A Plea for Stem Cell Research
Phil Alito
Issue date: 11/2/04 Section: Special: Election Issue 2004
With all of the media attention devoted to the war in Iraq, it is safe to say that many important issues have been able to slip beneath the radar screen. One such issue is President Bush's choice to block government funding of stem cell research, effectively preventing medical advancement. Stem cells are cells that theoretically can divide without limit and have the potential to develop into any cell type, including such specialized ones as nerve and muscle cells. Stem cell research offers significant chances at helping countless human problems not limited to Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's Disease, spinal cord injuries, stroke, severe burns, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Harold Varmus, Director of the National Institutes of Health at the time of stem-cell research's conception said, "It is not too unrealistic to say that this research has the potential to revolutionize the practice of medicine and improve the quality and length of life. There is almost no realm of medicine that might not be touched by this innovation."
Stem cells are isolated from 5-7 day old blastocytes, killing the embryo in the process and creating a moral dilemma for some. A common source of these embryonic stem cells are surplus embryos that are a byproduct of the activities of in vitro fertilization labs. Though these days old embryos may be genetically human at this point, it possesses none of the characteristics of humanity such as self awareness- it is merely a small cluster of cells.
Stem cell research has been opposed on the basis that it is immoral to create human life simply for the sake of destroying it and that these day old blastocytes are in fact life. Some opposing groups conjure up sci-fi like images of raising hordes of humans for the sole purpose of harvesting their organs. Stem cell research should be conducted under rigorous moral guidelines, however it should still be allowed to progress. It is important to note that there are many staunch anti-abortionists who support stem cell research; this is a separate issue. However, on either side of this debate people agree that this is a life or death issue. One Lou Gehrig's disease sufferer argued at a news conference, ""Mr. President, you are presented with a choice. Your choice is about different things to different people. All view points deserving respect, all view points founded in the love of life. In the life I love here, this is what your decision means to me. You have the choice to be pro-life for an un-implanted frozen embryo that will be discarded or pro-life for me. Members of Congress and President Bush, I am asking you to choose me."
Stem cells are isolated from 5-7 day old blastocytes, killing the embryo in the process and creating a moral dilemma for some. A common source of these embryonic stem cells are surplus embryos that are a byproduct of the activities of in vitro fertilization labs. Though these days old embryos may be genetically human at this point, it possesses none of the characteristics of humanity such as self awareness- it is merely a small cluster of cells.
Stem cell research has been opposed on the basis that it is immoral to create human life simply for the sake of destroying it and that these day old blastocytes are in fact life. Some opposing groups conjure up sci-fi like images of raising hordes of humans for the sole purpose of harvesting their organs. Stem cell research should be conducted under rigorous moral guidelines, however it should still be allowed to progress. It is important to note that there are many staunch anti-abortionists who support stem cell research; this is a separate issue. However, on either side of this debate people agree that this is a life or death issue. One Lou Gehrig's disease sufferer argued at a news conference, ""Mr. President, you are presented with a choice. Your choice is about different things to different people. All view points deserving respect, all view points founded in the love of life. In the life I love here, this is what your decision means to me. You have the choice to be pro-life for an un-implanted frozen embryo that will be discarded or pro-life for me. Members of Congress and President Bush, I am asking you to choose me."