As growing knowledge of stem cells continues,
some ethical controversies are raised by people, including both researchers and
communities. Some claim that the research is unethical to experiment on the
cells because they are taken from cells that have the potential to grow into
complete human beings. Others fear that such research could put medicine on an
ethical controversy in which unborn humans are harvested for cells. The
discussion about ethics of this research exists in history starting from the
1970s. From 1978 until 1994, the federal government has banned the use of
federal funds for human embryo research because of the ethical issues caused by
this research. Then in 1994 the use of federal funds for stem cell research was
allowed when the Human Embryo Research Panel presented a report to the National
Institutes of Health suggesting that stem cell research is acceptable as long
as embryos are not created expressly for research purposes (Wright).
The ethical concerns about the
stem cell research surround the source of the cells and their potential
applications. Some argue that it is unethical to use human embryonic stem cells
by killing an embryo after obtaining them because human life has not been
respected during this process (Skene).
Some people question whether this research is still necessary and valuable when
its scientific benefits are compared with its moral issues. Even stem cell
research can potentially bring our society huge medical and economic benefits,
opponents still insist that the stem cell research as well as its application
should be limited under a certain level;
not being regarded as killings of embryos. Besides this, some people
think that religion is another big issue that makes stem cell research
unacceptable. According to a study conducted by KRC Research, which is a
full-service opinion and marketing firm, among the people who view the stem
cell research from religious perspective only about one third of them approve
of this research (Wright). This is far
less than those that view from a health perspective. However, majority of researchers and
consumers still approve of stem cell research despite ethical concerns.
Proponents with professional knowledge of stem cell support the research by
claiming that since scientists have not killed the cells, only changed their
fate, it is ethical to use them, and proponents who do not know too much about
stem cells simply support it because of its huge medical benefits. According to
the data given by KRC Research, even though most people believe the stem cell
research raises moral and ethical concerns, more than half of them still choose
to support this research. Additionally, some proponents refute the opponents by
asking them will they still critique stem cell research when they get the
disease that can only be treated by stem cell therapies.
reference:
Skene, Loane. "Recent Developments in Stem Cell Research: Social,
Ethical, and Legal Issues
for the Future."
Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies 17.2 (2010): 211-44. ProQuest. Web.27 Mar. 2013.
Wright, Shirley J.
"Human Embryonic Stem-Cell Research: Science and Ethics." American Scientist 87.4 (1999): 352-61.ProQuest. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.
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