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Human Embryonic Stem Cells : The Moral Dilemma

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HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS: THE MORAL DILEMMA

Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, even after long periods of inactivity. Stems cells can develop into many different cell types within the body during early life and growth. Stem cells can also serve as an internal repair of sorts inside many tissues. When a stem cell divides, it has the potential to either become another type of cell with a specialized function or remain a stem cell.
The abilities of stem cells sound wonderful to many people, but there are also those who find an ethical and moral dilemma regarding the use of stem cells. In the article Stem Cell Factsheet, from EuroStemCell, last updated March 23, 2011, it is stated that “Embryonic stem cell research poses a moral dilemma. It forces us to choose between two moral principles:
The duty to prevent or alleviate suffering
The duty to respect the value of human life”.
This factsheet was created by Kristina Hug and reviewed by Göran Hermerén.
We know that to obtain a stem cell for use, the embryo is destroyed, or in other words destroying a potential human life. However, embryonic stem cell research and use could potentially alleviate human suffering and disease. So you ask, which side of this proverbially coin is the better flip.
Kristina Hug presents a “for” and “against” argument in her Stem Cell Factsheet that would definitely make one ponder. “Does an Embryo have full moral status from fertilization

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