Ethics of Stem Cell Research

[andrewjameswatt]

Hi All

I have been thinking a lot recently about the ethics of stem cell research and whether it is morally correct.

Stem Cells are crucial to develop organisms. They are non specific cells which exist as a potential to create other cells these are often referred to as blank cells, these cells ultimately grow to become tissue, muscle or blood cells.

Research of Stem Cells is used for investigation of primitive cells which develop organisms. Tests are performed in labourites to investigate key properties of cells.

These cells can be taken and be used grow new cells that could ultimately cure diseases and illnesses.

The obvious pros of this types of research is the possible cure of several diseases such as Alzheimer's, Heart Diseases, Birth Defects, Spinal Cord injuries or may even play a major role in curing cancer.

However, some people may argue that this level of cellular research is messing with human life and 'playing God'.

I would be interested in hearing your personal opinions on whether this is morally right or wrong as I understand both sides of this argument, but I can't make my mind up.

Many Thanks

Andrew

 

[Encyclopedia]

As an atheist, the playing god argument holds zero value. I'm all for it, because the potential benefits are tremendous. If you think about all the suffering it could eliminate the answer becomes very clear. I cannot fathom why one would oppose it.

 

[Borna12345]

as an atheist, the playing god argument holds zero value. I'm all for it, because it's potential benefits are tremendous. If you think about all the suffering it could eliminate the answer becomes very clear. I cannot fathom why one would oppose it.

+1

 

[andrewjameswatt]

As an atheist, the playing god argument holds zero value. I'm all for it, because it's potential benefits are tremendous. If you think about all the suffering it could eliminate the answer becomes very clear. I cannot fathom why one would oppose it.

I suppose another good argument exists apart from the 'playing God' notion is; because of the use of embryonic stem cells for research ultimately involves destroying blastocysts formed in a lab from fertilised human eggs.

If you believe live begins at conception the blastocyst is a human life and to destroy human life is generally unacceptable and immoral.

 

[Encyclopedia]

I suppose another good argument exists apart from the 'playing God' notion is; because of the use of embryonic stem cells for research ultimately involves destroying blastocysts formed in a lab from fertilised human eggs.

If you believe live begins at conception the blastocyst is a human life and to destroy human life is generally unacceptable and immoral.

Except that there are other ways to do it without harming an embryo.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13170-stem-cell-breakthrough-leaves-embryos-unharmed.html

 

[TankAss95]

The objective of any society is to maximise human flourishing and minimise discomfort while recognising and upholding the unalienable human rights which we all enjoy. If it makes people better, and we know enough about it, I'm all for it.

 

[andrewjameswatt]

Except that there are other ways to do it without harming an embryo.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13170-stem-cell-breakthrough-leaves-embryos-unharmed.html

Thanks Encyclopedia, I never realised that was possible!

 

[Encyclopedia]

The objective of any society is to maximise human flourishing and minimise discomfort while recognising and upholding the unalienable human rights which we all enjoy. If it makes people better, and we know enough about it, I'm all for it.

In other words, you're for it.

 

[PeterJB]

the objective of any society is to maximise human flourishing and minimise discomfort while recognising and upholding the unalienable human rights which we all enjoy. If it makes people better, and we know enough about it, i'm all for it.

+1

 

[TankAss95]

In other words, you're for it.

Absolutely.

Stem cell research is an exciting development in healthcare which will be majorly beneficial. We obviously have to be careful with what we are doing though.

 

[CMvan46]

Well I am certainly for it. I see no reason to be against it.

Stem cells are, at this point, the only potential cure for the disease I have. I'm really hoping they make major advancements with Stem Cell research because at this point the only way to be eligible for treatment for them is if I was close to dying from the disease and have tried all other forms of treatment first. Oh and it costs $200 000.

I can't wait to see what they can do down the road and I hope it's within my lifetime that it becomes standard practice to use them.

 

[orimarc]

However, some people may argue that this level of cellular research is messing with human life and 'playing God'.

Well, pardon my language but that's bollocks.

Humans have done a lot of things that could be called "playing god". See flying, the Internet, going to the bloody moon, etc.

This is just one more or those things. It will help people so I don't see any reason to be opposed to it.

 

[Omnis]

Thanks Encyclopedia, I never realised that was possible!

Had we relied on embryos alone, stem cell research would have been stymied. Induced pluripotency was a huge deal that opened the floodgates for a lot of what is being developed today.

There are a few podcasts you can subscribe to if you want to learn more.

 

[nobuffalo]

This is just one more or those things. It will help people so I don't see any reason to be opposed to it.

Helping people shouldn't be your only criteria for being for something. You can kill me and use my organs to help people but that doesn't make it right.

 

[PeterJB]

Well, pardon my language but that's bollocks.

Humans have done a lot of things that could be called "playing god". See flying, the Internet, going to the bloody moon, etc.

This is just one more or those things. It will help people so I don't see any reason to be opposed to it.

He means playing God in the sense of tampering with the sanctity of life. Not going into space.

 

[sesselpupser]

I'm pretty sure that a huge number of the people who say it's wrong would change their tune should they or someone they love contract a disease or suffer an injury where stem cell research is the only hope for a cure. That's not to say I'd ever wish something like that on a person, it's just an observation. It's like this one family I knew who were deeply homophobic, then their daughter came out and told them she was a lesbian and now they're completely the opposite... If there's no harm in it then there's really no convincing argument against it, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Encyclopedia]

Helping people shouldn't be your only criteria for being for something. You can kill me and use my organs to help people but that doesn't make it right.

But no one needs to die. As I stated earlier in the thread.

 

[nobuffalo]

I'm aware of that. As long as the embryos are not being harmed I can't find any real reason to be opposed to it. Question though, where do the embryos come from? Are they being used just for this purpose and although not being harmed or killed are they left in a jar until they just die? Or are they being used to impregnate woman or whatever? I'm pretty ignorant to the matter.

Edit: Just read your article posted again and it say the embryos can develop normally.

 

[Encyclopedia]

I'm aware of that. As long as the embryos are not being harmed I can't find any real reason to be opposed to it. Question though, where do the embryos come from? Are they being used just for this purpose and although not being harmed or killed are they left in a jar until they just die? Or are they being used to impregnate woman or whatever? I'm pretty ignorant to the matter.

To leave them in a jar until they die would be to kill them wouldn't it?
I don't know the details but I assume there's ways to do it without removing the fetus from the womb.

 

[nobuffalo]

In my opinion, yes, but I could imagine people claiming otherwise.

 

[GT_Jwolf]

To leave them in a jar until they die would be to kill them wouldn't it?
I don't know the details but I assume there's ways to do it without removing the fetus from the womb.

They are never in the womb to begin with. All eggs that were collected for early stem cell research came from fertility clinics that were already set to be disposed of.

Also, once the eggs were collected, they were fertilized and the stage when they harvest the stem cells is only a few days after the fertilization I believe when the embryo is more of a zygote state than anything.

 

[Encyclopedia]

They are never in the womb to begin with. All eggs that were collected for early stem cell research came from fertility clinics that were already set to be disposed of.

Also, once the eggs were collected, they were fertilized and the stage when they harvest the stem cells is only a few days after the fertilization I believe when the embryo is more of a zygote state than anything.

I see. Thank you for the information. 👍

 

[BubbleBelly542]

Sorry to bump this after being inactive for so long, but I really think people against stem cells need to consider a few things. For those think it's murder, fine, you are removing it from it's natural environment, but if put on a human it will grow and still be alive. You're telling me if a man was dying and could be saved by stem cells, you'd wish him to die rather than put some undeveloped cells in his body? Wow, that's cruel.

Now, I'm not an expert on the subject, I'm sure I'm wrong on something, please correct me.

 

[Omnis]

The embryonic issue has been circumvented by new science.