Drew Schaller
Dr. Seth Reno
March 25, 2013
Ethics of Stem Cell Research
In recent years, we have made technological discoveries that have enhanced our perception on anatomy and medicine. The average life span has drastically increased over the past 100 years due to advancements in medicine. One of the advancements is that scientists have found a way to create live organs that can be transplanted into the human body. One category of stem cells originates from embryotic cells. Due to the origin of the cells that are used for this research, some say that it is unethical. Scientists argue that it will save lives and can enhance the lives of those who are suffering from ailments. When it comes to the topic of stem cell research, most of us will readily agree that the Catholic Church is against it. Where this agreement usually ends however, is on the question of their personal beliefs. Whereas some are convinced that stem cell research is evil and unethical, others maintain that it helps promote essential scientific advancements.
Due to the ethical implications, the Catholic Church opposes stem cell research. They suggest that there is only one way to obtain these cells, which is through embryonic cells. The Catholic Church believes that at the moment of conception, a fetus has a soul, which defines them as living. Based on this definition, the cells that are taken from the embryo causes the termination of life for the sake of medical experiments. Ronald L. Conte Jr. is a Catholic priest from Spencer West Virginia. According to Conte, “creating a developing human being by any kind of scientific technique (i.e. not by natural conception) is itself gravely immoral.” In other words, Conte believes that creating life through science is wrong. Later he states that ending human life of any kind is wrong.
Groups that aren’t connected to the Catholic Church also oppose stem cell research. In 2008, an ad was released by the Missourians Against Human Cloning to promote anti-stem cell sentiments. When the ad was released, it came under heat by stem cell research proponents. The proponents then released a counter-ad. Cathy Ruse, a spokesperson for the group, defended the anti stem cell ad. Ruse states, "That ad claims opponents want to criminalize research and prevent the expansion of stem cell research. Those claims are just false and misleading…Our gripe with Amendment 2 is it creates a right to do human cloning and it creates the right to human egg trafficking for cloning research." Ruse’s point is that the ad that attacks the Missourians against Human Cloning’s ad was incorrect in their rebuttal. She restates that the group’s problem with legalizing stem cell research is that it ‘creates the right to human egg trafficking for cloning research’.
Although it is true that stem cells are used in cloning research, they are also used in many other ways. Ben Leahy, 20 was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008. This caused him to begin to lose sight and put him in a wheelchair. In 2009, he went through a complicated procedure involving stem cells being injected into him. He was soon able to walk again, with only slight weakness in his left leg. To those who say that stem cell research is a negative thing, what would they say to Ben, a man who can walk again due to this research? Another new discovery is that stem cells can completely reverse multiple sclerosis in its early stages.
Conventional wisdom has it that stem cells can only be harvested from fertilized eggs. Even though this is originally the way the scientists found them, there are multitudes of other ways to find stem cells. Examples of where these cells can be found are in embryonic germ cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and adult stem cells. All of these ways do not require a fertilized egg. Using these alternative methods that do not go against the Church’s beliefs should be allowed. However, there are still people who do not full understand stem cell research, and these people continue to condemn this research that has saved many lives and will continue to help make important scientific discoveries.
On the other hand, that although embryonic stem cells were the original way scientists learned where to find them, there are a multitude of other ways to find stem cells such as embryonic germ cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and adult stem cells. If there are no moral implications to it then the other methods of stem cell research should be okay with the Church. They very well may be okay with the Church, but the overarching idea is that no stem cell research is okay. I’ve always believed that God gives us the knowledge then we should use it if it is benefitting others. In the case of Ben Leahy, the man who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, he was helped by stem cell research. I hope to see stem cell research continue to help others, and I hope that people will understand the process better, so they can see how much good this research does for humankind.
Dr. Seth Reno
March 25, 2013
Ethics of Stem Cell Research
In recent years, we have made technological discoveries that have enhanced our perception on anatomy and medicine. The average life span has drastically increased over the past 100 years due to advancements in medicine. One of the advancements is that scientists have found a way to create live organs that can be transplanted into the human body. One category of stem cells originates from embryotic cells. Due to the origin of the cells that are used for this research, some say that it is unethical. Scientists argue that it will save lives and can enhance the lives of those who are suffering from ailments. When it comes to the topic of stem cell research, most of us will readily agree that the Catholic Church is against it. Where this agreement usually ends however, is on the question of their personal beliefs. Whereas some are convinced that stem cell research is evil and unethical, others maintain that it helps promote essential scientific advancements.
Due to the ethical implications, the Catholic Church opposes stem cell research. They suggest that there is only one way to obtain these cells, which is through embryonic cells. The Catholic Church believes that at the moment of conception, a fetus has a soul, which defines them as living. Based on this definition, the cells that are taken from the embryo causes the termination of life for the sake of medical experiments. Ronald L. Conte Jr. is a Catholic priest from Spencer West Virginia. According to Conte, “creating a developing human being by any kind of scientific technique (i.e. not by natural conception) is itself gravely immoral.” In other words, Conte believes that creating life through science is wrong. Later he states that ending human life of any kind is wrong.
Groups that aren’t connected to the Catholic Church also oppose stem cell research. In 2008, an ad was released by the Missourians Against Human Cloning to promote anti-stem cell sentiments. When the ad was released, it came under heat by stem cell research proponents. The proponents then released a counter-ad. Cathy Ruse, a spokesperson for the group, defended the anti stem cell ad. Ruse states, "That ad claims opponents want to criminalize research and prevent the expansion of stem cell research. Those claims are just false and misleading…Our gripe with Amendment 2 is it creates a right to do human cloning and it creates the right to human egg trafficking for cloning research." Ruse’s point is that the ad that attacks the Missourians against Human Cloning’s ad was incorrect in their rebuttal. She restates that the group’s problem with legalizing stem cell research is that it ‘creates the right to human egg trafficking for cloning research’.
Although it is true that stem cells are used in cloning research, they are also used in many other ways. Ben Leahy, 20 was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008. This caused him to begin to lose sight and put him in a wheelchair. In 2009, he went through a complicated procedure involving stem cells being injected into him. He was soon able to walk again, with only slight weakness in his left leg. To those who say that stem cell research is a negative thing, what would they say to Ben, a man who can walk again due to this research? Another new discovery is that stem cells can completely reverse multiple sclerosis in its early stages.
Conventional wisdom has it that stem cells can only be harvested from fertilized eggs. Even though this is originally the way the scientists found them, there are multitudes of other ways to find stem cells. Examples of where these cells can be found are in embryonic germ cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and adult stem cells. All of these ways do not require a fertilized egg. Using these alternative methods that do not go against the Church’s beliefs should be allowed. However, there are still people who do not full understand stem cell research, and these people continue to condemn this research that has saved many lives and will continue to help make important scientific discoveries.
On the other hand, that although embryonic stem cells were the original way scientists learned where to find them, there are a multitude of other ways to find stem cells such as embryonic germ cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and adult stem cells. If there are no moral implications to it then the other methods of stem cell research should be okay with the Church. They very well may be okay with the Church, but the overarching idea is that no stem cell research is okay. I’ve always believed that God gives us the knowledge then we should use it if it is benefitting others. In the case of Ben Leahy, the man who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, he was helped by stem cell research. I hope to see stem cell research continue to help others, and I hope that people will understand the process better, so they can see how much good this research does for humankind.