Stem Cell Research Outline

Stem Cell Research Essay

On one hand, George W. Bush had a restriction on federal funding for stem cell research. On the other hand, President Obama lifted the restriction on it but the U.S does have a limit on funding for embryonic stem cell research. South Korea is very flexible to it. Germany, Australia, and Italy prohibit and severely restrict research. The main supporters are the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Belgium. There is a lot of controversy on stem cell research. Liberals feel that stem cell research should be allowed. Conservatives think that there should be ban on stem cell research. In order to understand the issue of stem cell research, it is important that we look at how the liberals and conservatives view this very key issue.

One aspect of stem cell research is if it should funded by the federal government. Lucas said in his speech, “It is necessary (and ethical) for the government to fund embryonic stem cell research, which will assist scientists in finding treatments and cures for diseases.” The statement has showed clear liberal values. This is showing trusting of the government as well as federal government control. Adding to the first aspect is that embryonic stem cells cure diseases. According to Student News Daily (par. 1), “Embryonic stem cells have the potential to cure chronic and degenerative diseases which current medicine has been unable to effectively treat.” Liberals are saying they support embryonic stem cell research which leads to the value of change and innovation. They believe that embryonic stem cells have the potential to cure many diseases. Liberals see that medicine at the moment does not dramatically treat diseases which is why they support embryonic stem cell research. Lucas also said in his

Conservatives believe that we should have unregulated economic freedom as well as regulated socio-moral freedom. In the same way, conservatives feel that embryonic stem cell research should not be funded by the government. In my own speech, I said that the National Right to Life News stated that, President Bush had a strategy of prohibiting government funding for stem cell research and funding a more ethical way of stem cell research. This shows the value of trusting business over the government. Since Bush was a conservative he believes that the more ethical way of stem cell research is to fund and use adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem cells. Adding on to that example, conservatives believe life begins at conception. I also said in my speech that Gale said, “ People strongly believe that human life begins at fertilization and that even small embryos are genetically unique individuals who should be treated with the same moral status as human beings.” This evidence is showing values of stability and status quo. Conservatives do not want to change the fact of using human embryos to benefit others because they value individualism. Conservatives believe that when we take an embryonic stem cell for research it is just like taking a person and doing research on the person without their consent. The last indication is that Michael Fumento, “adult stem cells routinely treat or cure 80 different diseases,