Ethical Implications of Stem Cell Research - Essay Example

Stem Cell Research Ethical Implications of Stem Cell Research A U.S. Company recently reported that it had been able to grow human embryonic cells, using a method that does not harm the embryo, through duplication.(Fox 2007). An earlier study by British scientists had also shown that stem cell research can be used to replicate human eggs and sperm through cloning (Roberts, 2005). Embryonic stem cells can be used to create the earliest stages of eggs and sperm, thereby opening up the possibility of cloning stem cells from an infertile patient and then turn them into the sperm or eggs that are used in In-Vitro-Fertilization procedures in reproductive health care clinics. This represents a significant development in infertility treatment. One of the problems that has been experienced in the area of infertility treatment is the shortage of eggs and sperm availability from voluntary donors and the fact that the anonymity of such donors is no longer being maintained, there are fewer people who are prepared to come forward to donate sperm and embryos required for the In-Vitro-Fertilization process. While some people have hailed this development as good news for couples who are unable to produce their own sperm or eggs, others have pointed out the ethical implications of such procedures. In the words of Matthew O’Gorman, spokesperson of Charity Life, “Destructive research on human embryos erodes respect for the value of human life and must be stopped.” (Roberts, 2005). There is also opposition to the use of stem cell research and the cloning procedure in the health care setting because there is an existing perception that the creation of humans eggs and sperm is primarily intended to solve the shortage of eggs and sperm for use in stem cell research rather than being primarily geared towards helping infertile couples conceive. Susan Holland, the assistant Professor of Religious and Social Ethics at the University of Puget Sound, proposes that the fertility industry requires regulation in order to ensure that cloning techniques are not misused by people who are motivated more by narcissistic considerations. The major ethical issue raised by cloning in stem cell research and the creation of embryos and sperm is the moral status of the human embryo and the disrespect of human life. Stem cells: Stem cells are basically the building block cells of a human being which are capable of becoming 210 different types of tissue. Cells that can continuously divide and differentiate into other kinds of cells/tissues are referred to as stem cells and it is this feature that sets them apart from other cells.(www.godandscience.org). Embryonic stem cells originate from the inner cell of an early stage embryo and possess a far greater potential and usefulness because, unlike adult stem cells, they have the ability to develop into practically all cells present in the body. Adult stem cells only have the ability to develop into a few cell types, however embryonic cells divide unceasingly, offering higher levels of potential. Embryonic stem cells possess the ability to restore defective or damaged tissues which would heal or regenerate organs which have been adversely affected by a degenerative disease. In the area of infertility treatment, they offer enormous potential because there is a shortage of viable eggs and sperm that are available for in vitro fertilization to help infertile couples conceive. Ethical issues: Embryonic stem cell research geared towards the production of additional eggs and sperm uses embryos that are discarded at abortion clinics. Abortion is a contentious issue because of the belief in the sanctity of the life of the embryo and its moral status. The ethical and legal implications associated with the issue of abortion are based upon the destruction of life that exists in the embryo and such services are therefore opposed in principle to stem cell research since it utilizes embryos that have been aborted. (Ferris, 2000). In 1999 alone, more than 850,000 abortions were performed in the U.S. (Elam-Evans et al, 2002). In 2004, a Korean scientist claimed to have created a human cloned blastocyst. (Hwang, 2004). However, this study was later found to be fraudulent, since it had used embryos from a fertilization clinic, and this fraudulent study has cast further doubts upon the viability of human cloning and the cloning of embryonic, human stem cells for use in treating patients. Stem cell research in the infertility setting: On the basis of the above, it may therefore be noted that there are two major ethical issues that rise in the cloning of embryonic eggs and sperm in fertility clinics. The first is the moral status of the fetus and the fact that it has been procured through abortion – a deliberate destruction of the fetus. Moreover, since every human being is unique and has been created as such by the heavenly Creator, it is considered unethical from a moral and religious standpoint to clone life and create duplicates, thereby constituting a disrespect for human life. Secondly, as pointed out by Holland (www.scu.edu), there is the danger of unlimited replication, not all of which may be for beneficial purposes such as alleviating infertility but may be geared towards narcissistic purposes such as immortality or novelty, which constitutes a further disrespect for human life. The easy availability of such techniques would result in what effectively constitutes a commodification of human life. (www.scu.edu) However, in general, the beneficial aspects of cloning have been acknowledged. While there is some ground for the argument that the embryo has a moral status, Nelson, an adjunct associate professor at SCU (www.scu.edu) has argued that embryos may be used for research so long as they are treated respectfully. He has suggested some measures whereby such respect may be demonstrated, for example using only those embryos that have not reached the stage of gastrulation, which is prior to 14 to 18 days of development; by accompanying their destruction with some level of sorrow and utilizing them only if no other resource of avenue appears successful. Moreover, others argue that the use of embryos that have already been discarded does not of itself constitute an unethical use, since they are effectively to be eliminated, yet are serving some useful purpose. Infertile couples go through a great deal of anxiety and years of frustration in their efforts to conceive, and if eggs and sperm can be multiplied for the purpose of aiding such conception, it may constitute a beneficial use. Therefore, in a reproductive clinic, health care practitioner and scientists must utilize stem cell research only in those instances where it appears that there is absolutely no other means that may be used to alleviate human suffering. Wherever an alternative mode of treatment is available, such treatment is to be preferred. References: * Elam-Evans, Laurie D.; Strauss, Lilo T.; Herndon, Joy; Parker, Wilda Y.; Whitehead, Sara; & Berg, Cynthia J. “Abortion Surveillance – United States, 1999.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Atlanta, GA: Center for Disease Control, November 13, 2002. * Ferris, L, 2000. “Legal and Ethical issues in evaluating abortion services.” American Journal of Evaluation, 21(3): 329-340 * Fox, Maggie, 2007. “U.S. Company says grows embryo safe stem cells.” ABC News [online] http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=3307505 * Hwang, W.S. et al, 2004. “Evidence of a pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cell line derived from a cloned blastocyst.” Science, 303 : 1669-1674 * Roberts, Michelle, 2005. “Stem Cell finding offers IVF hope” BBC News [online] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4104680.stm * “Stem cell – definition” [online] http://www.godandscience.org/slideshow/stem002.html * “The Ethics of Human Cloning and Stem Cell research.” [online] http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/cloning.html Read More