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
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
765 Words | 4 Pages

Writer of "Perils and Promise: Destroy an Embryo, Waste a Life" , is U.S Representative Christopher H. Smith (Smith). Smith's article topic is about the research done using embryonic stem cells and destroying the embryo after instead of just using adult stem cells for research. He persuades his opinion to the reader in an extremely strong and aggressive tone. Smith makes excellent use throughout his article of all three elements of Pathos: appeals to fear and concern, appeals to emotion, and appeals to emotions and the need for self-esteem.

Read More
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
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
558 Words | 3 Pages

“Fetal Tissue Fallout, R. Alta Charo, J.D., September 3, 2015” In this article R. Alta Charo states that we have a right to use fetal tissue for research and therapy (Fetal Tissue, 1) The article goes into how a lot of people find this to be a moral issue and a matter of the conscience and explains how the antiabortion activist that don’t agree with the research are actually benefitting from the fetal tissue. They argue that the research supports abortions but have taken part in receiving vaccines and therapy that comes from the research. R. Alta Charo begins by talking about the argument over the antiabortionist activist who pretended to be a research company representative and gave out false, edited information from a Planned Parenthood video that goes over the services they provide.

Read More
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
1614 Words | 7 Pages

Many questions arise when discussing such controversial issues (Jaenisch et al.). Some of these questions include "the central, apparently unresolvable issue of the moral status of the human embryo, which raises questions about which perspectives should govern appropriate pluralistic policy" (Jaenisch et al.). There are also questions as to how to weigh the "possible scientific breakthroughs" with the "less quantifiable values and perspectives" (Jaenisch et al.). While there are decent arguments on how the copying of a human being could be

Read More

More about Controversy: Embryonic Stem Cell Debate

Related Topics

Open Document