Is it Ethical to use Embryonic Stem Cells For Experimentation in Medicine?

[Near-to-Tears]

These blank cells that have yet to be programmed to do anything eg: become a heart or a bone cell, could be used to cure cancers, reconnect spinal cords almost anything. But people don't like the idea of using these so called 'babies' for expermentation. What do you think?

[Darkwatch]

If it can cure all those things, then I don't know why people care so much about stopping it. Stem cell research is very good, imo. <3

[Hummingbird]

Seeing as these stem cells have yet to develop into anything, I don't see why not. I don't think the cells can be considered a baby before they've started actually developing into one and it's not like the cells themselves can feel pain. Of course the "Killing potential life" argument is always there, but we're also killing potential life every time we use contraceptives during sexual intercourse and if stem cells can be used to save lives and to cure injuries that are irreversible with any other known methods, I say there's nothing ethically wrong with using stem cells for medical purposes. (which, naturally, involves experimentation)

[EvilMan_89]

it depends, are we using fetuses that are ALREADY dead or are we aborting/killing them? becuz if they're already dead, i honestly dont' see the problem. but if we're killing htem then i can see why ppl are complaining.

[Near-to-Tears]

They're not dead as such, they're as much alive as a skin or blood cell is. But we don't have much trouble messing them about.

[Soushirei]

Actually, stem cell research is performed from already 'dead' fetuses, be it from abortion or still-borns. When people purposely abort fetuses to do stem cell research, that's when it becomes a legal and moral issue.

The same issue can be said about smoking studies. You can't force individuals to start smoking in order to perform tests on the results as that'd be unethical, but you can perform studies on people who've already started smoking of their own volition. In translation, you can't force anyone to abort their child for the sake of stem cell research, rather you have to look through your already available resources and go from there.

I personally think stem cell research is fine. Using already deceased human resources to benefit mankind (with permission of course) is completely justified. This is pretty much the same thing that happens when people give permission to donate their organs after they die, and I don't see many people debating about organ donations.

[EvilMan_89]

i agree with you souehrel, if there is consent and we're not forcing anyone to do antying they dont' wna do, i really can't see what the problem is

[clawtooth35]

I agree, wate not want not. If they are already dead then why waste them and use them to make life better for the ones who do survive.

[EvilMan_89]

i'm pretty neutral about this because i CAN see both sides. i could understand concern if someone gets upset over slicing up and extracting cells from dead babies. but there are benefits to doing this, VERY good benefits as well. so....i don't know

[clawtooth35]

you know, there is no difference between this and organ donation.

[EvilMan_89]

well.....there is but let's not make a big thing out of this, organ donors themselves give their consent while fetuses on teh other hand do and cannot.

[Darkcloud]

This debate pretty much has its 'ups' and 'downs', mostly because more research is needed. On one, yes, they can indeed be used to make other forms of tissues, but there's also the fact there are still plenty of problems (ie. subjects die mysteriously, without any cause). The other, for the killing issue, people are against it, but these people would also have to be against birth control as well, because that kills just as much as abortion does, except they aren't, which blows my mind a little bit.

[Soushirei]

well.....there is but let's not make a big thing out of this, organ donors themselves give their consent while fetuses on teh other hand do and cannot.
The parents do, who are basically the only people qualified to make the decision since the fetuses obviously can't.

[Solid Snake]

Im sorry?
Babies?
no they arnt babies and the fact is it would just end up leaving the body anywayz so i think its fine
The parents do, who are basically the only people qualified to make the decision since the fetuses obviously can't.
my mom said it was my fault she craved pancakes for a year but i wasnt the one who told my parents to have me D:

[Soushirei]

my mom said it was my fault she craved pancakes for a year but i wasnt the one who told my parents to have me D:
I'm not quite sure what the relevance of this is.

[EvilMan_89]

i suppose it's better than just leaving the bodies to rot tho

[Solid Snake]

I'm not quite sure what the relevance of this is.
its just that you backed up what i told her

but now im spaming so i must leave <_<

[Zandyne]

Ethics are a matter of upbringing; but legal stem cell experimentation has been labled as ethical thus far. If we were to go about this beyond death though, we could technically condition any human being to become a voluntary guinea pig if it's from birth....though that would no longer be "embryonic". Anyway, like I said, it depends on ethics. In my own opinion, if it's an embryo that wasn't desired to be a child (be it by it's parents decision or nature's), it should be fine.

In a way the best way to view it is the use of cadavers for medical studies and practicing doctors.

PS: I heard something about fat cells containing stem cells, if it's true then the whole matter of ethics won't be a problem at all, haha...

[Repliku]

Stem cell research is fine in my book. The fetuses and cells taken are already deceased as others have mentioned. Abortions happen and we are also learning new ways to experiment which don't even consist of having to use fetuses so much. These cells can save lives and have the potential to allow us to do all sorts of things with organs, skin cures, and neurological diseases like MS and Parkinson's Disease. There are many people inflicted with spinal damage or neurological conditions that live lives of agony and if that could be stopped these people could have basically normal lives. We may find a ton of cures for things and considering the cells are in states where they haven't even been assigned 'roles' yet, there is no real feeling involved in this of a sentient being.

[EvilMan_89]

This debate pretty much has its 'ups' and 'downs', mostly because more research is needed. On one, yes, they can indeed be used to make other forms of tissues, but there's also the fact there are still plenty of problems (ie. subjects die mysteriously, without any cause). The other, for the killing issue, people are against it, but these people would also have to be against birth control as well, because that kills just as much as abortion does, except they aren't, which blows my mind a little bit.

whoa whoa whoa, that's a MAJOR reason to be concerned then

[PAW]

It seems that if you do strongly believe in good and evil, than this is a no or if your relegious and believe life is sacred than it would also be a no.

While on the other hand if this is just my opinion than I would agree it has its benefits, but it also has its problems, I would say more research would need to be done before anyone could give a final answer on the subject.

[EvilMan_89]

i guess its' ok since the fetuses have no sentience of their own and they'r edead i belive so no one is really getting hurt? but i can see the other side's point of view as well.

[Shiki]

Well on an upside, they can get a breakthrough if they were to do this and may just find a possible cure for cancer....and then they can also fix people that have parallelizations from the neck down so that they can walk, or walk for the first time ever! But they can also save someone by creating a spinal cord patch thingy so that they CAN live....

But one downside would be that whomever soul was going to that child will never be born at all...so there is my best downside....and it may help reduce over-population too.

[White_Rook]

If I recall correctly researchers had found a way to extract stem cells from another human source other than embryos (or was it white mice?). I can't remember where I placed that article though. The only issue was that extraction was not as fruitful. Other than that it seemed ethically friendly on both fronts.