ipl-logo

Controversy: Embryonic Stem Cell Debate

577 Words3 Pages

In recent years, several competing viewpoints have emerged about embryonic stem cell research. All of this debate raises an important question, Should embryonic stem cell research be conducted for treatment of present and future diseases? People who believe that an embryo should not be destroyed tend to say that embryonic stem cell research should not be conducted. On the other hand, people who believe that embryonic stem cell research creates means of curing diseases reply that the research should be conducted. Embryonic stem cell research “uses special cells found in three-to-five day old human embryos to seek cures for a host of chronic disease” (PRC). In August 9 2001, President Bush permitted the funding of stem cell lines using embryos …show more content…

People who want to protect the lives of infants say we should not practice embryonic stem research on embryos because they believe it is unethical and they care about the lives of children. Since their beliefs and values differ from those of the religious beliefs and philosophical thinkers, they tend to have different reasons, and they tend to cite different evidence in support of their claim. For example, in “embryonic stem cell debate brings politics ethics to bench” Charles Marwick argues a principal claim in stark contrast to the position held by Glick. Whereas Glick said, “embryonic stem cell is ethical,” Marwick replies, “that embryonic stem cell is unethical.” And Marwick further supports his her principal claim with reasons that reflect his values and beliefs. To convince the audience that embryonic stem cell is unethical, Marwick explains, “ that the research involves the destruction of an embryo.” And to prove that “ a child 's life is important,” he reminds the audience that an embryo is valuable and worth protecting. Marwick’s evidence also reflects his knowledge. When arguing that the research should not be funded, for example, she mentions examples, such as the restriction against funding stem lines. And when putting forward his belief that an embryo is a gift cites Walter, an expert authority on Bioethic. This evidence is very different from that of Glick who tended to cite treatment of sick people when arguing his position that the research should be

Show More
Related

  • Henrietta Lacks Ethical Issues

    300 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the most obvious issues in this book is Henrietta did not give permission for doctors to take her cells. Her story is a prime example of the ethical tradeoffs the scientific community struggles with in pursuit

    Read More

  • Henrietta Lacks Limits

    1322 Words  | 6 Pages

    “In 1999, president Clinton’s National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) issued a report saying that federal oversight of tissue research is “inadequate” and “ambiguous”. It recommended specific changes that would ensure patients’ rights to control how their tissues were being used.” (page 327). Unfortunately, the changes were never made and scientists still have the ability to conduct research on one’s tissues without consent. The reason for why the changes were nullified remain unknown even to Wayne Grody an individual “who was in thick of the debate in the nineties, (for) why the congressional recommendations and NBAC report seemed to have vanished.”.

    Read More

  • Embryonic Stem Cells In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1024 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Mary Shelley’s 19th century novel, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is noble in his effort to help mankind. His scientific Prometheanism is initially meant as a good thing, but has serious negative consequences. Victor wants to bring life back to dead matter so humans, in theory, would not have to die. Similarly, in today’s world, scientists and doctors continually and nobly pursue advancement in the medical world to generate new treatments for sick patients. For example, the medical community today is pursuing embryonic stem cell research to discover cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.

    Read More

  • Embryonic Stem Cell Research Persuasive Essay

    918 Words  | 4 Pages

    Embryonic stem cell research is an exciting area of regenerative medicine because of the probability of enormous potential for finding treatments and cures for debilitating diseases, disabilities, and cancers. The possibilities to learn and understand human growth from researching stem cells could lead toward a future where human suffering is all but eliminated [1]. The reasons that embryonic stem cells are more favorable than any other source of stem cells is because alternative stem cell lines are shorter-lived and do not have the same level of pluripotency. From a utilitarian perspective, the morally favorable option is to use embryonic stem cells from embryos since they are not equivalent to a fully formed human being, stem cells are taken

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research

    884 Words  | 4 Pages

    Presenting on the topic of embryonic stem cell research introduced me to a completely new idea. Before my group and I took on this completely new idea to us, I had a very broad understanding of this form of research and what it could do for the world. Through extensive research by both myself, and my group members, I now have a completely new understanding of the subject, and why there is so much controversy surrounding the subject. To begin the project, each member of the group chose a lens to research.

    Read More

  • The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks By Rebecca Skloot

    1118 Words  | 5 Pages

    The deliberation of bioethics in human cell and stem cell research has flip-flopped altercations between whether stem cell research corrupts the future or if basic ethical uses in clinical research are being held to its standards. The idea of having genetically altered drugs and cells sits with people the wrong way, and with that they have come to the decision that cell research will cause more problems than it stopping them. However, while a majority of people and scientists believe genetic engineering is an evil corruption of nature’s course, genetic engineering has the greatest potential to do something great for our future, but it is our moralistic responsibility to follow the rules of bioethics. The author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research

    1592 Words  | 7 Pages

    With such practice, which does not create ethical problems, more than sixty types of treatments have been developed for blood, corneal and skin transplants (Kaushansky,2016). In addition to this, clinical experiments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, ALS, and Taya-Sachs's (child's) illness continue to look for treatments (Clemmitt,2006). In this case, clinical trials are underway in which in vitro parental stem cells are transplanted for therapeutic purposes to a damaged brain. Although this is not always the best choice, stem-like brain cells, often of fetal origin, can be acquired in the event of a natural abortion, which also excludes possible ethical dilemmas. In the case of embryonic stem cells, the ethical problem is more

    Read More

  • Essay On Embryonic Stem Cell Research

    1254 Words  | 6 Pages

    If money is stolen from a bank and donated to a charity it “would still be wrong regardless of the good achieved’” (Keowen). Even though embryonic

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: The Ethics Of Designer Babies

    1584 Words  | 7 Pages

    Therefore, if two parents are carriers of a certain gene that will disable their child, they can modify that gene to make a child that will not have that disability. As well as some parents will have designer babies to save another child they already have with a certain disease. In this method, parents will choose their child’s blood type and such in order for them to match that other diseased child and potentially give them their blood, marrow, and even organs. Genetically modifying a child’s chance of disease ensures that a child may live a life without potential disease and disability that they may have been more prone to had their parents’ not used this method. This also ensures a healthy life for a child that had a greater potential of having a medical condition due to their parents being carriers of that particular gene.

    Read More

  • Summary Of A Defense Of Abortion Judith Thomson

    1070 Words  | 5 Pages

    In “A Defense of Abortion,” Judith Thomson argues with a unique approach regarding the topic of abortion. For the purpose of the argument, Thomas agrees to go against her belief and constructs an argument based on the idea that the fetus is a person at conception. She then formulates her arguments concerning that the right to life is not an absolute right. There are certain situations where abortion is morally permissible. She believes that the fetus’s right to life does not outweigh the right for the woman to control what happens to her own body.

    Read More

  • Embryonic Research Persuasive Essay

    894 Words  | 4 Pages

    Embryonic research is very fascinating. The embryos have the ability to grow almost anything, which can really advance the medical field to a whole new level. However, the research on the embryos is not federally funded and the stem cell research that was generated from it is about, as far it will go. The arguments used to fight for the research to keep going were both weak and strong. The weakest were the embryos could be experimented with before the 14-day mark because they are not human.

    Read More

  • Stem Cell Research Persuasive Essay

    1440 Words  | 6 Pages

    This amendment declared that no government funding would go towards anything that results in or could cause the destruction of embryos. A few years later, President Clinton asked the NBAC (National Bioethics Advisory Commission) to create an overview of stem cell research as well as an overall opinion on the morality. After discussing, the NBAC declared public support for the research and also advocated for researchers’ ability to use cell lines from embryos left over from infertility

    Read More

  • Lee And George Abortion Analysis

    273 Words  | 2 Pages

    Patrick Lee and Robert George assert that abortion is objectively immoral. One of Lee and George’s main reason for coming to this conclusion is that human embryos are living human beings. This essentially validates that abortion is indeed the process of killing a human. Another main point said by the two is a rebuttal to a common argument used in favor of abortion, which states that a potential mother has full parental responsibilities only if she has voluntarily assumed them. The rebuttal to this was that the potential mother does indeed have special responsibilities to raise the child.

    Read More

  • Stem Cells Argumentative Essay

    775 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the most important arguments to this debate is presented through the scientific lens. Although embryonic stem cells pose enormous potential to treat and cure diseases and conditions, adult stem cells are more effective in treating these conditions. Adult stem cells pose a much lesser risk of forming tumors or not functioning as originally intended (Smith). Adult stem cells are also currently used today, as bone marrow transplants are a form of stem cell treatment (Stem Cells in Use).

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research

    1211 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Stem Cell Controversy What if I told you that scientist are on track of curing diseases such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis? We could end the suffering of thousands, maybe even millions with so called “incurable diseases”. Many diseases can become curable with the potential results of embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cells are stem cells isolated from embryos during a specific age of development known as the blastocyst stage.

    Read More

More about Controversy: Embryonic Stem Cell Debate

Open Document