What are two ethical problems with stem cell research?

Answer 1

This is not a question that can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to cure a range of degenerative disorders from Alzheimer's to ALS, as well as supply organ transplants without the risk of immune rejection. To harvest functional stem cells, they must be extracted from a fertilized egg before the cells differentiate, or 12-14 days maximum. Fertilized eggs from in vitro fertilization clinics have been used only after fertilization attempts have ended. These fertilized eggs are notguaranteed to implant or be able to develop into a baby, and neither of these if a prerequisite for harvesting ES cells. Only 24% of attempted IVF pregnancies yielded a live and healthy baby in 2005 (mdwebsite.com). On the one hand, these fertilized eggs will never be used for anything yet hold such a promising therapy for so many individuals alive today. The ethical parallel for this situation is, "is it ethically wrong to use functional organs as transplants from a deceased individual, or wouldn't it be a waste?" On the other hand, we realize that society has created these fertilized eggs, and a small percentage of them have the potential to develop into healthy babies if given to correct situation. ES harvesting as of yet, does not differentiate between these two, and must destroy the embryo in order to retrieve the ES cells. This is destroying the potentialfor life in certain embryos. Though they are not alive yet, they do contain the ability to develop into an organism, a human, and they were intentionally created to do just that. In regards to were the promise and statistics lie, it seems unethical to allow an intentionally manufactured collection of multipotent cells to go to waste when so many people in pain and nearing pre-mature death could benefit from them.

This is true but one fact always seems to be overloooked. An embryo is not the only place that stem cells can be taken from. Umbilical cord stem cells have the capability of changing into almost just as many cells as embryonic stem cells. Just a few weeks ago an autstic boy was cured with umbilical cord stem cells.

Answer 2

It's not. Some people vainly imagine stem cell research might be unethical because they oppose science or because stem cells typically come from embryos. The reason it is not unethical is because these embryos were either discarded after in vitrio fertilization procedures, or were aborted. There is absolutely nothing the slightest bit unethical about using such material in the search for new medical procedures, cures, or techniques that may prove of enormous benefit to all mankind.

Answer 3

Stem cells can come from aborted fetuses.

Some people that are fundamentally against this think it is unethical, because they think the fetuses shouldn't have been aborted in the first place.

Others think that people are trying to 'play God' because the research might be used for cloning humans or animals.

Answer 4

human embryos, fetal tissues and umbilical cords are sources of stem cells that may be transplanted or used for disease research. Some people have ethical problems with the use of embryos in fertility clinics for stem cell research or transplantation.

Answer 5

because they are the highly know stem, which evaporates quickly in our body, which makes it ethical.

for more short answers please jog down your questions below and i will answer as short as you want for your homework. (=

Answer 6

Ethical problems would be:

• Some people want to prevent stem cell research preventing needed medical advance
  
• Some people see preserving a mass of embryonic cess as being more important than the health of functional adults and living children
• Stem cell research, like much medial studies, go underfunded to support military development.

Answer 7

One is stem cells can sometimes be taken from embryos which can possibly harm or kill the embryo.

Answer 8

Some doctors and scientists believe that they must do all they can to save lives, and feel that it is unethical to restrict potentially valuable research.