stem cell research is a highly controversial topic in today's society, this kind of stem cell commits to regenerate any type of tissue. Unfortunately, Embryonic Stem Cell Research has a dark side. To obtain these cells will kill the embryo automatically. In other words, the acquirement of the Human Embryonic Stem Cell includes performing an abortion. To obtain these cells, it would kill the embryo. This has created controversy since abortion is such a divisive topic. Politicians are uneasy to take sides. The Human Embryonic Stem Cell issue is today's Pandora's Box due to all the unwittingly chaos that it can bring to our lives. By having this new option available in the medical world,

As many researchers suggested, abortion was not only a moral and legal issue, but also essentially a medical issue. Advances in medical sciences pertaining to abortion and child-birth led to new controversies in the abortion debate. For instance, particular advancements made in the case of Down syndrome raised the question that whether selective abortions aided by ultra-sonographic and nuchal translucency in the first trimester violated medical ethics (Khoshnood, 2139). The emerging cases of late-term abortions (also called partial birth abortions) owing to technological advances also also raised questions about the moral base of terminating a life that could possibly survive individually outside the mother’s womb (Miller, 497).

Most people are against Embryonic Stem Cell research mainly because they consider it unethical to use aborted fetuses for research. The two main issues concerning the research are the ethics (Cons) and the benefits (Pros). In any scientific case, ethics must always be considered. But the use of fetuses is something that is of the utmost importance. The costs are generally measured based off of people’s feelings, morals, and knowledge about the subject up for debate. The use of aborted fetuses for stem cell research may have many positive outcomes that can come of it, but many negative outcomes as well; If using aborted fetuses for research can, in the near future, save lives, then it is a research that should be supported, even though some