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Ethical issues on stem cell research in America - Interesting article
Posted by celticmusicfan • 8/17/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: ethics, research, science, stem cell
I owe my friend Loic Rathscheck for opening this discussion with me.
STEM CELL RESEARCH - PROS AND CONS
All researchers must consider the ethics of their research. They must consider whether the positive effects are likely to be significantly higher than the negative effects.
The controversy surrounding stem cell research has both very positive consequences and very negative consequences, thus leading to a intense debate.
The stem cell research has already given us knowledge which has increased our standard of lives. Most famous is the bone marrow transplantation which treats leukemia, lymphoma and other inherited blood disorders.
In the near future, treatment for Diabetes Type 1-Patients and Advanced Kidney Cancer are the most likely candidates to arrive at the marked if the research is continued.
But there are also some serious concerns about the research: Up until now, human abortion has been needed to get proper material to study.
WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?
(Human Embryonic) Stem Cells are crucial to develop organisms. They are unspecialized cells which have the potential to create other types of specific cells, such as blood-, brain-, tissue- or muscle-cells. They are in our body all our lives, but there are far more in a fetus than an adult body.
Some stem cells can create all other cells in the body. Others have the potential to repair or replace damaged tissue or cells.
Stem Cells are developed from a female egg after it is fertilized by sperm. The process takes 4-5 days.
WHAT IS STEM CELL RESEARCH?
Stem cell research is used for investigation of basic cells which develop organisms. The cells are grown in laboratories. The tests are carried out to investigate fundamental properties of the cells.
The traditional source for getting human stem cells is ethically and morally problematic: An embryo, just days after conception, or a fetus between the 5th and 9th week, is removed from a pregnant female which is having an abortion.
Currently, intense research is closing in on getting another way to research on the topic.
There are two main issues concerning stem cell research with both pros and cons:
How the knowledge will be used
Concerns about the methods
1) STEM CELL RESEARCH - ARGUMENTS REGARDING THE USAGE OF THE KNOWLEDGE
Cons
"We should not mess with human life."
Some argue that stem cell research in the far future can lead to knowledge on how to clone humans. It is hard to say whether this is true, but we have seen devastating consequences of other research, even with good intentions, such as nuclear research.
Pros
Stem cell research can potentially help treating a range of medical problems. It could lead us closer to cure:
Parkinson’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
Heart Diseases, Stroke and Diabetes (Type 1)
Birth Defects
Spinal Cord Injuries
Replace or Repair Damaged Organs
Reduced Risk of Transplantation (You could possibly get a copy of your own heart in a heart-transplantation in the future)
This could also give significant social and economic benefits for individuals and the society.
2) STEM CELL RESEARCH - PROS AND CONS ABOUT THE METHODS INVOLVED
Cons
Critics against stem cell research, argue that there are ethical issues do not justify the benefits.
"A life is a life and that should never be compromised. A fertilized egg should be valued as a human life even if it is in its very first weeks. Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical."
We should (and will) develop more ethical methods (such as using adult stem cells) which will enable us to research ethically. We should wait to those methods are available.
The scientific value has been overstated or has flaws. E.g. we do not know for sure that we can use stem cells to clone organs to be transplanted to oneself.
Pros
"The benefits of stem cell research has such a great outcome, that it outweighs the ethical issues." (Cost-benefit-analysis)
"If someone is going to have an abortion, isn’t it better that we use it for something useful?"
Adult stem cells would not be that interesting because they do not have the same properties as stem cells from a fetus.
Another often mentioned advantage is that this research would give great insights about basics of the body.
CONCLUSION
The stem cell-research is an example of the, sometimes hard, cost-benefit analysis ethics scientists needs to do. Stem Cell pros and cons must be valued carefully.
When planning to investigate a phenomenon, you cannot defend a study ethically if the cost is higher than the benefits. The analysis needs to include human/animal discomfort, environmental issues, material costs/benefits, economy etc.
Why is the debate regarding the stem cell research so intense?
First, it is a matter of life - something impossible to measure. And in this case, we need to do exactly that, measure it.
Both an abortion and someone dying, suffering from a major disease is a tragedy, which have the highest value? Does a breakthrough in the research justify the methods?
Will the cost of studying abortions outweigh the benefits? The choice is subjective: We do not know all the risks or all the possible outcomes, so we have to value our perception of the outcome. Perception is influenced by our individual feelings about the issue.
Secondly, we do not know whether the research is necessary and sufficient to give us the mentioned health benefits.
Third, other consequences of the research have uncertainties. Could the research be misused in the future or not? We simply do not know.
Stem cell research is an example on how people value various aspects differently.
Read more: www.experiment-resources.com/stem-cell-pros-and-cons.html#ixzz0OUSjP29g
User Comments
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Im all for it - however, I don't like the trend of having a child for the sake of saving the one you've got. I may think differently if im ever in that position but so far my opinion stands that children should be made from love.
I know my point has holes the size of planets but you get the gist-
Interesting point Sam. Thanks for sharing your opinion. I can't really say much here because I am not really good in this. As I have mentioned, Loic came across this article and thought it would be an interesting pice to share.
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boy -
You're forgetting about the teratogenic risks of stem cells, that they might cause cancer. You also fail to mention induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS). IPS must be mentioned in any debate on stem cell ethics past 2007.
Frankly, you don't seem to understand that stem cells are native cells to an adult, and that it's a specific type called Embryonic Stem Cells that are so controversial.
I discuss these and other issues on my own post on stem cells:
healthlifeandstuff.com/2009/07/stem-cells-an-overview-implications/-
Actually this is a copy and paste article and it has nothing to do with my writing. that is why I put it here for your opinions. I want to understand it. Do you understand? It is good that you write more legibly than what you appear.
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So that's a copyright violation then, hm? -
no that's a copy and paste from what he did on the email
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Arrrggghh! Nevermind. It looks like this is not getting anywhere.
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now I should have never,replied to something as serious as this,with "BOY" I'm sorry,please forgive me.
Now my opinion on stem cell research is: I don't think we should harvest embryos just for their stem cells. Those said embryos are life in my eyes. Now having said that. I am a mother and if it came down to one child's life over my own child's life I would definately sacrifice myself.... If that meant I would go to hell well then I guess I would. my babies would always come first. I don't think that you should just harvest embrionic stem cells like a puppy breeding mill. Do you see how copmplicated this all becomes when HUMAN BEINGS TRY TO PLAY GOD....-
It is ok Holly hahahaha. Never forget that humor is very important. And this is not serious . I don't take things seriously, only people who punch holes to something that doesn't need punching.
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Thats my point of view also - its the dilema, I don't agree with certain aspects of stem cell research but if it meant saving my own child I would be all for it.
I know how that makes me sound, but its the trickiness of the topic -
No it makes you sound like a really loving human being. Don't believe what they say. Listen to what your heart says.
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yes exactly.... what are we supposed to do. That embryo"life" that we are harvesting could be the next president.or world savior for all we know,yet we are creating human life in a petry dish to take a few cells,and that life never comes to fruition.... How do you live with yourself. I know I couldn't
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I can't quite see considering an embryo to be a legal person. It raises all sorts of problems, like what about fertility clinics? Are they now imprisoning human beings in a frozen state?
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well I do. when it comes to life. I'm a pretty serious ... where u been at anyways?
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Falling all over the keys all over again. It's bedtime soon. But i have to watch an episode of Supernatural and True Blood first before doing it.
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well good night then... meet ya by the
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True Blood was excellent this week enjoy it.
Back to topic
I think they will sort out the best way to use them, and still not offend certain beliefs. The pros are just too valuable. -
see,we shall
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