Ethics and Medicine

A current issue in our world concerning ethics and medicine today is stem cell research. Stem cell research aims to cure wide spread diseases like cancer using stem cells, in particular embryonic stem cells. Because these cells have the ability to turn into any tissue, the hope is that replacing diseased tissue with stem cells will cure the sick.  Ethics come into play because some groups of people believe an embryo should be seen as a human being, and therefore should not be “murdered”. I know about this issue because news about the last few years has been everywhere. It is one of those issues that no one can, or ever will agree on. I feel like the people for stem cell research are misrepresented. Most against the issue do not know the science behind stem cell research, and fight against it without taking the chance to learn.

From looking at the website http://www.isscr.org/public/ethics.htm, I learned a little more about the pros and cons concerning the morality issues of stem cell research. The main opponents to the research appear to be catholic church groups, whereas the proponents come from a scientifically educated back round. The article states that although one would be using an embryo, they are all donated (no one would ever have to enter the uterus, and “take”). However embryos are still being used so one would still be killing a human being. In my opinion I feel as though the side for stem cell research is more compelling because there are so many potential possibilities with this research. I believe the benefits out weigh the moral issues. They are using a tiny clump of cells, a blastocyst, for research, not a grown baby. We have the potential to unlock amazing medical feats with stem cells, and I do not think it should be halted.