Stem cells: ethical issues. Stem cells are often harvested from embryos, which led to restrictions connected to their medical use. Currently, new types of stem cells are being developed, and the attitude towards this subject is changing.
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into specialized cell types. They have great potential for treating various diseases and injuries, such as Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, diabetes, and heart failure. However, stem cell research and therapy also raise ethical issues that need to be addressed.
One of the main ethical issues is the source of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from early-stage embryos that are usually leftover from in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. Obtaining ESCs involves destroying the embryos, which some people consider to be equivalent to killing human beings. This view is based on the belief that human life begins at conception and that embryos have the same moral status as persons [1].
However, not everyone agrees with this view. Some argue that embryos do not have the characteristics of persons, such as consciousness, rationality, and self-awareness. They also point out that embryos cannot develop into human beings without being implanted into a woman’s uterus, and that many embryos are naturally lost during pregnancy. Therefore, they claim that embryos have a lower moral status than persons and that using them for research is justified by the potential benefits for patients [2].
Another source of stem cells is adult tissues, such as bone marrow, skin, and fat. These are called adult stem cells (ASCs) or somatic stem cells. ASCs do not raise the same ethical concerns as ESCs, because they do not involve destroying embryos. However, ASCs have some limitations, such as being less abundant, less versatile, and more prone to aging and mutations than ESCs [3].
A recent breakthrough in stem cell research is the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These are stem cells that are created by reprogramming adult cells, such as skin cells, into an embryonic-like state. iPSCs have similar properties to ESCs, but they do not require the use of embryos. iPSCs offer a promising alternative to ESCs, but they also pose some ethical challenges. For example, iPSCs may carry genetic or epigenetic abnormalities from the donor cells, which could affect their safety and efficacy in clinical applications. Moreover, iPSCs could be used to create human-animal chimeras or human clones, which raise questions about human dignity and identity [4].
Stem cell research and therapy also involve other ethical issues, such as informed consent, privacy, ownership, justice, and communication. For instance, how should donors of embryos or tissues be informed about the use of their biological materials? Who owns the stem cells and their derivatives? How should the benefits and risks of stem cell interventions be distributed among different groups of people? How should the public be informed about the scientific progress and the social implications of stem cell research? These are some of the questions that need to be addressed by researchers, regulators, policymakers, and society at large [5].
Stem cell research and therapy have the potential to revolutionize medicine and improve human health. However, they also pose ethical dilemmas that require careful consideration and respect for different perspectives. By engaging in ethical reflection and dialogue, we can ensure that stem cell research and therapy are conducted in a responsible and beneficial manner.
References
[1] King NMP & Perrin J: Ethical issues in stem cell research and therapy. Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2014: 2024 – Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay For Me Without Delay; 5:85.
[2] Eurostemcell: Embryonic stem cell research: an ethical dilemma. https://www.eurostemcell.org/embryonic-stem-cell-research-ethical-dilemma
[3] ISSCR: Module 8 | Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research. https://www.isscr.org/learning-guide/ethical-issues-in-stem-cell-research
[4] BioMed Central: REVIEW Ethical issues in stem cell research and therapy – BioMed Central. https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/scrt474.pdf
[5] Stem Cell Research & Therapy: Ethical issues in stem cell research and therapy | Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Full Text Review Open access Published: 07 July 2014: 2024 – Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay For Me Without Delay help writing an essay on Ethical issues in stem cell research and therapy Nancy MP King & Jacob Perrin Stem Cell Research & Therapy 5 , Article number: 85 ( 2014: 2024 – Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay For Me Without Delay ) Cite this article 149k Accesses 119 Citations 25 Altmetric Metrics Abstract Rapid progress in biotechnology has introduced a host of pressing ethical and policy issues pertaining to stem cell research.
