The article revolves around human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research that aims at alleviating human suffering that is brought by diseases and injuries. This sounds great. Many human sufferings are as a result of illness and injuries. Their research is mainstreamed on mechanisms used in differentiation of human cells (Cortes & Menendez, 2009). HESC focuses on how they can be turned into specific cells that can treat deliberating and life-threatening diseases and injuries.
However, the research faces opposition since the cells used to treat deliberating and life-threatening illnesses, and injuries can be only be extracted from human cells. The cells used are derived from 5 days embryos that normally have 200 – 250 cells. HESC removes the trophoblast that eliminates its potential for further development. However, currently scientists have discovered a method can convert human cells into HESC hence eliminating the need for embryonic cells. However, humans cells cannot be relied on since cannot be produced enough to cater for the purpose.
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It is believed that it is morally wrong to terminate human life. Human life starts at the emergence of one cell zygote at fertilization. However, the zygote does not have the ability to think rationally or make decisions. Therefore, some people argue that it is not a human being. However, according to moral status of human embryo, supposing that the embryo is a human being, it should not be subjected to death. This is because people have the same moral status at all stages of their lives.
The embryos are donated to the researchers at that early age by their parents just as they are donated to infertile couples. However, at this point, they know the fate of their embryos that they may not survive and hence they determine the cause of their death. But the researchers may donate the embryo to infertile couples as well or use it for HESC research. Therefore, it is morally wrong to use the embryo for the research since it leads to termination of life.
All Relevant Ethical Principles
The author discusses the ethics of destroying human embryo for research. The author argues that although the research is relevant to human health, the benefits outweigh the loss of embryo. However, the research is opposed due constraints against killing innocent persons to promote social utility. The embryos are a human being since life starts at conception. Therefore, the author argues that the HESC research is against moral status since the 5 days embryo is a human being. Hence, the embryo has right not to be killed.
Another ethic discussed in the article is that of using human embryonic stem cells in research. The author argues that all research with HESCs is impermissible and hence it sometimes permissible top benefit from moral wrongs. However, researchers using HESCs clearly implicate the destruction of embryo where they derive the cells themselves (Haimes & Taylor, 2009). The cells used in HESC research are obtained from a pool of cells lines research plan had no effect on whether the original immoral derivation. Therefore, moral ethics are overlooked if the derivation methods of the cells do not consider the ethical standards of the embryo.
The Position Supported by the Author
The author believes that it is morally wrong to terminate human life. He argues that life starts at the emergence of one cell zygote at fertilization. The discussion goes further that the zygote does not have the ability to think rationally or make decisions. According to moral status of human embryo, supposing that the embryo is a human being, it should not be subjected to death. This is because people have the same moral status at all stages of their lives. However, he argues that if the cells are derived from the infertile people who are in need of a child have leftovers after fertilization and hence the cells in the leftovers can be used in the research (HARVEY, 2009). However, since the cells cannot be enough to carry out the research, hence researchers have gone an extra mile to cloning technologies with cells known to have genetic mutation to study the underpinnings of genetic diseases in vitro. Therefore, this can be a solution to the production of embryonic cells to be used in the HESCs research.
Weaknesses in the Research
The research has focused on the how the embryo can be donated at early age. The embryos are given to the researchers at that very young age by their parents just as they are donated to infertile couples. Therefore, the weakness of the research is on the basis that the fate of the embryos that they may not survive and hence they determine the cause of their death. Hence, the researchers may donate the embryo to infertile couples as well or use it for HESC research (Lim, Shim, Lee, & Lee, 2014). Therefore, the researcher fails to understand that it is morally wrong to use the embryo for the research since it leads to termination of life.
Conclusion
To enhance ethics of creating embryos for stem cell research and therapy, the HESCs derive the cells from embryos from infertile individuals. Infertile people who are in need of a child have leftovers after fertilization and hence the cells in the leftovers can be used in the research (Lim, Shim, Lee, & Lee, 2014). However, since the cells cannot be enough to carry out the research, hence researchers have gone an extra mile to cloning technologies with cells known to have genetic mutation to study the underpinnings of genetic diseases in vitro. Therefore, this can be a solution to the production of embryonic cells to be used in the HESCs research.
References
Cortes, J. & Menendez, P. (2009). Reproductive medicine meets human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research: the need to adjust the regulatory framework to actual expectations and potential detrimental consequences of hESC research. Fertility and Sterility , 91 (4), 1417-1419.
Haimes, E. & Taylor, K. (2009). Fresh embryo donation for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research: the experiences and values of IVF couples asked to be embryo donors. Human Reproduction , 24 (9), 2142-2150.
HARVEY, O. (2009). Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research in the United States: Some Policy Options for Industry Development. Politics & Policy , 37 (1), 51-71.
