The Debate over Human Embryonic Stem Cells

The President’s Council on Bioethics published “Monitoring Stem Cell Research” in 2004. This report was written in response to President Bush’s comments regarding research of human stem cells on August 9, 2001. President Bush announced that he was going to make federal funding available for research that involved existing lines of stem cells that came from embryos. He is the first president to provide any type of financial support for the research of human stem cells. A Council was created with people who are educated in the field of stem cells to help monitor the research and to recommend guidelines and consider the ethical consequences that this research could create. This report is an “update” given

In our government today Congress, the Supreme Court, and the President are all faced with making tough decisions for our country. These decisions are not only decided based off the constitution but the ideological shift as generations go on. Possibly one of the most controversial landmark decisions the government is currently being challenged with is the affair of abortion. In 1973 the Supreme Court of the United States was presented the case of Roe v Wade. The ruling decided a person has the right to privacy protected by the due process clause of the 14th amendment. This gave women the right to decide to have an abortion, but only under regulations from the state. As a result of this case, scientific research was conducted on stem cells starting in 1978 when a scientist discovered stem cells in human cord blood. From 1981 to 1991 scientist tested stem cells in mice, hamsters, and later in primates. 1998 marked an important discovery of pluripotent stem cells in an embryo, which is where the problem lies between the morals and ethics of citizens and the politicians’ jobs to decide for the people what is right for stem cell research.

The use of embryonic stem cells for research has been a controversial issue for many years. There have been benefits and risk toward the use of stem cells. The purpose of this paper is state the argument of both sides, how laws are brought into act, the position the state of Florida legislation has against using embryonic stems cells, how nurses can benefit being a health care policy advocate, and the position I chose in regards to fetal stem cell research.

If the government does not adequately fund research on stem cells, it makes sense that large amounts of discoveries would be made. It is in the government's best interest to represent the country as a whole, which would not be possible by taking one specific side of the ethical debate. Certainly, there are major advantages, as well as major issues, with stem cell research, but the most critical area of dispute comes with the idea of reproductive cloning through stem

The importance of ethical issues is often understated in public knowledge. Embryonic stem cell research should be of the utmost importance in the American society due to increased federal funding and the promises research in this field hold. As with many other controversies, embryonic stem cell research can be described as a dispute between religion and science due to the destruction of a viable human embryo. Depending on the status an individual grants an embryo will likely determine their stance on the issue. Next, many changes in legality and public acceptance have prompted leaders to increase funding and expand research nationally. Since taxpayers’ dollars are at work, the public should be aware of this prevalent and advancing ethical issue and be informed of its specifics. The public should also be aware of the advancements in healthcare that this research promise. Due to the changes in funding and legality, many discoveries have been made, pushing this science further. Many scientists believe embryonic stem cell research holds the key to curing many bodily injuries and deadly diseases such as spinal cord and brain injuries, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Also, many scientists conceive that, in the future, it will be possible to “grow” human organs from an individual’s stem cells for transplantation. The latter are only a few of the plethora of anticipated and promised treatments research in this field holds. Lastly,

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

Imagine living in a world without cancer, Parkinson 's, or even diabetes. While everyone may wish this is true, people are against a way that researchers can make this possible, which would be by the use of stem cells. There is major controversy on whether or not stem cell research should be allowed, especially when it comes to embryonic stem cell research. Although many consider it to be killing a potential life form, embryonic stem cell research may eventually be acceptable to use because there is consent and a lengthy process to make sure the donor understands what their embryonic stem cells will be used for. That may be viewed as a much better

Over the years there have been exponential amount of medical advancements. One of these great advancements is stem cell research and one that is not without controversy. There have been many debates over stem cell research from the dinner table to the Senate floor. While many say, stem cell research saves lives, others say, stem cell research takes lives. As a Christian where should we stand? First of all, we must be informed. This paper will discuss what a stem cell is, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and what the Bible says about this.

One of the biggest problems that biomedical scientists struggle with today is finding a cure to cancer. Thousands of scientists across the world devote their time and resources to solving this puzzle and saving thousands of lives. Over the last few decades, technology and medicine has advanced significantly increasing the life expectancy of the average human life. However, further steps need to be taken to achieve what doctors and scientists have set out to accomplish. In order to do this, many believe that embryonic stem cell research could be the key to unlocking a variety of medical problems. However, in the early 2000’s, the United States saw a significant decrease in federal funding available for this research. This could set back the medical advances by years if researchers could not continue their work. A decrease in restrictions while increasing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is vital for taking steps forward in ethically finding cures for many injuries and diseases that affect millions of people every day.

President Obama’s Executive Order 13505 allows the Federal Government to fund stem cell research through the National Institute of Health. There are various types of stem cells, but the policy issue mainly covers human embryonic stem cells. This policy revokes President George W. Bush 's executive order 13435 which put heavy limitations on federal funding for stem cell research. Although this policy has already taken effect, there are still bans and immense regulation on particular methods of human embryonic stem cell extraction that involve the destruction of embryos. This in some ways is good because it encourages scientists to find ways to utilize stem cells unique pluripotency or ability to become any cell without the destruction of live embryos. My recommendation is to create modifications to slightly intensify but mostly fortify this policy so that it may not be rescinded in the future.

Stem-cell research is a very interesting and controversial topic that many authors and scientists take time to write about. Christopher Robertson is one such author, who wrote the article “Recent Developments in the Law and Ethics of Embryonic Research: Can Science Resolve the Ethical Problems it Creates”. Robertson provides readers with the information they are looking for and the article has merit as an example of technical writing. This article discusses three main topics: the legal background, how scientific progress can resolve ethical issues, and assessing alternative methods of stem-cell research. By analyzing the three main sections it is possible to see the merit of this article.

In 1995, Congress banned federal funding for destructive research using human embryos. Under the Clinton administration, however, federally funded scientists could conduct experiments on stem cell lines as long as they did not themselves participate in embryo destruction. That permission was largely moot, as it was not until the fall of 1998 that the first report of a successful isolation of human embryonic stem cells—done, of necessity, without federal support—was published.

Stem cell research has been and will always be a controversial subject. With today’s advanced technology, scientists are trying to create new, healthy cells to repair any damaged cell. However, this action requires the destruction of an embryonic cell in its early stages of development. This is where the controversy comes in hand; people are taken back and refuse to fund stem cell researchers or the clinics that perform such procedure. Most people who are pro-life are against and challenge the idea of stem cell research. On the other hand, people who support pro-choice are willing to fund clinics that perform such procedures. However, scientists are convinced and are still trying to find another harmless method to perform them. With technology advancing with a blink of an eye; more people are willing to hear and agree with stem cell researchers and try to follow the latest news and discoveries. With stem cells, researchers are able to take science to a whole another level that can help patients who are in need or had a serious injury.

Stem cells are cells that have not yet differentiated, or will divide into other cells that will then differentiate. These cells have the ability to develop into any type of cell that the body requires during development and growth. The value of stem cells for research comes from the ability to develop into specialized cells, a process known as differentiation, under experimental conditions. Naturally, stem cells regularly repair or replace damaged tissues. Scientifically, stem cells have been used in a variety of ways: to create Dolly the artificial animal clone, to therapeutic cloning and regenerative medicine, to drug discovery and transplantation medicine. A development of the use of human

Recent developments highlight a point made by opponents of embryonic stem cell research for years: Once our consciences are numbed to the moral wrong of using so-called "spare" human embryos for research, our society will move on to even more egregious abuses. The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Virginia has announced that it is using donated eggs and sperm to create human embryos solely to destroy them for stem cell research.( S. Stolberg, "Scientists Create Scores of Embryos to Harvest Cells," The New York Times, July 11, 2001 at A1.) Moreover, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) in Massachusetts has announced it is trying to make human embryos by somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning) for the same purpose.