Stem Cell Research

Paper Summary:

The paper argues that the ethical dilemmas associated with stem cell research are rooted in arguments against destroying in-vitro embryos that would be destroyed anyway, or in unfounded fears regarding the use of stem cells in cloning. The paper contends that stem cell research and cloning should remain separate issues so that research can continue to provide promise to millions suffering from a wide range of diseases. The paper then addresses the issue of global competition and its potentially positive effect of making medical procedures and pharmaceutical interventions available for a wider range of people. Finally, the paper discusses the medical practice of telemedicine that refers to remote video conferences or remote-guided surgical procedures. The paper notes that telemedicine necessitates fundamental changes to malpractice insurance policies.

From the Paper:

"Stem cells offer unparalleled potential to alleviate problems associated with certain medical conditions because of their unique ability to self-multiply and turn into any specialized type of cell such as brain cell. Their use in medicine would seem uncontroversial except for the fact that the stem cells with the most promise for medicine are derived from embryos. Embryonic stem cells are, however, grown and harvested in a clinical laboratory and not in a woman's body. Their use poses no real ethical problem except for a small portion of the population that opposes their use. Reasons for opposing the use of stem cells for medical research and treatment centers on the fact that the simplest way to harvest the cells is by destroying the embryo. Yet the embryos used for stem cell research rarely have the opportunity to be used in artificial insemination and therefore would normally be discarded and therefore destroyed. Moreover, emerging medical research technologies preclude destroying the embryos from which stem cells are harvested."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Employer-based health care erodes U.S. global competition: A New America report. 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2008 from http://www.healthpopuli.com/2008/05/employer-based-health-care-erodes-us.html
• Herrick, D. M. (2007). Medical tourism: Global competition in health care. NCPA Policy Report No. 304. Retrieved June 24, 2008 from http://209.85.215.104/search?q=cache:PSdJmcyYxKMJ:www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st304/st304.pdf+global+competition+healthcare&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a
• "Stem Cell Basics."(2008). National Institutes of Health. Retrieved June 24, 2008 from http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics3.asp
• Wacher, G.W. (2002). Malpractice and Telemedicine Telemedicine Liability: The Uncharted Waters of Medical Risk. Retrieved June 24, 2008 from http://tie.telemed.org/articles/article.asp?path=articles&article=malpracticeLiability_gw_tie02.xml

More papers on Stem Cell Research:

• Term Paper # 107047 : "Embryonic Stem Cell Research"
• Argumentative Essay # 148240 : "Stem Cell Research: Ethics and Benefits"
• Persuasive Essay # 85139 : "Stem Cell Research"
• Essay # 71384 : "Alternatives to Embryonic Stem Cell Research "

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