We humans have been showing activeness both mentally and physically, which have transformed our world from a primitive to an advanced one. But the activeness of the humans can be put on hold by various physical and mental afflictions. In those struggling situations, any breakthrough in treatment will ‘light’ their lives. But, it will create problems, when that helpful ‘light’, instead burns down the lives of other humans. For many people who are suffering from brain, heart and spinal cord injuries and diseases, the embryonic stem cell research is the “light. But, to the anti-embryonic stem cell research group, it is the ‘light’ which is ‘burning’ down innocent lives in the form of destruction of human embryos. So, this paper will provide both sides of the argument, thereby pointing out the pros and cons of stem cell research
Human embryos will develop with the formation and development of stem cells. That is, the stems cells only transform into various organs and tissues, as the embryo grows into a fetus. So, stem cells are the ‘source’ for all the external as well as the internal human organs and tissues. Researchers believe these stem cells from the embryo can be grown into any organs that may be needed for human transplantation. “If scientists can reliably direct the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into specific cell types, they may be able to use the resulting, differentiated cells to treat certain diseases at some point in the future” (stemcells.nih.gov).
Pros
American liberals support the embryonic stem cell research because they consider embryonic stem cells treatment as one of the workable options to treat many diseases, injuries and malfunctions. They point out the results of many studies done by scientists, who have stated that embryonic stem cells can cure many medical problems including spinal cord injury related paraplegia, quadriplegia; also brain related multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, heart diseases, cancer, etc, etc. Many Americans and people all over the world face innumerable sufferings because of the above mentioned diseases. With no ‘effective’ treatment for these diseases, the liberals opine that embryonic stems cells by regenerating damaged neurons in spinal cord injured, ‘refreshing’ the neurons in brain diseased and also by repairing the damaged cells in heart and in other parts of the body, will surely alleviate their sufferings and help them live a normal and happy life. Based on the liberals approach, certain states like Florida, California, are also reviewing and reframing the existing laws, favoring embryonic stem cell research. Liberals also oppose the American conservatives’ view regarding the ethical issue of using embryos. Co nservatives claim that by destroying a lot of embryos during stem cell extraction, the researchers are killing ‘human lives’. The liberals counter this view by using scientific evidences and show embryo is not a ‘living human’ but just an ‘undeveloped entity’. “…all parties in the debate agree that the preimplantation embryo is not yet an entity with interests or rights, and therefore can be discarded or used in research in ways that human research subjects cannot ” (Robertson, 1995). Also, the liberals counter-argue by stating that large number of embryos is destroyed in the in-vitro fertilization clinics. That is, to help childless couples, close to 400,000 embryos per year are destroyed during the fertilization processes in various clinics. They argue, if thousands of embryos are destroyed in the in-vitro fertilization clinics without any use, why the same yardstick is not applied to the embryonic stem cell research, which will surely help many. So, Liberal’s or pro-group’s approach in supporting embryonic stem cell research has some valid pros.
Cons
American conservatives have continuously opposed the embryonic stem cell research. According to them, researchers are committing ‘crimes’ by removing the stem cells from the embryo and in the process killing it. “It is wrong to create human life just to destroy it,” (Brownback, qtd. by Rajagopalan). They believe embryos or human lives are ‘mass murdered’ to extract viable stem cells. This is contrary to their religious beliefs. The conservatives strongly belief God only has the power and the right to ‘create’ and ‘end’ lives. This perspective shows their faith in non-human institutions. Also, the process of isolating stem cells from embryos is a painstaking one, with more misses than hits. All the stem cells extracted from the embryos will not show the expected ‘vitality’ and will be of no use. With no guaranteed and consistent success in embryonic stem cell research, the conservatives believe the researchers are wasting ‘lives’ in the form of embryos, for a losing cause. So, they express skepticism about the practice of using ‘humans’ to treat other humans. Because of these valid reasons President Bush, using laws like Dickey Amendment restricted government funding to embryonic stem cell research. From the conservatives’ point of view, embryonic stem cell research is not a science to save humans, but a crime against human lives and so has many cons.
