Hey guys
I'm here to write about the Stem Cell Research and the controversy around it.
In our book on page 31, exercise 1.2 and number 5, the argument states that,
"We should never do anything to disrespect human life. The artificial use
of human cells-as scientist is now doing in stem-cell research-shows a complete
disregard for human life. So Stem cell research is immoral." Steam cell
research in short is taking a few developing and dividing cells (which are
found in the early stages of any multicellular organism) and creating many
alignments. The Stem cell issue is an ethical issue that is similar to that of
abortion and cloning. One side saying that using a developing fetus in research
isn't moral and the baby doesn't have a choice on its life and it is unnatural. And
the other side is saying that using stem cell many lives can be saved. I
believe that the second argument is what I’m agreeing with. Steam Cell Research
will have a major impact by saving and helping many humans. With steam cell
research we are able to create organs and tissues that otherwise have to be
donated or harvested. Imagine someone, let that someone be an armed veteran,
who needs a kidney and isn’t able to get it from the donor list. How are they
going to get it? With stem cell research the person doesn’t have to wait too
long, get critically ill or die because there wasn’t a kidney available. With
steam cell research we can help many autistic children and adults, through more
effective gene therapy. Also the fertility rate will increase, with sterile men
and women who can now have kids. Not all stem cell is using human embryo it can
use the patients bone marrow or spinal fluid to make many treatment. There are
many illness and diseases such as cancer; coronary disease and TB that steam
cell can cure. There are many benefits with stem cells research but what people
seem to be caught up on is the “destruction of human embryo.” To me stem cell
isn’t the destruction of a human because there isn’t any human there but a
whole bunch of cells. So why not use it for the good of the people. Honestly, I
really don’t see a human there. I’m not trying to sound inhumane and telling to
take all human embryos away. But there is a lot of good in steam cell because
it takes a simple idea of just using a few cells to create organs, effective
therapy and fight fatal illness and disease that can have a considerable effect
in the present and future. We shouldn’t overlook great thing that is going to
help many people live healthy and productive lives. Just like abortion, steam
cell research is an ethical issue that is subjective relativism. So it depends
on the individual’s opinion/belief.
I agree with you that stem cell research is important. However, why must it involve the death of unborn babies? There are four types of stem cell research: embryonic, embryonic germ cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and adult stem cells. The germ cells are able to come from miscarriages. Umbilical cord cells are found in umbilical cords, the placenta, and amniotic fluid; the adult stem cells can come from fat from liposuction, tissues, organs, and even from cadavers up to twenty hours after death. Embryonic stem cell research has also been unable to cure anything due to the rapid development of the cells. Additionally, the adult body often rejects the embryonic cells.
ReplyDeletePacholczyk, Tadeusz, Rev. "Arguments Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research - The Public Square." Arguments Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research - The Public Square. The American Policy Roundtable, 2007. Web. 05 Sept. 2014.
So like you said this is a highly debatable topic, and there are many different sides that could be taken on stem cell research, but sometimes I think that we tend to get caught up in the excitement of all the possibilities that could come about from this kind of research, when really we just need to stop, back up and ask ourselves if the benefits of this would truly outweigh all of the possible consequences that may also come along with it. Because of this I think that people tend to miss the idea that; yes, in the end stem-cells may save many people’s lives, but it will possibly harm even more lives trying to reach that final point. In fact, before such a risky system could even become fully approved, a countless number of studies would have to take place to prove that it is, in fact 100 percent effective. With all these different studies being conducted, even more harm may be caused on lives than good that may come of it. Also the fact that stem cells are being used for developing completely new organs truly terrifies me. I mean to me the thought of placing a totally artificial organ (that may or may not work as it should) inside of another human, to replace a part of the body that is so complex and not even fully understood, is a completely foreign thought to me.
ReplyDeleteLastly I just wanted to ask what exactly you mean by this statement, “To me stem cell isn’t the destruction of a human because there isn’t any human there but a whole bunch of cells.” Since, we are all essentially comprised of just “a whole bunch of cells”?