Imagine a case in which a person who has been paralyzed
waist down from because they had an accident like playing a game of football.
This person had been walking all their life until this accident. Don’t you
think this person deservers to walk again? Or take another example were a child
was born with a disability that make the child paraplegic. Doesn’t this child
deserve to walk for the first time? Steam cell research can be used as a
solution. After watch the documentary in class about Steam Cells research I had
one thought why isn’t this research better known and why isn’t it being used to
help lives. Yea I know that steam cell research is very premature but the
procedure has many positive effects for society. It can heal many untreatable
illness and disease that couldn’t be treated before. It helps people with
condition like paralysis now but it could possible cure disorders and
conditions like deafness and blindness. These conditions have no cure now but
imagine what can be done with steam cell research. It can bring hope to ones
who don’t have it. So what is wrong with the way we obtain these cells yea it
is from a developing embryo but it isn’t human yet it just a cluster of cells.
Apparently from what I got out of that video there is an abundance of embryos
in many fertility clinics. So why not use them for the sake of science. I mean
science made possible for many of the services provided by these clinics so why
not give back to science. The stigma’s surrounding stem cell research doesn’t
really help progress for better medical health/procedure, instead it holds it
back. People need to see this research as a way that can dramatically improve
our lives and our future generation. The stigma that this process isn’t natural
should be thrown out of our head. Because to be honest, we as human are getting
far from being natural to being unnatural. As technology advances so do we. We
are accustomed and evolving with every new technological advances. So instead
of looking at steam cell from a very negative standpoint it should be looked at
a positively. Because I see steam cell as a procedure does a greater good for
all and the first step towards a healthier future. So what do you guys think
about steam cell research?
I see what you are saying, but by saying these people "deserve" to walk you are assuming that physical abilities such as walking, seeing, hearing, etc. are mandatory and must be granted to every individual. This is not the case. Yes, all of these things are essential for a fully functioning human being, but are you saying that they are less human because they cannot do certain things? There are thousands of people in the world that have embraced their disabilities as part of who they are and many of them would not choose to have science manipulate their bodies in order to make them "normal" because they would lose a sense of who they are.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the research that is developing from stem cells, it is just that- developing. It has the slight potential of being able to help patients recover, but it will be years before these therapies are fully developed. Science cannot play God, and it cannot cure all injuries and diseases. Yes, the research looks promising and is an inspiration for hope, but there is no guarantee the child that was born as a paraplegic will be able to walk or run like you and I. There are hemispheres of the brain that must develop with our bodies as we grow in order to allow us to function, or else they atrophy just like our muscles and other areas of the brain take over in order to compensate. This research is ground breaking and has the potential to be incredible, but there are some things that science just cannot fix.
Of course, stem cell research has not yet reach it's purpose in science. But looking at the perspective in which it may happen, I will say that this research becoming a reality can be beneficial to certain people with injuries because it will give them the option to undergo the procedure so they can gain that certain ability. I understand that are people who feel as if their disabilities make them who they are. But what about the people who struggle to live with themselves because the certain disability they have. Everyone is different. So, if stem cell research gets to the stage where it is effective then why not give the person with the disability the right to make this decision on their own.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with everything you have written! I think stem cells are a phenomenal breakthrough in science. I think they have the potential to do so much good and their possibilities are almost infinite. It opens up and answers questions that were not even thought possible. I think it is such a shame that there is such a negative connotation brought to stem cell research because of only one type of stem cell. It is unfortunate that often times the entire research gets written off because people just simply don't know enough about it. I think that it would be almost criminal to stop this kind of research, and I believe that unused or otherwise frozen embryos should most certainly be used in this research. It seems only logical.
ReplyDeleteTierney, I'm not against stem cell research. I'm completely for it. I was just playing devil's advocate on behalf of those individuals who DO live full lives with their disabilities and was trying to make a point that we should not pity them, but also learn to embrace their differences. However, for those people that intensely suffer on a daily basis I believe we should try to help them by any means necessary, so I do really hope that stem cell research progresses in the future.
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