Anti Stem Cell Research, Research Paper Example

Opposition to stem cell research

Stem cells are essentially the ‘utility and repair units’ which the body incorporates in order to maintain and regenerate those vital organs and tissues during a period of human life. Most of the stem cells are extracted from adult bone marrow and in certain cases umbilical cord blood.  These have been extensively used in the treatment of different cancers. These new scientific concepts have resulted in a certain amount of controversy from mainly religious and social conservatives. The main objections seem to arrive from the concept of genetic engineering and cloning. It is the pre-embryo stems cells removed from humans and the process of extracting these cells that religious factions have termed as murder.  (Nisbett, p131-154).

Opponents to this research have not really offered any valid scientific arguments and these are in the most emotive reactions.  The benefits this offers may evolve into literally hundreds of possible different treatments for life threatening diseases.  People like John Robertson and the National Bioethics Advisory Committee (NBAC) have failed to produce convincing ethical arguments to stop this line of research.  The main attack has been simply to dismiss the line of research  on moral and religious grounds.  It is considered that the key decision making criteria should be based with the medical community but there will undoubtedly be political implications.  (McGee, p151-158)

Embryo contains human DNA

One of the arguments of the opposition relates to the fact that human embryo’s contain human DNA.  As such the researchers are extracting eggs from young women for cloning purposes.  This also involves the use of new drugs  which it is claimed have not been adequately studied.   This in turn may expose these young women to unaccepted risks. In addition it is held that a conflict of interests exist in that there is misleading information that inaccuraytely describes the research goals and as such promotes the commercial exploitation of women. (Diane Beeson, p573-579). The concept of extracting materials that contain DNA is relative to extracting living tissues of humans and argued as tantamount to murder.  It is the argument that although such tissue that may be extracted from aborted fetuses may be construed as morally correct , the concept of extracting stem cells from embyos, kills the embros, and raises the ethical and moral dilemma of using such human materials in order to save the lives of others.  The scientific viewpoint and medical standpoint is that without such technological advances we run the risk,  of serious life threatening diseases like Cancer, claiminmg more human lives that otherwise might have been saved.  As such it is counterproductive to attempt to halt such research or the funding to continue same. (Robertson, p109-136)

In 1999 the President of the USA ( Bill Clinton) expressed his personal views on the subject of the use of Embryos and stem cell research.  Equally this was passed to the then Director of NIH Harold Varmus who stated  that Federal funds should not be used for research that destroys human embryos or cells. At this time there seemed a lack of clarity and clear definition between that of embryo and stem cell research. As such there did not appear to be any clear legal definition and interpration of the two.  The pro argument raged on about the relief and saving of human suffering in otherwise potentially uncurable diseases, whereas the anti lobby stated that it was not morrally acceptable  to destroy embros that contain the blueprint of human life no msatter what the cost.  (Suzanne Holland, p38-40).

Unethical

Being a morale person is to be guided by a sense of personal ethical standards and to live within the confines of the law and your religion.  This means respecting the rights of others and being equitable in your affairs with people.  Success often is born from opposite morale values like bending the legal framework to your own advantage (manipulative) and disregarding the rights or concerns of others putting your own self-interests first.  Obtaining personal ethics is really to define who you are as a person i.e. one of substance and integrity or self-centered and manipulative.  Establishing your ethical framework may be obtained at an early age by becoming involved with social clubs, communities, sporting events etc.  It is good to be competitive provided you retain a sense of personal balance and you do not become obsessive about it. Life offers many other facets that are equally rewarding, nurses being an example of people who find a great deal of satisfaction by helping others whilst retaining a healthy ambition to succeed at their job.

The concept of acceptance of stem cell and embryonic research shifted towards the end of the 1990’s when more direct questions were being addressed on the medical research ethical and moral grounds of the experiments that were being carried out.  This paradigm shift was based upon two factors: (1) that stem cell research was more acceptable than embryonic research that crossed the frontier into the use, manipulation and exploitation of living tissue (DNA). (2)  The origins of the embryos and the considered concept of therapeutic cloning. (Banchoff)

The concept of intervention from an ethical stand-point is really based upon the premise of someone doing harm to another.  Personal intervention is based upon an assessment where someone needs help and you can make a difference without incurring personal injury or making the current situation complex or worse.

Works Cited

Banchoff, Thomas. “Embryo Politics: Ethics and Policy in Atlantic Democracies.” Banchoff, Thomas. Embryo Politics: Ethics and Policy in Atlantic Democracies. New York: Cornell University Press, 2004. Chapter 3 refers.

Diane Beeson, Abby Lippman. “Egg harvesting for stem cell research: medical risks and ethical problems.” Reproductive Bio-medicine, Vol 13 Iss 4 (2006): 573-579.

McGee, Glenn. “The Ethics and Politics of Small Sacrifices in Stem Cell Research.” Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal – Volume 9, Number (1999): 151-158.

Nisbett, Matthew C. “Public Opinion About Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning.” Public Opinion Quarterly (2004): 131-154.

Robertson, John A. “Ethics and Policy in Embryonic Stem Cell Research.” Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal – Volume 9, Number 2 (1999): 109-136.

Suzanne Holland, Karen Lebacqz. “The human embryonic stem cell debate: science, ethics, and public policy.” Suzanne Holland, Karen Lebacqz. The human embryonic stem cell debate: science, ethics, and public policy. Boston MA: MIT Press, 2001. 38-40.