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Legal and Ethical Issues:
Despite their tremendous potential for benefiting human health and welfare, many oppose the use of fetal stem cells because of their religious beliefs. According to many
Christians in particular, both abortion and the use of any fetal tissue for medical purposes is immoral because human life begins at conception (Dershowitz, 2002; Levine, 2007).
According to this view, even the embryos produced in-vitro fertilization clinics must not be used for research purposes, even with the consent of the patients who donated the sperm and egg.
The previous presidential administration of George Bush outlawed the federal funding of any stem cell research of this (most valuable) type in 2001 and, as a result, the United States has lost years of tremendously important research in that area (Kinsley,
2007; Pollack, 2007). In the U.S., virtually all major medical research is conducted with federal funding because its cost is far too great for private enterprises (Levine, 2008).
Meanwhile, millions of unused embryos created in-vitro fertilization clinics must be frozen indefinitely or discarded as "medical waste" instead of being donated for valuable medical research with the potential to increase human health profoundly.
Legal scholars (Dershowitz, 2002) have argued that the federal ban on stem cell research is unconstitutional because it was motivated strictly by religious beliefs,...
Certainly,
those with religious beliefs that prohibit abortion or stem cell research must always have the freedom to make choices consistent with those beliefs; on the other hand, those who do not share such beliefs should never have their options limited by the religious beliefs of others (Dershowitz, 2002).
Conclusion:
Stem cells represent tremendous potential for benefiting the human community through the eradication of disease and the improved treatment of various other medical conditions. Their appropriate use violates none of the established principles of medical ethics (Levine, 2008), yet political opposition has stalled the evolution of stem cell science since 2001. Hopefully, the reversal of that position by President Barack Obama will enable scientists to finally develop the many beneficial applications without further delay.
Works Cited
Dershowitz, A.M. (2002). Shouting Fire: Civil Liberties in a Turbulent Age. New
York: Little Brown & Co.
Kinsley, M. (2007). "Commentary: Why Science Can't Save the GOP" Time (Dec.
10/07: 36).
Levine, C. (2008). Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Bioethical Issues. 12th Ed. Dubuque
Iowa: McGraw Hill.
Pollack, A. (2007). "After Stem-Cell Breakthrough the Real Work Begins" The New
York Times (Nov. 27/07: F1).
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