Stem Cell research is a very controversial topic in today’s society. This topic brings up many ethical questions about it is right to do the research or not. Stem cells come from embryos that are only a few days old. The ethical issues that arise are many. If one believes that an embryo is a baby upon fertilization, then one would feel that this was unethical to do the research no matter what the benefits would be. On the other hand, some feel the benefits of what can be learned from stem cell research outweighs the ethical and moral dilemmas that are argued. This long debate brings about many questions about the ethical approaches, that there have been restrictions placed on the research in the lines of what type of embryos can be used for the research. Ethical or not there are always two sides to debate, stem cell research is no different. Throughout this paper I will discuss the ethical issues that stem cell research brings into light and the benefits that stem cell research brings into light that may just outweigh the ethical issues, then determine it these benefits and ethical issues really make stem cell research the most beneficial way to help cure diseases such as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s disease or even spinal cord or neck injuries.
Argument for Research Stem Cell research can help scientist discover more about human cells and how they grow, change, and replace damaged cells within the body. The information that can be learned is priceless. Using this research has made many breakthroughs in medical help for many disease states. Stem cells come from three different sources: adult cells, cord cells, and embryonic cells. There are draw backs from using an adult cell because it is a very painful procedure to pull the from an adult’s bone marrow. Embryonic cells are very controversial because there are from fertilized eggs that are only a few days old. Many couples that use in vitro-fertilization can donate the unused eggs to research. Since this research will ultimately kill the egg many people feel that this is not ethically right. According to Lawrence Soler, “Most scientists believe that research on stem cells from embryos could be the difference between life and death for millions of people. This research may be the best-and, in some cases, the only chance to find a cure for diseases that now kill thousands daily” (Soler, 2001, pg. 32). Researchers want to use stem cells because they have a potential to develop into different types of cells. Studying how these cells form together to create a human being has taught scientist many important facts about the human body. These cells can be used to repair other cells or in tissues they have a repair mechanism that can help repair the tissue, which is why scientists want to research to help with spinal cord and neck injuries. When stem cells divide they have a chance to become other stem cells or other types of cells, which is how an embryo begins to form into a human being. The cells keep dividing until they create a baby. Scientist has learned much about the different cells of our bodies and have discovered that they can be used to help damaged and worn out tissue. The research has also showed scientists the properties of the cells and that cells have unique regenerating properties and these properties is what enables the potential to treat diseases like diabetes. With all these findings there are still more questions that need to be answered. This is why stem cell research is so important. An embryonic stem cell can regenerate itself many times without differentiating itself, but most non-embryonic stem cells cannot (Stem Cell Basics, 2009). Studying these cells will help scientists discover ways to use these cells to help others and can help with testing different drugs that are being developed. Many people do not like testing of drugs on actual human beings, so this can be a way to help with debate, by allowing the stem cells to react to different drugs for research purpose. They can then determine if the drug is safe and able to help people. Knowing how the drug will react with the cells will help determine the drug safety. Stem cells can also be taken from bone marrow in adults. This is a very painful procedure that many people are not willing to endure unless they do not have a choice in the matter. There is another way to do this research by using human skin cells that are genetically modified. This was discovered in hopes that the ethical issues for using embryonic cells could be bypassed, but this has not been the case. This type of research raises other ethical issues, but the possibilities that one day patient-and disease-specific pluripotent could one day yield clinical benefits (Hyun, 2008, pg. 20). This type of research with adult skin cells will still need to have embryotic stem cell research because the ongoing research can give scientists a better understanding of all human cells. This understanding and analyses of human cells will bring more information and discoveries to help scientist develop ways to help humans cure diseases. This type of research can have its own set of problems with causing infections or other major disease if the cells are not withdrawn from the adult carefully. The other reason both should be done is the embryotic stem cells are needed to be the control cell in the experiments with the skin cells, so they can see how things are changed and manipulated. Throughout this research there are positives for humanity that will help humans live longer and healthier from the potential information researchers will learn by studying the stem cells.
Argument against Research The most controversial is the embryonic cells because the embryo is destroyed when abstracting the cells. The best way to say why many are against stem cell research is that the primary rule of medicine has always been, “First, do no harm” (Soler, 2001, pg. 32). Use of embryonic cells does do harm to a living cell. There have been many laws that do not allow scientists to conduct research on humans wither their consent. An embryonic cell is unable to give their consent at the timer of formation, so ethically it should not be used for research. This is a very the wishes of someone that is unwilling, so they should not be allowed to avoid this development stage of life to do research. The killing of the embryonic cells is harming a human and therefore is breaking the primary rule of research. When we begin to talk about ethical issues, often time’s religious beliefs are also brought into the discussion. There are only ethical issues, but religious issues with killing the embryonic cell to do the research. In the Jewish religion, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein states that:
….what if the life that would need to be sacrificed was that of a fetus? May we permit abortion to save life an already born person? The Mishna clearly states that is the life of a woman in labor is threatened by her fetus, the fetus should be aborted. But once a portion of the baby has emerged, we may not abort the fetus, because “one may not set aside one person’s life for the sake of another.” The principle behind this ruling is that one may not kill someone who is unjustly pursuing a third party to kill him. Since the fetus, who is not yet considered a “complete” person is “pursuing” the mother in a way that will inevitably result in her death, we may kill it first. But, once it has even partially emerged, it is considered a full-fledge person. Now we are faced with a dilemma…(Eisenberg, D. MD, 2001). The ethical and religious issues are numerous. The ethical reasons questions how scientist can feel it is okay to research on an embryonic cell when as soon as the cell begins to form it is considered by many to be a human being already. The religious issues come into play with this same argument. When discussing ethical issues, or moral philosophy, we are investigating how we can evaluate this behavior in terms of right and wrong, good and bad (Mosser, 2010, pg.37). With that in mind how can killing an embryo be morally right? It would depend on what you consider a baby. The point being when fertilization actually takes place or once the embryo divides and becomes a fetus after a few days. This is where the debate starts for the ethical reason and the religious reasons. The stem cell, once it starts to divide can be considered an abortion and this is why it is a controversial issue. Each individual has a right to be treated with human worthiness no matter what their stage of life is at the time. Abortion is looked at being wrong because it is killing another human being, and they should be treated with human dignity. We should not treat others as a means to an end which is how destroying an embryo can be seen (Outka, 2002, pg. 178). Not only does stem cell research cause many people to get upset and strongly argue their side of their belief, it is a very highly political issue. Political parties make this a very high profile political debate, which is why they have placed regulations on stem cell research. The embryo must be donated from extra eggs that were used for in vitro-fertilization. The eggs are destroyed after research begins and there is no way not to destroy the fertilized egg. Each country looks at this issue many different ways. The United States has been torn on the issue and many religious beliefs get involved in the argument. Most of the Governments seem not to allow the cloning that can take place from this research, but will allow the eggs to be researched on as long as they have complete consent from the donors.
My Stand Before stating this paper, I did not know which side of the debate I actually would agree with. I am still unsure, but I have learned much more about the issue and I am able to determine that I have mixed feelings over the debate. One ethical theory that can be looked at for this argument can be deontology ethics. This would ignore the fact that the consequence of the act could be right or wrong, but takes into account that all acts have a consequence and that consequence should not play a role in evaluating the morality of something. This focuses on the will of the person carrying out the act (Mosser, 2010, pg. 42). Basically, saying the will of the researcher and his attention in carrying out the act and the duties and obligations one has in carrying out this task. Kant makes a good point about all people being treated with respect and not objects (Mosser, 2010, pg. 43). If you look at this rule for categorical imperative, then an embryo, that is considered a person, should be given respect and not just created as a means to an end to do research. Researchers that are only allowed to work on the extra embryos those parents donate after in vitro-fertilization, what’s to say they do not make “extra” on purpose just so they can experiment on them. They are already planning for the end goal and are only creating these eggs to be able to experiment on them. This shows no respect for what that embryo could become. Being that there are alternatives like using adult skin cells, I would think we need to look at this aspect a little further. I know that abstracting the cells can be very painful for a person, but if we have volunteers that do this to see if they are a match for someone, can they not use those cells to experiment with. They can pull a little extra and use those, this way we have a consenting adult and we are respecting them because they are consenting to the cells being abstracted. This would keep from killing another human being. The benefit of using your own adult cells for treatment can be there is less tissue rejection and everyone is does agree with this concept (Outka, 2002, pg. 180). There is no evidence that the embryonic cells can only have clinical advantages that the adult cells do not. This is one reason we cannot morally allow embryonic stem cells from being experimented on. We are using something that does not have a major advantage over other options for the experiments and research. Liberal Catholics feel that researchers can use the embryo for research as long as it is within a certain timeframe because they feel the embryo is not a fetus until the cell begins to individualize. Once the cells individualize then it is morally wrong to kill the cell. This is normally within the first 14 days of the cells development. The donors must have safeguards in place where they cannot specify who the therapeutic treatment will be used for and that they cannot be used for reproductive cloning. Many people work with fertility doctors and they have their extra frozen in case they need them later in life. Researchers know that many of these are just left to be forgotten about or just discarded. They feel instead of them going to waste they should be able to use these cells to be experiment with. I see the point they are making, but it still does not make it right for the cells to be experimented because that egg has the potential of being human and we should keep in mind that every human being deserves respect. A doctor should not create something, just so that it can be destroyed even if they feel it is for the greater good. It seems that most of the controversy is around using stem cells to clone another human being. Many countries have put in place laws that stop this kind of experimentation from taking place. Ever since scientists cloned the first animal there has been a fear that they will clone a human being. This is such a unknown territory and is not considered the correct way for a child to be born, not just only as a religious belief, but as an actual human existence. Cloning messes with the natural conception of a human being and should not be messed with. I believe that if you are going to mess with the natural steps of creation then you are messing with God and this should not be allowed. God places us on this earth for specific reasons and it is not one to destroy what he has created. I have a strong belief in God and feel that we should respect his creations and we do not need to try making our own creations.
Conclusion
Having many people believe that killing another human is wrong brings in moral and ethical issues. I have brought up both sides of the ethical issues showing why we should do the research and why we should not do the research. Even though stem cell research has taught us about how cells are formed and have given us ways to experiment with drugs without being on a human. It still brings up many questions about the treatment and respect of that potential human life. There are other alternatives that can be used in the experiments to learn about cell splitting and how they can repair dead tissue. Using the alternatives seems to be a better choice than taking a life of a fetus. Even though there is much debate on when the cells actually are considered to be an individual human. There are some scientists that feel that the adult stem cells have a better chance of being tolerated than embryonic stem cells and should be used instead. Studying and researching this topic has opened up my eyes to many different arguments over this topic. I still feel that it is wrong to create a fertilized egg just so it can be destroyed even if couples donate their extra eggs. Doctors can and will take advantage of this and will create more than what they need. Dealing with this argument does bring other issues into light, but the ethical and moral issues of experimenting with stem cells to help create better advances to help cure diabetes and disease like Parkinson’s or spinal or neck injuries may be better suited using adult cells for the possibility of less chance of rejecting the treatment.
References
Eisenberg, D. MD. (2001). Is the destruction of preexisting pre-embryos permitted for stem research? Retrieved on June 18, 2010 from http://www.aish.com/ci/sam/48969936.html
Hyun, I. (2008).Stem Cells from Skin Cells: The Ethical Questions. Hastings Center Report, 38(1), 20- 22. Retrieved on June 18, 2012 from EBSCOhost.
Mosser, Kurt. (2010). A concise introduction to philosophy. Bridgepoint Education, Inc.: San Diego, CA
Outka, G. (2002). The Ethics of Human Stem Cell Research. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 12(2), 175-213. Retrieved on June 28, 2012 from Project Muse DOI: 10.1353/Ken.2002.0012.
Stem Cell Basics:What are the unique properties of all stem cells?In Stem Cell Information. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2012 from http://www.stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics/1.
Soler, L. & Haas. J. (2001). Is stem-cell research ethical? New York times Upfront. 134(3), 32. Retrieved on June 18, 2012 from ProQuest document ID: 82437246