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Do the advantages of stem cell research outweigh the disadvantages
Stem cell research and ethical issues surrounding the topic
Controversy of stem cell research
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Embryonic stem cell research is a highly debated and a very controversial topic in the United States. There is a plentiful amount of benefits that could come from it. With stem cells researched we could make the lives of people who have illnesses and diseases sufficiently better. However the way you get stem cells is the most controversial part. In order to get them it requires the destruction of the human embryo. This is why the United States governments have tried to restrict stem cell research. In certain presidencies they have succeeded to restrict it, making further research of stem cells more difficult. When you look at all the things stem cells can do for a human being it is pretty obvious that they are very beneficial to us. However to get a stem cell it requires the destruction of a human embryo which is the biggest issue. When the stem cell is removed from the human embryo this is when it destroys it, making it unable to further develop (On human embryos and medical research, 2001). Stem cell research is an all-around studying of adult stem cells, neural stem cells, and cord blood stem cells (Stem cell Therapies, ND). The first researcher to successfully isolate a human embryonic stem cell was James A. Thomson at the University of Wisconsin (Stem cells seeds of hope, 03). Also in 1998, two independent teams of US scientists successfully isolated and cultured stem cells obtained from embryos (On human embryos and medical research, 01). Scientists refer to embryonic stem cells as pluripotent meaning that each has a capacity to develop into any kind of cell in a human body (Stem cells the seeds of hope, 03). With more funding for stem cell research we will be able to unlock the infinitive value in the use of e... ... middle of paper ... ...wever it is a very controversial topic in the United States. Many people disagree with stem cell research and also tried to put laws restricting it. In the past under the Bush administration there was in fact laws passed to try to keep embryonic stem cell research from going anywhere. However, the United States is built on the premise that there will be a separation of church and state making the US a secular state. It was written also in the constitution under the First Amendment that says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. In simpler terms this means that we need to keep our religion and religious values out of politics and government. There is no need to try to put restrictions or block embryonic stem cell research when the pros of the concept heavily out-weight the cons of it.
Stem cell research has always been a widely debated topic in 'social and political forums' ever since the case of Roe vs. Wade in 1973. In that case the Supreme Court gave women the right to have an abortion whether or not they have a medical reason to. Whereas beforehand 'they needed a medical reason'. This "sparked controversy" over stem cell research with aborted fetuses. For many of those in favor of using fetal tissue for research it has too much "potential" in the future of medicine in terms of providing cures for diseases and "". Those against fetal tissue research believe it unethical to take one human life in order to preserve another.
Over the past decade scientist and the U.S government have been debating about funds for stem cell research (SCR), the amount spent depends on who is in office. The Democratic Party fully supports SCR, but the Republican Party somewhat opposes the concept of SCR, arfuing it violates the Christian principle of life. As a result, this topic is considered controversial, but also beneficial if allowed. Despite the controversy, SCR should be well funded for medicinal use, because blank stem cells (SC) can be used to regenerate bones and muscle tissue, they can be used to control or even reverse neurodegenerative disease, and because they can be used for therapeutic cloning.
Stem cell therapy is a controversial topic that falls on the list of things not to discuss over thanksgiving dinner, very much like religion and politics. While the potential of stem cell research and therapy stand to make leaps of progression in cures for disease like Cancer and Alzheimer’s; Pros, Cons and morality still surround the issue.
One of the most heated political battles in the United States in recent years has been over the morality of embryonic stem cell research. The embryonic stem cell debate has polarized the country into those who argue that such research holds promises of ending a great deal of human suffering and others who condemn such research as involving the abortion of a potential human life. If any answer to the ethical debate surrounding this particular aspect of stem cell research exists, it is a hazy one at best. The question facing many scientists and policymakers involved in embryonic stem cell research is, which is more valuable – the life of a human suffering from a potentially fatal illness or injury, or the life of human at one week of development? While many argue that embryonic stem cell research holds the potential of developing cures for a number of illnesses that affect many individuals, such research is performed at the cost of destroying a life and should therefore not be pursued.
...ting embryos specifically for stem cell research should not be allowed. Continued stem cell research will benefit all of mankind with its promise of medical advances. Opponents’ concerns about destroying human life will be quelled because stem cells will be taken from already doomed embryos. The federal government will be able to regulate the research and ensure that it is lawfully conducted.
The conflict surrounding stem cell research is, with ethical consideration, whether it is a good or bad. The majority of Americans are advocates due to the possibilities of medical advancement, thus saving thousands of lives. Those in opposition believe that it is against
The President’s Council on Bioethics published “Monitoring Stem Cell Research” in 2004. This report was written in response to President Bush’s comments regarding research of human stem cells on August 9, 2001. President Bush announced that he was going to make federal funding available for research that involved existing lines of stem cells that came from embryos. He is the first president to provide any type of financial support for the research of human stem cells. A Council was created with people who are educated in the field of stem cells to help monitor the research and to recommend guidelines and consider the ethical consequences that this research could create. This report is an “update” given by the President’s Council in January of 2004 to make the public aware of the significant developments in the science and medical aspects of stem cell research. It also describes the ethical, legal and political implications that stem cell research may create. However, since the research is still in its beginning stages, this “update” does not describe a complete or definitive study of stem cells nor does it provide specific guidelines or regulations. This is a report that is suppose to help the President, Congress and general public make better-informed decisions as to the direction that we should go with stem cells.
...g stem cells destroys potential life, the benefit to the greater good greatly outweighs the destruction of potential life. In a perfect world with an unlimited amount of stem cells all diseases and illnesses could be cured. Those working in the medical world can greatly improve the quality of human life using stem cells. With stem cells, people will live longer, healthier, lives. Many diseases would be completely eliminated. However, only when scientists and doctors fully understand how to implement the embryonic stem cell, can all this happen. When the doctors and scientists have all of the lines they need, then they can cease destroying embryos to obtain the stem cells they require (More Ethical Stem Cells). The biological world and the field of stem cells specifically, require the support of the federal government as well as the people to make all this possible.
A stem cell is a cell in the body that can differentiate into almost any other type of cell in the body. Stem cells come from sites in the bone marrow, as well as the tissues of developing fetuses. The most controversial issue in stem cell therapy is the use of fetuses for their stem cells. Scientists want to clone human embryos, and use the stem cells long before the embryo matures (when it is only about 36 cells). This causes a large amount of unease in society, because people fear that stem cells and therapeutic cloning will lead us into disgusting and horrible experimental practices, as well as therapies. Most people in America do not want this horrible vision of the future to come true, so they want all stem cell technology and research banned.
Stem Cells are cells that scientist have began to try and use to help people. “In the mid 1800s it was discovered that cells were basically the building blocks of life and that some cells had the ability to produce other cells.” With the discovery of stem cells came the opening to a new area of development in what could be done with health and medicine of the world. Of course throughout history, stem cells have been a very heated subject between different groups of people who believe it is right or wrong. Some people believe that this form of research is against ethical or moral values. They too see this as being wrong because they view human embryos as a form of life. These cells are neutral cells that can be turned into any other one that is needed at the time. Stem cells can make more of themselves when they aren’t being used allowing them to be ready when something happens. In the human body, stem cells help repair the tissue that has been broken, torn, or lost. They help fix bones, heal abrasions, and even repair internal organs if needed. Scientist have the ability now to mani...
Religion isn't the only point against stem cell research but the price of these procedures. the reason this is an argumentative point is that because of the price only the rich would receive this treatment. The cost for these would gradually or should gradually decrease as decades go by. another financial point is since World War Two there has been financial problems with the health care system. It would not help that most of the budget and focus has been not on curing it but the major focus has been to controlling
...oll(2010), around 33% of U.S. voters believe that taxpayers’ money should be spent on embryonic stem cell research and more than 50% of the voters disagree that taxpayers’ money should go the research(Roe, 2010). Hence, it is believed that government should not fund the stem cell research.
This belief is wrong. Many countries including the United States have laws regarding embryonic stem cells. The United States has limits on when you can take embryos and there off course has to be consent from the donor of the stem cells. All these regulations are being met and the research is being done safely and in a way that always keeps safety as a first priority. New procedures and uses of stem cells also have to be deemed safe or the risks have to at least be shared before treatment can take place. These regulations make sure stem cells are being used in a safe way and that you know the facts about the way researchers are using
Stem cell research should be allowed on adults but not on humans. Only allowed on humans who are willing to be a part of the stem cell research but no one should be used against their own will. Embryos should not be used for embryonic stem cell research. An embryo being used for their stem cells and then discarded devalues that human life. This follows along the same unethical issue as abortion. When stem cells are removed from human embryos, a unique individual dies. However, if abortion is legal in the state that this research is conducted than research may be conducted on only aborted fetuses. That would be an...
One problem that I think is an issue in the stem cell debate is the destruction of the stem cells and how it’s practically the same thing as destroying a human being. I don’t believe that researchers and scientists should continue using embryonic stem cells for research because we are obviously not finding a cure for human diseases yet although for animals we are, it’s just not right to destroy a human being if we cannot find treatments for major diseases within a decade or so.