An Ethical Approach to Stem Cell Research Imagine for a moment being diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease. Feelings of uncertainty, fear, and concern for the future fill your mind. Once you have been able to absorb the news, you begin to research the condition, wanting to become knowledgeable and prepared for what you are now forced to face. Topics that you are focusing on are; the progression of this disease, treatment plans, and the possibility of a cure. During your research you read an abundance of information regarding stem cell therapy. Primarily the information is presented with embryonic stem cells holding promise for a future cure for Parkinson’s disease. While this information could be considered hopeful to some, you are opposed to the use of embryos in research. Your beliefs on when life begins and protection of all life do not allow you to entertain the possibilities of that research. You are approached by the neurologist who is a vital physician on your treatment team. He informs you that he is conducting a research study on the stem cell …show more content…
The concept of treating patients in this way has been established for more than forty years in treatment for leukemia. Bone marrow (a type of body tissue containing stem cells) is obtained from donors and transplanted into patients. If the transplanted cells come from the patient, rather than a donor, the cells will not be rejected as foreign material by the patient's immune system and the patient will avoid a lifetime of immuno-suppressive drugs, which may have adverse effects. Conditions that might be treated like this include "spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, vision disorders, motor neuron disease and liver diseases," as well as "Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases"