Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the potential of fetal tissue research for many illnesses, such as Alzheimer's, cancer and Crohn's disease. The paper then considers three major ethical objections raised by those opposed to embryonic stem cell research, that are the use of embryos in destructive research, the creation of embryos for destructive research and the production of mixed human-animal embryos. The paper provides some counter-arguments to these objections but points out that these issues cannot really be solved, because they are philosophical and religious in nature, and so are resistant to scientific and rational methods of proof. The paper comes to the conclusion that the scientific evidence currently available shows far greater benefits to individuals and humanity at large than the associated risks and harms, and so there is no rational reason to ban or limit such research.

Outline:
Introduction
Life Saving Methods
The Moral Objections

From the Paper:

"There are few issues in the medical and political worlds that are more controversial than the topic of abortion. Even when a decision regarding abortion in this country seems to have been reached, there are many dissenters, and many adjustments and questions that still remain. A related matter that is even more complex, and one that is only slightly less controversial--and that perhaps only because it is less known and less understood by the general populace--is the issue of using fetal tissue, which includes stem cells, in medical research. The battle lines that frame the sides of this debate break fairly cleanly along the pro-life and pro-choice camps of abortion, but the issue is not that simple. The question of whether or not parents have a moral right to terminate a non-life threatening pregnancy is fraught with enough complexities, but these are exacerbated in the question of research by the benefits--both known and still merely potential--that could be provided by such research."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Chervenak, F. & McCullough, L. (2008). "How physicians and scientists can respond responsibly and effectively to religiously based opposition to human embryonic stem cell research." Fertility and sterility, 90(6), pp. 2056-9. Accessed 18 February 2009. www.science-direct.com
• National Institute of Health. "Stem Cell Information." Accessed 18 February 2009. http://stemcells.nih.gov/
• Sofer, G. (2008). "The FDA is killing Crohn's patients." The wall street journal. Accessed 18 February 2009. http://www.proquest.umi.com+pqdweb?index=0&did=1619328171&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1235005588&clientId=48051
• Solbakk, J. & Holm, S. (2008). "The ethics of stem cell research: can the disagreements be resolved?" Journal of medical ethics, 34, pp. 831-2. Accessed 17 February 2009. http://jme.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/34/12/831
• Watts, G. (2008). "Regeneration games." British medical journal, 337(7682), pp. 1320-1.

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