In the article “Stem Cell Research The Potential Health Benefits Outweigh the Ethical Risks” by the Washington Post Editorial Board, the author feels stem cell advancements are more important than ethical implications.
Ethics, our morals, are one of the key characteristics that makes humans unique. In addition, ethics are deeply ingrained in our Medical values as evidenced by the existence of the American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics throughout history. However, the views in this editorial, downplays the seriousness of omitting ethical concerns in the medical research industry. In summary the article talks about stem cell research methods of the past and new techniques currently being explored. The author discusses how stem cell research procedures that used embryos in the past were condemned by the public. According to the article, scientist then looked for alternative ways to explore stem cell technology.
The part of this article which seems disturbing is the author’s indifference to ethical considerations in this field of stem cell medical research. For example, the author discusses a new practice of stem cell research called Somatic Stem Cell Nuclear Transfer which, according to the editorial “Involves taking the nucleus out of a human egg and replacing it with the nucleus from an adult cell”. He then admits that this is the same type of procedure scientist could use in reproductive cloning. Many scientists may use this process for truly creating medical solutions to aid in disease. However, I feel it also opens the door to the possibility of cloning human cells. Yet the editorial’s point of view is “The Potential health benefits outweigh the ethical risks”
For example, when the question is posed in this editorial as to “Whether researchers who aren’t interested in reproductive cloning should be barred from refining the nuclear transfer process lest a rogue scientist decides to try Xeroxing people”. The author states in response “We’d say that they should not be restricted if the method may advance the search for bona fide stem-cell therapies.”
In summary, I feel that Ethics are an essential part of our culture and has been throughout human history. To exclude ethical considerations from such sensitive topics of stem cell research or cloning strips away the conscience of modern society at the expense of scientific gain.
References
Editorial Board (2014). In stem-cell research, the potential health benefits outweigh the ethical risks. Retrieved from
