Embryonic Stem Cells Ethics

Words: 888
Pages: 4
Open Document
.

The issue with ethics stemming from differing views and morals

Embryonic stem cell research and therapy:
As aforementioned, stem cells can be embryonic, adult or induced pluripotent. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the process used to acquire embryonic cells. These are taken before they would usually have been implanted into the uterus for baby development. The origin of these particular stem cells is the cause for the controversy and arguments on ethics. These embryonic cells could have been further developed into children and some consider it as stealing a life or ending the life of a potential human being. This view however is disputed amongst religions and cultures as well as different individual’s morals. The main concern over …show more content…
Conservative Christians believe that as soon as conception occurs, the embryo is considered to be a person. Some believe that embryos have the same ‘interests and rights’2 as a live person and that these aspects should be respected. According to this perspective, destruction of an embryo for research or therapy is ‘tantamount to murder’3. This opposes the views prevalent in Judaism and Islam. Here they believe that the embryo is not a human until 40 days after conception. These religions believe that within that 40 day period it is acceptable to use the embryo for stem cell therapy and abortion whereas other religions or sects are completely against the notion. As well as religious views, these embryos aren’t just taken from couples around the world, information needs to be provided to the parents of this embryo and their approval needs to be received before any treatment or research can occur. In addition, when a couple tries to have a child through IVF, multiple embryos can be used to try and be successful; the embryos have already been fertilised and if they were not to be used for medical purposes, they would need to be discarded nonetheless. Despite what a person’s religion may believe, it depends …show more content…
This process uses allogeneic stem cell transplants from the sibling of the patient. Although her embryo was not used for stem cell therapy, she was conceived purely to provide stem cell transplants, blood and eventually her kidney. This form of treatment also suffers criticism from ethics. In cases like Anna, she did not have a choice but to provide for her sister. This takes away a certain lifestyle from a child and although it isn’t explicitly stealing away a life like in the case of embryonic cells, it takes away the ability to live like a normal child. A saviour sibling like this suffers from a range of medical issues as well. It can be argued that this is also taking away the life from a child and people like Anna Fitzgerald will have to be cautious for the rest of their life because of their delicate health. This notion of saviour siblings can either work out for the family and their existing sibling or can go downwards and be unsuccessful. This inflicts psychological impacts on the child and the whole family if it doesn’t turn out the expected way. Overall, saviour siblings can be extremely helpful and potentially lifesaving to their elder sibling. But the amount of risks and side effects may overthrow the number of positives in this case; however this view like with embryonic cells is different between various
Show More

Related Documents: Embryonic Stem Cells Ethics

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ethics

Embryonic stem cell research, which has the ability and opportunity to be a platform for numerous medical breakthroughs in the never ending puzzle of the human body, involves the intentional altering of a human embryo in it’s developmental stages, thus effectively changing the genome of the future male or female, for various reasons. When viewed through the eyes of the practical audience, embryonic stem cell research is a truly revolutionary process that should not only be allowed to be applied,…

Words 883 - Pages 4

Embryonic Stem Cells: The Ethical Question

Embryonic Stem Cells: The Ethical Question Jeduthun Zang What You Need to Know ● Embryonic stem cells are used in an attempt to advance the technology of organ transplantation ● Acquired from human embryos and fetuses after abortions ● Can derive into 220 different cell types of the human body (“Embryonic Stem Cells”) ● Said to be the foundation of human cloning in the near future Pros ● Could help humans treat various diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Diabetes (“Stem Cell Research”)…

Words 336 - Pages 2

Stem Cells Essay

Medical Ethics Research Paper In the field of medical ethics, there is one topic in today’s society that attracts a lot of controversy whenever it is brought up. This topic is that of the research on embryonic stem cells for medicines of the future. Stem cell research is something that has been around for quite some time but in the last two decades, the use of embryos for stem cells has grown substantially causing much disagreement amongst many people. It is not the practice of using stem cells…

Words 1886 - Pages 8

Stem Cell Research Ethics

Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research This paper presents a philosophical look at the ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. It investigates the morality, ethics and religious concerns of Embryonic Stem Cell research and the proper alternatives that can be used. Before being able to decide the morality of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, one must know what Embryonic Stem Cell Research actually is. First off, a Stem Cell is a biological cell that is found in multicellular organisms. They have…

Words 768 - Pages 4

Stem Cell Research Essay

In the early 1980s, scientists at Johns Hopkins University and researchers at the University of Wisconsin isolated and grew stem cells from human embryos. This discovery ushered in a new era of political, religious and ethical controversy (Clemmitt). In discussions of the use of federal funding on embryonic stem cell research, opponents often claim that the government should not conduct research on something that they consider to be ethically wrong. President Obama himself states, “Many thoughtful…

Words 2944 - Pages 12

Pros And Cons Of Regenerative Medicine

nowadays for our cells, organs and tissues repair and replacement normal function. Hence demands increase in population for organ transplantation. Research has conducted for recent and alternative therapies. Regenerative Medicine can medicate few cells that were damage due to agedness and congenital defects. In addition stem cell has a regenerative medicine; it regenerates, repairs, and restores functionality. Regenerative medicine has a cure to failing or damage tissues. Stem cell increase years to…

Words 974 - Pages 4

Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Life And Death Or Spin And Hype

has not yet been used by Democrats to describe the capability of human embryonic stem cell research, but vice presidential candidate John Edwards came close in a speech made the day after the death of Christopher Reeve. Republicans have countered by implying one of the Ten Commandments “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13) in their condemnation of this controversial research. The debate now taking place about embryonic stem cell research is becoming one of the most divisive issues in society with…

Words 1884 - Pages 8

Essay on Adult Stem Cells

Adult stem cells, also known as somatic stem cells, are unnamed cells found throughout the body that have the potential to divide into different cells to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues. Adult stem cells can be found in both children and adults. The research and therapy in adult stem cell does not require the destruction of an embryo unlike that of embryonic stem cells. Consequently, adult stem cell research is the less controversial of the two. It is a known fact that both areas…

Words 490 - Pages 2

Stem Cell Research With Human Embryos Essay

Stem Cell Research With Human Embryos Your Name Aultman College ENG 105 Hybrid, College Composition I 10520 Ms. Lyn Sabino Date Stem Cell Research With Human Embryos Abstract In vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles often include ovarian stimulation to produce multiple mature oocytes and, therefore, multiple embryos for transfer, although often only 1 to 2 are used, but never more than 4. Cryopreservation can increase a patients chance to have other IVF procedures in the future. However, patients…

Words 1952 - Pages 8

Embryonic Stem Cell Speech

and today I will discuss the embryonic stem cell controversy under the topic of the world of science. Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells, that can be differentiated into one or more specialized cells, or through mitosis can produce more stem cells. There are two types of stem cells that are used broadly, which are embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, where adult stem cells, are found in a range of tissues…

Words 1107 - Pages 5