Ethical and Moral Considerations

Involving the Stem Cell Debate

From the beginning of Stem Cell research, and especially Embryonic Stem Cell Research, there have been several ethical and moral arguments to the debate.

An Informative Stem Cell PowerPoint discusses some of the ethical and moral considerations involved in stem cell research.

The President's Council on Bioethics has also published their findings on Stem Cells, and in the publication, Monitoring Stem Cell Research, one good area that they focus on are the ethical and moral questions that arise from stem cell technology and research. 

With the subject of stem cell research, the ethical problems that arise are most likely related to the use of human embryos (usually obtained through In-Vitro fertilization).  Other types of stem cells have seen much less controversy and are mostly accepted now by ethical standards. 

Some of the most important moral and ethical considerations in stem cell research can be examined by contemplating these questions:

• Questions concerning the use of human embryos

•     What are early human embryos, and how should we regard them morally?

•     How should we think and act toward human embryos?

•     Should all ex vivo human embryos be treated the same, or are some, because of their circumstances, origins, or prospects, to be treated differently from others?

•     Or, are embryos of sufficiently little moral significance that we should simply decide the question on funding solely on the basis of the promise of the proposed biomedical research?  

• Other considerations arise because of the question of funding

•     Should moral considerations be used to decide what sort of research may or may not be funded? 

•     What is the symbolic and moral-political significance of providing national approval, in the form of active support, for practices that many Americans regard as abhorrent or objectionable? 

•     What is the symbolic and moral-political significance of refusing to support potentially life-saving scientific investigations that many Americans regard as morally necessary?

• For those who already support embryonic stem cell research, there are still ethical and moral questions to be considered
•     What are the proper limits to embryonic stem cell research and how are these limits going to be established and enforced through meaningful regulation?
•     How the law is presently arranged, the federal government who only recently came into the picture, has only been able to control the use of funding in the stem cell issue.  Research in the private sector is still widely unregulated.  Is this a desirable arrangement?
•     Can some other system be devised, one that protects the human goods we care about but that does not do more harm than good?
•     What are those human goods?  What boundaries can and should we try to establish, and how

• Yet another area of questions to consider deals with the medical ethics of stem cell research
•     Stem cells therapies already seem to be a promising future, but people already have concerns with the availability of these treatments to the general public.  Will these benefits be equally available to all people, regardless of ability to pay? 
•     How should the emergence of the new field of stem cell research alter the previous amounts of funding of the already limited amounts set aside for biomedical research?
•     How, in a morally and politically controversial area of research, should the balance be found between public and private sources of support?
•     As with many new scientific technologies, how can we distinguish between the real promise of stem cells and the "hype" and between the more urgent and the less urgent medical needs calling out for assistance?

• What about dealing with claims?
•     There are sensitive issues regarding premature claims of cures for diseases that are not scientifically substantiated and the potential exploitation of sick people and their families. 
•     Some advocates of stem cell research have made bold claims about the number of people who will be helped should the research go forward, hoping to generate sympathy for increased research funding among legislators and the public.
•     Which of these claims and counterclaims is closer to the truth cannot be known ahead of time.  Only once the proper scientific studies are conducted will we discover the potential therapeutic value of any type of stem cell. 
•     While we are waiting for this information, how should we discuss these matters, offering encouragement but without misleading or exploiting the fears and hopes of the desperately ill?

• And finally, the issues of social significance of accepting the use of embryonic stem cells
•    What would our society be like if it comes to treat as acceptable or normal the exploitation of what we once regarded as the seeds of the next generation.
•    Conversely, what is the social significance of refusing to use these 150-200 cell early human embryos as a resource for responsible scientific investigation and the search for cures?
•    What would a society be like if it refused, on moral grounds against the use of human embryos, to encourage every thoughtful and scientifically sound effort to heal disease and relieve the suffering of fully developed human beings among us?  

The issues brought up by the questions above cut to the core of the ethical and moral arguments regarding stem cell (and especially embryonic stem cell) research and advancement.  By answering these questions, you can personally find where you fit in with the debate and what side of the debate you may associate with.

The ethical debate with stem cells is ongoing.  Despite resistance, research in the private sector legally continues work on discovering the function, differentiation, and use of embryonic stem cells.  Under government regulation, funds are not available for the research of new lines of embryonic stem cells.  Government funding is only available for those lines (only 22 of them) that were created before 2001. 

The ethical argument against embryonic stem cells still exists because it affects how the US government is funding research.  If popular public opinion begins to shift more in favor of the research, government funds will most likely be allowed to be used for embryonic stem cell research, therefore, making it easier to research embryonic stem cells.  Currently, the ethical and moral arguments held against research are hindering the research ability of embryonic stem cells.  Scientists are currently researching to the best of their ability with the best resources that are currently available, despite the lack of federal funding.       

STEM CELL CONTROVERSY

Much of the controversy produced from stem cell research stems from the differing opinions to many of the questions raised above.  The reason that this controversy remains unresolved is because, like many continuing moral arguments, there isn't a solid middle ground or compromise to make everyone happy. 

The debate on embryonic stem cell research has created controversy in America.  The controversy is tied to moral and ethical issues, and how to deal with research in the private sector involving limits and regulations. 

• Ethical and moral controversy

•     Those against embryonic stem cell research are most likely protest because of right to life issues involving embryos.  When a human life begins, potential life, and abortion to obtains stem cells are just a few issues that explain the side of those opposed to embryonic stem cell research.  These people usually also identify with the pro-life side of the abortion debate.

•     Another area of controversy is the advancement of stem cell technology for the purpose of someday cloning human beings.  This argument is based on the slippery slope argument.  This side argues as follows; if we continue to let research continue into stem cells, scientists will eventually be able to clone organs, and then someday have the capabilities to attempt human cloning, which is morally and ethically wrong.

• In general, science is advocating the research of stem cells because of the great promise of their medical benefits.  The aim of all people in favor of stem cell research is the relief of suffering to those who have diseases that could be solved through stem cell technology.

•   This Link provides information on many issues about the controversy of stem cells.  It includes information on why there is controversy, how the government is dealing with this controversy, who aligns themselves on each side of the debate, and also what other countries have done when faced with the same issues of stem cell research.

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This website was created by a student for a Monmouth College course