Would you use stem cell therapies involving embryonic stem cell research to cure a deadly disease if the therapies were 100% effective?
Let us also assume similar stem cell therapies using skin cells reverted back to pluripotent states are ineffective.
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M$5 Answers
If some want to look at this as a moral issue then I would ask this question " Isn't it morally wrong to deny people suffering from horrible diseases a chance at life? Using stem cell therapies / research saves lives.Think of it that way.
These embryos will be destroyed by the fertility clinics anyway, There is no moral issue. Using them in stem cell research / therapies is just the right thing to do.
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M$
It's a cure to painful and deadly diseases? And it doesn't hurt anyone? You betcha!
I just don't see how we can take materials that could save lives and dump them in the garbage on the grounds of morals. It's so backward! If we achieve nothing else in this life, shouldn't we help others?
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M$
I can only say that this just seems so basic an issue to me. I know both sides of the story and can understand both those that seek to protect all human life even in its earliest stages and I can understand the need to use embryonic stem cells to further advancement in treating some of humanities' most dreaded diseases. For me the choice is simple, however Peter Griffin says so much more than I ever could. Things are better now Peter.
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M$
My theory on the whole project would be that if you are planning on having an abortion, that's fine (I AM PROCHOICE NOT PRO ABORTION; Big Difference people).
As you are filling out the paperwork there is a section (that you must sign separately so there is no misunderstanding unless you are an idiot), that says I would, or would not like to have the removed tissue, donated to stem cell research or not.
If you say NO then it must be disposed of properly and without and theft.
If you say yes then it is moved from there to a research center.
(The thing that REALLY gets me going is that people will always take pro choice as proabortion because they feel it is wrong. What people don't realize is that (in the U.S.A) this country was built on people wanting to do what they want as long as it didn't interfere with anyone else's lives and it has become a travesty that now it is by popular demand that things get chosen but not by constitutional rights. There should be no one saying that you cant do something that harms no one but what you control in your life. That zygote is a part of you, just like a finger, and until the time that its removed you should have every right to choose not to keep it inside you. (I do not agree with abortion but prochoice). What is even more frustrating is the fact that people all say (political activists against stem cell research) that its killing babies, you are killing something with a heart beat! That's not even true either, you can get stem cells from about anywhere (human spinal cord) from the Umbilical cord. But even more frustrating is if someone wants to have an abortion, a medical procedure then its their right. They will slaughter a baby cow to eat to have veal, but they get pissy when people who cant A) take care of the baby and putting them into a foster home would be murder, B) Were raped and shouldn't have to keep the baby and C) just never wanted a baby (yes they are stupid but we let GWB be our President Twice, should everyone who voted for him be denied voting privileges?)
Now I am off to see about ranting somewhere were it is appropriate
and one more thing, Stem cells could save 4 million people in the usa from Alzheimer's.
www.dshs.state.tx.us/alzheimers/qanda.shtm
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M$
Great answer Rishiku. Thank you for the great amount of thought and time you put into this answer. You made some very nice points and your idea about releasing the tissue to science or not as a choice is a pretty good one. I'm sure some would disagree, but your point about the zygote belonging to the "donor" could be applied to give the final decision to the donor. Thanks again.
Hearing his daily struggle with parkinsons disease was heartbreaking but also inspirational. He made such a good argument for changing the laws regarding stem cell research. If they are already going to destroy the embryos why not use them for good. We have an obligation to help those individuals who are already on this earth don't we. Why would we let them suffer needlessly. I just don't understand the laws surrounding this. He has started a research foundation and raised millions of dollars to fund this research to help find a cure for parkisons. I think many people would change their minds on this issue if it was them in the situation where they were suffering day in and day out or if there was a loved one that they had to watch in pain everyday.
We have to care for others and put ourselves in their situation to see from their perspective.
It was a terrific book to read. I'm so glad I did!
http://www.amazon.com/Always-Looking-Up-Adventures-Incurable/dp/1401303382
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M$
All the answers were great, but one word in Suzd688 helped me make the decision. "Chance."
Given the parameters of the question, the discarded embryo would not result in a chance for an improved life for anyone directly. Using embryonic stem cells in genetics research would at the very least give science a chance to help people that really need help. It would give them hope and a chance for an improved life, and in some cases outright life versus death.
I thank you all for the thoughts and answers you gave to the question. They all were right on topic and well spoken.