Ethics in Stem Cell Research

by Contributing Writer

Overview

Stem cells are showing promise to be a revolutionizing force in modern medicine, but one source for the most powerful of these cells is embryos. This has prompted an ethical debate, pitting the desire to alleviate suffering of those whose diseases might be cured through this research against the life of the embryo destroyed when obtaining the cells.
Background

Embryonic stem cells are taken from embryos donated by patients at in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. IVF clinics fertilize more eggs than the parents want children in order to increase the likelihood they successfully reach their desired family size. When the patients feel their family is complete, they sign a release to authorize the destruction of their remaining embryos. These embryos have been used, with the patient's permission, to create embryonic stem cell lines.

Facts

Embryonic stem cells are taken from a cluster of cells from a very early stage of development called the blastula. The blastula is so small that it can fit into Roosevelt's eye on the U.S. dime and occurs during the first week after fertilization and before the embryo is implanted in the uterine wall.
Rights of the Embryo

Some people believe that the rights associated with being a person begin as soon as the sperm fertilizes the egg, and an organism with a unique set of genes is created. These people feel that whatever benefit could be gained from researching embryonic stem cells is not worth the cost, because destruction of the embryo constitutes murder. This ties stem cell research to the abortion debate.
Rights of the Diseased

Some people believe that the rights of adults and children who have diseases that could be treated by stem cell research are the more important stakeholders in this moral debate. They say not performing stem cell research is tantamount to condoning suffering.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

One potential way around the problem of obtaining pluripotent stem cells from embryos is by reprogramming differentiated cells back to a pluripotent state. This reprogramming has been done with human skin cells by multiple techniques and is showing promise in laboratory studies.

Overview