Abstract
This paper examines how one of the most controversial issues in health care today is the use of stem cells for medical research. It shows that, while stem cell research offers incredible possibilities for treating and curing illnesses and diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, stroke, spinal cord injury, heart disease and diabetes, it also poses highly controversial issues, originating mainly from how these stem cells are obtained. It looks at how the best known source of stem cells is human fetal tissue and how harvesting the stem cells destroys the embryo, which is something that many see as morally and ethically wrong. It explores the topic of stem cell research in an effort to determine how the debate could best be resolved.

From the Paper
"Embryonic stem cells are considered the most useful in research because they can become any type of cell, while adult stem cells are more limited. There is no controversy revolving around the use of human adult stem cells in research, since they can be retrieved from the individual requiring the therapy. Since embryonic stem cells derive from the inner cell mass of the early embryo, they are capable of forming all the tissues of the body. But there is much controversy over the use of embryonic stem cells."

Tags:embryo, human, fetal, tissue, disease

Abstract
An analysis that presents the issue of abortion and why it remains an important topic in today's moral debates in America. By understanding the case Roe v. Wade, we can see how these difficult issues come into the political spotlight.

Abstract
This paper delves into the legal, ethical and religious aspects surrounding abortion, while also focusing on the feminist view of this hotly-debate topic. The writer of this paper traces the roots of the abortion debate back to Susan B. Anthony. Anthony opposed abortion because the medical procedure, in her time, was unsafe and endangered a woman's health and life. This paper examines how feminists today defend the development of safe and effective birth control as a means to prevent abortion. This paper also looks at the views of various feminist organizations such as Feminists for Life and Feminists Against Abortion. This paper discusses the media's impact in the evolution of the "Pro-Choice" and "Pro-Life" movements. This paper also discusses how the laws regarding legal abortions have changed over the past 40 years. In 1965, all 50 states banned the procedure, with some exceptions. In 1973, The Supreme Court reversed the situation in the case of Roe vs. Wade, declaring most existing state abortion laws unconstitutional. The writer of this paper explores the issue of abortion in various religions, including Judaism and the different Christian sects. While those of the Catholic faith do not believe that abortion is an acceptable solution to undesired pregnancies, they do accept that there may be situations when an abortion must be considered. This paper also touches on the ethical side, where many believe that abortions should only be considered when the life of the mother is at stake. However, shades of grey enter into the picture when other reasons are offered as well, as detailed in this paper.

From the Paper
"Although those of the Catholic faith do not believe that abortion is an acceptable solution to undesired pregnancies, they do accept that there may be situations when an abortion takes place as the outcome of trying to deal with another medical issue. For example, the Church would allow "the doctrine of double effect" if the mother requires a life-saving operation that may possibly end the pregnancy, since it is the first priority to save the woman's life rather than end the pregnancy.
Many Protestant denominations including the Anglicans, Methodists and Quakers have been disinclined to be as strict as the Catholic Church. Frequently, they accept that there are certain occasions when abortion is an unavoidable result of deciding between the "lesser of two evils."
To further complicate the issue, explains Ellingson, there is even disagreement among the Catholics and among the Protestants. "It is not just a Catholic and Protestant Debate."

Tags:ethical, moral, religion, debate, pro, life, choice, law, constitution, susan, b, anthony, roe, vs., wade

Abstract
Examined here is the seemingly intractable debate that has garnered much debate and philosophical discourse. Is abortion unethical? If so, on what grounds? Does a fetus have an unquestionable right to life? The arguments of three philosophers, Thompson, Warren, and Marquis attempt to construe argument devoid of appeal to religious sources. Actual logical arguments are put forth and then dissected by the author. Instruction of Informal fallacies also included, as well as topics such as debate through analogies, Criteria of Personhood, and Potentiality theories: FLO theory.

From the Paper
"First let us begin with an argument derived from the article by Judith Jarvis-Thompson entitled, "A Defense of Abortion." She starts of with explaining the common pro-life argument, which relies heavily on the premise that a fetus is a human being and a person at the moment of conception. While examining the continuous expectancy that the fetus constantly develops into a child, she from this judges that to draw a line of personhood from this point or another is to exemplify the argument with an arbitrary carelessness. She makes no attempt to refute a fetus as a person or otherwise. To do so she deems as participation in a "slippery-slope argument." Thompson acknowledges that the fetus is a human well before it's birth, for it would be biologically unsound to state otherwise. Based on her take of the anti-abortionist's argument an acorn (a potential oak tree) would be viewed in the same way as an Oak tree is, even though that this is an incorrect and rather crude observation. From this basis, she says on cannot make a good examination until a better counter-argument is examined and then she says we will have more sufficient grounds on which to reject it or not."

Tags:analogy, debate, discourse, ethics, informal, life, logic, personhood, philospohy, political, science, theory

Abstract
This paper uses the public policy cycle to examine the government's current initiative to discuss possible solutions to same-sex marriage and provides a brief historical context. The paper provides an insight into this controversial topic from the legal point of view and outlines the role played by the courts and their rulings on these issues.

Table of Contents
History of Homosexual and Same-Sex Relationship Rights in Canada
Policy Formation & Decision Making
Discussion Paper
Response to Discussion Paper
Horizontal Consistency of Current and Proposed Policy
Conclusion
Policy Implementation and Evaluation
References

From the Paper
"The Federal Government of Canada is currently debating a discussion paper submitted by the Minister of Justice, Martin Cauchon, concerning the issue of same-sex marriage. The topic of same-sex marriage is one of great controversy in Canada and its journey to being placed on the current Government's public policy agenda has been a tumultuous one. For gay and lesbian couples, the journey has been long, seemingly traveling at a snail's pace. Yet in the grand scheme of things, the fact that the government is now seriously considering the issue of same-sex marriage is remarkable considering that thirty-three years ago homosexuality was still considered a criminal offense in Canada. Even when Prime Minister Trudeau decriminalized homosexuality in 1969, it was done so under the 'right to privacy' and thus deemed an issue best kept hidden from the public sphere and relegated to silence (Wood, 2002). The thirty-three years between decriminalization of homosexuality and today's consideration of same-sex marriage, has been marked by a very incremental and tedious process of gaining homosexual rights. While Canada is still far from a society that is accepting and condoning of same-sex relationships, progress has been made at a relatively steady rate. In 1999 the Federal Government changed the definition of spouse to include same-sex partners but tacked on an explicit clause stating that the definition of marriage would remain one man and one woman (Wood, 2002). Now, only three years later, the government is actively considering changing its policy on same-sex marriage."

Tags:civil, court, gay, government, homosexuals, legal, lesbian, supreme, toronto

Abstract
In this article, the writer explores the topic of stem cell research by looking at what stem cells really are. The writer then looks at the types of stem cells and their possible benefits. Further, the writer discusses the ethical debate surrounding the issue. The writer also discusses why stem cell research is important to our society and the future of science. The writer concludes that it must be remembered that stem cell research still has a long way to go before it can realize its potential for transforming the future of science and the human society.

Outline:
Background
What are Stem Cells?
Embryonic Stem Cells
Adult Stem Cells
The Potential Benefits of Stem Cells
Basic Information About Cells
Cell-Based Therapies
Drug Testing
The Ethical Debate
Is Embryo a Person?
Reproductive Cloning
Human-Animal Chimeras
Why Stem Cell Research is Important to the Society and the future of Science

From the Paper
"As we have seen in this paper so far, stem cell research can have far-reaching effects on the future of Science and the human society because of its potential to develop new disease models, alter the current drug development philosophy, and introduce new applications in transplantation medicine. However, there is consensus among scientists that considerable research is needed before the dream can become a reality and the scope of research can only be made possible through large-scale government (read US federal government) funding.
In 2001, President Bush introduced legislation that restricts the use of federal funds for human embryonic stem cell research to the cell lines that were available as on August 9, 2001. Since such cell lines are limited, this restriction has severely handicapped the pace and scope of stem cell research. In this scenario, the work of two pioneering scientists - James Thomson and Shinya Yamanaka - has assumed crucial importance."

Tags:embryonic, tissues, blood, human

Abstract
The social order of the United States has been in a continuous debate over the issue of abortion since the early 1800s. State and federal laws have affected the legal medical practice of abortions and the individuals on both sides of the issue within the health care profession. The Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade contended that laws relating to women's rights were unconstitutional. However, the court also stated that the issue of when life begins, to address ethical concerns about abortion, would ultimately have to be determined by those in "medicine, philosophy and theology". This paper considers the ongoing and controversial abortion debate, looking at different theological and ethical perspectives as well as the medical perspective on the topic.

Tags:ethics, medicine, abortion

Abstract
This paper discusses the tensions that have been seen between explanations of personality involving nature or nurture, between innate characteristics that may shape personality and experiences that may shape the psychology of the individual over time. This is an example of the long standing debate over the mind body problem as well though it by no means solves that issue which relates to whether the personality is at least partially physical or only mental and whether the mental can be differentiated from the brain that holds.

Tags:personality, nature, nurture

Abstract
The paper relates that the broad topic under discussion by the Debate panel on the TVO Agenda broadcast - "Giving Up Luxuries" (broadcast Wednesday, October 17, 2007) - was "conflict commodities" with particular attention being focused upon a range of economic, social, and ethical questions relating to the consumption of these commodities, produced in the developing world, by populations in the developed world. This paper critically explores the range of issues discussed during the course of the debate, as well as the diverse perspectives and arguments raised by the different panellists. As is seen, while there were no radical or substantive differences between the panellists, their perspectives did differ in terms of emphasis and approach.

From the Paper
"The broad topic under discussion by the Debate panel on the TVO Agenda broadcast - "Giving Up Luxuries" (broadcast Wednesday, October 17, 2007) - was "conflict commodities" with particular attention being focused upon a range of economic, social, and ethical questions relating to the consumption of these commodities, produced in the developing world, by populations in the developed world."

Tags:debate, luxuries, commodities

Abstract
This paper opens with a detailed and scientific explanation of how cloning is achieved via genetically identical cells. The writer of this paper also examines and debates the controversial issue of animal and human cloning.
Topics covered in this report include:
What is the Meaning of the term 'Cloning'?
Human Cloning
World's First Cloned Baby is Due
Bibliography

From the Paper
"The world's first cloned baby is due to be borne in early January, 2003. This has been claimed by controversial Italian doctor Severino Antinori. According to him two more women are carrying cloned fetus and are in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Many scientists agree that human reproductive cloning would become possible but they feel that such an experiment would be a grossly irresponsible act which could lead to high risk of premature death and birth defects in clones. According to some scientists they feel that attempting to clone humans would be an irresponsible and repugnant act which according to them would ignore the overwhelming scientific evidence received from seven mammalian species cloned so far."

Tags:science, health, medicine, dna, genetics, debate, controversy, government, law, biology