Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

One of the most controversial topics in the media today is the question of the morality of research on human embryonic stem cells. According to a Gallup poll taken in May of 2010, 59% of Americans believed medical research using stem cells obtained from humans was morally acceptable, where 32% believed it was morally wrong. (Saad) This will always be a difficult issue for me to take sides on. There are so many arguments for and against and so many ethical theories that support and oppose it. I am going to try to touch on a few of these theories and how they apply to the research done on human embryonic stem cells.

Human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research involves removing tissue from the aborted embryo to get cells to study. This research can potentially help treat Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Stroke, Diabetes (Type 1), Birth Defects and Spinal Cord Injuries. I can also help replace or repair damaged organs, reduce risk from transplantation and play a major role in the treatment and prevention of cancer. (Experiment-Resources.com)

The argument that states that HESC research is unethical is this: It is morally wrong to kill innocent human beings; the human embryo is considered an innocent human being; so it is morally wrong to kill the human embryo. (Siegel) Within this statement lies the question, when does a human life begin to exist? The standard view of those who oppose HESC research is that a human being begins to exist with the emergence of the one-cell zygote at fertilization. (Siegel) So according to this view, all HESC research should be ended because all HESC’s are human beings.

The ruling by the government has changed over the years. President Obama reintroduced a bill to amend the Public Health S...

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Saad, Lydia. "Four Moral Issues Sharply Divide Americans." Gallup.Com - Daily News, Polls, Public Opinion on Government, Politics, Economics, Management. Gallup, 26 May 2010. Web. 17 June 2011. .

Siegel, Andrew. "Ethics of Stem Cell Research (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University Metaphysics Research Lab, 25 Apr. 2008. Web. 17 June 2011. .

"Stem Cell Research - Pros and Cons." The Scientific Method, Science, Research and Experiments. Experiment-Resources.com, 2008. Web. 17 June 2011. .

Thiroux, Jacques P., and Keith W. Krasemann. Ethics: Theory and Practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.