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Stem Cells
What do you think about Stem Cell Research? - by Catherine Morgan
It seems to me that the idea of whether or not life begins at the pre-embryo or “zygote†shouldn’t be the main issue. Let’s just say for arguments sake, that it does. If we are saying that the “zygote†is just as much of a life as any other life, and that by using it for scientific research it is essentially “killing†that potential life, then that should be the main issue. For that reason, the public should be up-in-arms over the destruction of these “zygotesâ€. Why is it o.k. to just dispose of this potential life? Shouldn’t that be the main issue?
picture by © mohan12331
The stem cells that are taken from these “zygotes†are what is needed for the research that could very well save millions of lives in the future. So, if the choice is between destroying stem cells or using them to help save a life….It seems a “no-brain-er†to me that possibly saving someones life would be a more virtuous use of these cells then just tossing them out in the trash. It seems that it’s the “right to life†people that are most against stem cell research, but why then do they seem to think there is no problem with throwing out the “life†in a dumpster. That’s confusing to me.
I guess as a nurse I look at this situation a bit differently. When a family is faced with the loss of a child due to an accident of some sort, they are given the opportunity to “donate†any viable organs, tissue, or cells. Another words; it’s their choice, the family decides. Wouldn’t it be unconscionable if the government started stepping in and deciding what these families should do? Stem cell research is really the same thing in many ways. The families that used in-vitro fertilization to have their children should be the ones to decide what is done with any “left-over†stem cells. These cells are part of them and belong to them, not the government, not the scientists, not anyone else. Therefor, any decision on what should be done with these cells, should be made by the people that those cell actually belong to. The best way to do this would be much like when we state on our drivers licence that we are “organ donorsâ€; the families that have used in-vitro fertilization should state on legal documents what they would like done with any “left over†embryos. As long as we allow in-vitro fertilization, the government and the public needs to step aside and let the families decide what they will do when these situations arise. We don’t tell them what to do when a child is conceived from this process, these children don’t belong to the government then, so why should they belong to the government before conception?
This is just how I feel. I know it is a controversial subject. I just wanted to point out that there was a time, not too long ago, when the government and the public questioned whether organ donation itself should be allowed….and now, look how many lives it saves.
Questioning and debate are always a good thing, just as long as we don’t become paralized with the inability to see certain subjects in more than one light. In this case, wouldn’t the most logical outcome be that the family decide if they want to donate these cells to science, or donate them to another couple, or have them discarded? It seems this could solve a lot of the controversy. And, not to point out the obvious; but this is really one of those “wedge†issues that the politicians use to manipulate the way we vote and divert our attention away from other important issues that the government really should be focusing on. I can think of a lot of other ways the government could contribute to saving human life, especially if they focus on the lives that are actually living.
I would love to know what others think on this “hot button†issue. But, if you comment, please do it in a way that is respectful and without harsh and angry words. Like I said before; I think the debate is important….but when you use words to just “shut-up†the other side….no side benefits.
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A MUST SEE VIDEO ON STEM CELL RESEARCH — Regenerative Medicine: Pathways To A Cure
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Here are 71 diseases and injuries that may be treated or cured by stem cell research. First, a caveat — this research is still in its early stages, and we’re not saying that cures are here today, or will be here next week. But we are saying this — with stem cell research, we will almost certainly get these cures and treatments sooner — a lot sooner. It’s not a promise of a cure, but it is a promise of one key thing — more hope. A lot more hope.
January 24, 2007 at 12:15 am
SEE COMMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT AT THE ORIGINAL POST:
http://informedvoters.wordpress.com/2007/01/18/what-do-you-think-about-stem-cell-research/#comments
January 24, 2007 at 11:40 pm
This is kind of a hard question, but we have to ask the questions like you have done.
Good Job!
Gabriel
January 24, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Thanks “Gabriel”
February 6, 2007 at 1:20 am
As much as a Panacea would be welcomed by me on normal terms, I fear that natural human desires will take this research further than it was originally intended to be taken. I’ll spare the details, as I honestly don’t feel like writing right now, however let it be known that as liberal as I am, I am against this research.
February 6, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Thanks for sharing your opinion “Rytiko”. This is one of those topics with a lot of “grey” areas, so I can understand your concerns.
February 9, 2007 at 5:55 pm
how can one support abortion which takes a life, and then support taking cells from the remains to help preserve life?
February 9, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Hi “Clevelandcliff” — This article really isn’t about abortion, the cells that are used for “stem-cell” research, are from couples who have used “invitro”….this is not an “abortion”…..these are actually couples who are trying to have a baby. In some cases, these are “donated” to other couples who can not have children, but in many cases, they are just discarded in the trash….it just seems that if we recongnize this as “life”….we shouldn’t be so quit to toss it in the trash.
Hope that answered you question. Take care.
February 24, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I agree with you on this subject.
It should be the families decision about what happens to these cells and the research and benefits that can come from these cells is phenomenal. There are grey areas I admit but with the proper regulation these fears should not prevent the creation of cures for countless diseases and ailments which would bring joy and relief to thousands perhaps millions of people world wide and their families.
Open and reasoned discussion is needed for the advance of this research and the calming of fear and worries. Some people will completely shutdown when faced with reasoned discussion others once learning all the facts will either change their mind or be able to argue their own point more effectively. This is an education and access to informaion issue aswell, without access to information and reasoned debate how can people make an informed decision?
The problem is that when this research is disscussed it is rarely in a reasoned and controlled manner, which leads to the closing of the paper, the turning off of the radio or the TV or simply walking away from the speaker. A problem which affects many areas of our social lives, not just this research.
February 24, 2007 at 6:31 pm
“Sasha” — Thanks for your comment, I agree with you 100%.
February 24, 2007 at 8:40 pm
transfered comment:
# whitishrabbit Says:
February 23rd, 2007 at 5:23 pm e
I think you’ve introduced a wonderful idea that I’d never really thought of before: that the family should decide. This seems to me a respectful compromise between the benefits of this form of research and respect for those who have strong moral objections against it. Usually compromise means no one is completely happy, but if both sides of the issue are respected, what more could science or religion reasonably expect of the legislative outcome?
# Catherine Morgan Says:
February 23rd, 2007 at 5:55 pm e
Hi “Whitishrabbit†— Thanks for your comment, I agree 100%. It seems this would be an obvious solution….but it also seems it is the only solution I never hear even discussed as an option.
Thanks again for your comment.
March 12, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Why is it that no one has brought up cloning stem cells. That seems to me to be a much better choice.
March 12, 2007 at 5:36 pm
That is an interesting idea.
March 24, 2007 at 12:44 am
We don’t have to use aborted fetuses http://www.cordblood.com
June 6, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Thanks for that, Catherine. Most informative, and I like your suggestion to leave the decision, as to what to do with the left over embryos, to the donors. Interfering busybodies, please butt out.
June 6, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Hi “Talbingo” - Thanks for the comment, I’m happy you like the post.
June 12, 2007 at 9:19 am
From: “Let’s be factual about the human embryo”
the media has virtually excluded human embryologists as a source for information about the core issues of Human Embryology, including: abortion, partial birth abortion, fetal tissue research, human embryo
research, cloning, stem cell research and other related issues.
http://www.all.org/abac/ab020128.htm
So, what to embryologists say?
“Embryo: An organism in the earliest stage of development; in a man, from the time of conception to the end of the second month in the uterus.” [Dox, Ida G. et al. The Harper Collins Illustrated Medical Dictionary. New York: Harper Perennial, 1993, p. 146]
“The development of a human being begins with fertilization, a process by which two highly specialized cells, the spermatozoon from
the male and the oocyte from the female, unite to give rise to a new organism, the zygote.”
[Langman, Jan. Medical Embryology. 3rd edition. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1975, p. 3]
“The development of a human begins with fertilization, a process by
which the spermatozoon from the male and the oocyte from the female
unite to give rise to a new organism, the zygote.”
[Sadler, T.W. Langman's Medical Embryology. 7th edition. Baltimore:
Williams & Wilkins 1995, p. 3]
—
“The question came up of what is an embryo, when does an embryo
exist, when does it occur. I think, as you know, that in development,
life is a continuum…. But I think one of the useful definitions
that has come out, especially from Germany, has been the stage at
which these two nuclei [from sperm and egg] come together and the membranes between the two break down.” [Jonathan Van Blerkom of University of Colorado, expert witness on
human embryology before the NIH Human Embryo Research Panel -- Panel Transcript, February 2, 1994, p. 63]
“Human development begins after the union of male and female gametes or germ cells during a process known as fertilization (conception).
“Fertilization is a sequence of events that begins with the contact of a sperm (spermatozoon) with a secondary oocyte (ovum) and ends with the fusion of their pronuclei (the haploid nuclei of the sperm and ovum) and the mingling of their chromosomes to form a new cell. This fertilized ovum, known as a zygote, is a large diploid cell that
is the beginning, or primordium, of a human being.” [Moore, Keith L. Essentials of Human Embryology. Toronto: B.C. Decker
Inc, 1988, p.2]
“Although life is a continuous process, fertilization is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new, genetically distinct human organism is thereby formed…. The combination of 23 chromosomes present in each pronucleus results in 46 chromosomes in the zygote. Thus the diploid number is restored and the embryonic
genome is formed. The embryo now exists as a genetic unity.”
[O'Rahilly, Ronan and Müller, Fabiola. Human Embryology & Teratology. 2nd edition. New York: Wiley-Liss, 1996, pp. 8, 29. This textbook lists "pre-embryo" among "discarded and replaced terms" in modern embryology, describing it as "ill-defined and inaccurate" (p. 12}]
I COULD go on …
June 12, 2007 at 12:36 pm
With all do respect Mary…Where is the outrage over the destruction of human embryos? You can see what is happening to these embryos in a one minute video at the top of this post.
Anyone against stem cell research using cells that will otherwise be thrown in the trash…should have equal outrage for the destruction of these cells. Otherwise the terminology is hypocrisy.
June 20, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Catherine:
Great post.
It’s criminal that so many people are suffering from so many diseases because of one mans ideology and complete lack of knowledge in science, which he has publicly debunked.
Frozen embryos and abortions are not even close in this debate or in the same book. That is the main problem with the right wing, because they refuse to understand science they don’t understand what the topic fully entails. And for that reason, America is no longer on top or on the cutting edge in the advancement of science and medicine.
June 20, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Thanks for your comment. This is an issue that gets me so mad. I really think that every time a media news outlet allows Bush or anyone else to publicly state that stem cell research is not moral…they should have to then show the one minute video of what is being done to these same cells. More information has to be put out to the public about the hypocrisy of this whole thing. And, I think the news media does a dis-service to the American people by not reporting the whole truth about this issue.
June 20, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Catherine:
The MSM have become the on call spin doctors for the White House. They need to get back in the business of informing everyone of what’s really going on. They pend too much time on Hollywood BS and not enough on the topics that really matter.
If you put the news in an American Idol format then maybe people would pay attention.
November 7, 2007 at 10:20 pm
I know this is a little late to the discussion, but I just found this post. Catherine, I am impressed with your tone in this post, and I do agree on several levels. You have avoided the “us against them” approach that I see all too often, and I can see you have a heart to help people.
I am a conservative, who is pro-life, anti-death penalty, and against embryonic stem cell research. Although I am all for cord blood research and adult stem cell research, which has actually helped people already. Anything which doesn’t destroy a life. I also personally believe that all embryos created in the invetro process should be implanted or donated to others. I know several people who have insisted that only embryos that will be used be created. I think if you believe life begins at conception, you can’t pick and choose when you’ll take that stand.
In fact, I can say with as much certainty as possible (I’ve never been in this situation) that if I had a disease that I knew could be cured by destroying an embryo, I would not want the cure.
I also believe you can’t necessarily “ban” this research, because there are so many differing views as to when life begins. I do have a problem with government funding something to which there is so much moral “grey area”, if I am paying taxes, just like atheists would object to the government supporting my church. Frankly I would object to the government funding my church!
So although I have a differing view, I like this post. These are the questions we have to talk about honestly, realizing we are all trying to do the best we can for humanity.
Sorry so long. Also, I think President Bush is the first president to sign legislation allowing funding for research on existing stem cell lines. I may be mistaken.
November 7, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Hi Sarah.
Thanks for your comment, I’m always happy to get comments, regardless of how long it’s been since I’ve written the post. I also appreciate the fact, that although you disagree with my overall premise on this issue, you were kind enough to respond to me in an gentle and understanding way…I appreciate that very much, so thank you. *[Many people think that "anything goes" on a political blog, and they can say some very unkind things.]
I understand completely where you are coming from, and I respect your opinion. And as far as tax dollars going towards this type of research, I can see where you wouldn’t want to feel like you were funding something you feel goes against your personal beliefs…I understand, because that is exactly the way I feel about the war right now. I know this will never happen…But wouldn’t it be great, if when we filled out our tax returns we could check off the issues we would like our $$$ to support?
Anyway, I guess the part I feel the most strongly about when it comes to the stem cell issue, is the fact that so many “stem cells/lives” are being just thrown in the trash…I just feel like no matter what side of the issue you fall on, everyone must be against this practice.
So for me, if all of these unused embryos could be used to help give a woman a child, then I am 100% for that. But, if the question comes down to trashing these embryos or using them for stem cell research? As a nurse, I have to say that any chance at helping save a life is better than that chance being thrown away.
Thanks again for your comment. Your site is very beautiful.
Also…If you would ever like to do a guest post on my new blog…”The Political Voices of Women” (on this, or any other issue you are passionate about), please let me know. I am also looking to get a few women who would like to contribute to the blog on a regular or semi-regular basis…If that sounds like something you might like to do, I think your voice would make a wonderful addition to the site (and I want this new site to be representative of many differing opinions of women…not just women who agree with me).
Hope to talk to you again soon,
Catherine