The Government and Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The Government and Embryonic Stem Cell

ResearchBy: Erin Hutzell and Triston Harry

Should the government support/fund the research of embryonic stem cells?◦ To answer the question:

Is embryonic stem cell research ethical?

Is embryonic stem cell research useful?

Does embryonic stem cell research fit government regulations?

Questions Proposed

Embryonic Stem Cells◦Derived from

Blastocyst◦Embryo is

Destroyed◦Cells are

Pluripotent◦Currently being

Researched

Government◦Federal

Regulations◦Guide Research◦Many Documents Belmont Report Dickey-Wicker

Amendment

Introduction: Background

Life Begins at Conception◦ Scientifically Proven

Genetics Embryology

Embryonic Development

Life Begins at day 14 or 15 of Pregnancy◦ Twinning◦ Embryo Fusion◦ Miscarriages

Embryo Destruction: The Arguments Based on Science

Spare Embryos◦ Permanently Frozen◦ Destroyed Anyways

Alternatives to these procedures

Another Argument

Kant’s Categorical Imperative

Inherent worth End-in-itself

formula

Principalism Nonmalificence Beneficence Autonomy

Ethical Point of View on Embryos

Conclusion Based on Embryo Arguments

Unethical

Scarce amount of recorded data Tissue rejection Tumors Not approved by FDA

Success Rates and Downfalls

Alternatives to Embryonic Stem Cells

Adult Stem Cells Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Occur Naturally in Body Naturally Repair Body Highly successful

◦ Treated between 70 and 100 disorders

Presents no ethical implications or health problems

New Technology◦ Still in Research Phase

Not used as direct treatment

Cell Lines used to find treatments◦ Test drugs

Artificially created Fairly successful Problem of Uncontrollable

Growth◦ Tumors

Conclusion Based on Success and Alternatives

Embryonic Stem Cells are not useful therapeutically and are not successful

Dickey Wicker Amendment George Bush Barrack Obama

Legal Issues

Government RegulationsNational Research Act of

1974 The Belmont Report

Created Committee Identify Ethical

Principles Guide Research Resulted in Belmont

Report

Principles◦ Autonomy◦ Beneficence◦ Justice

All Principles Violated

Conclusion Based on Government Regulations

Should not be funded

The Government Should Not Fund Embryonic Stem Cell Research◦ The Research Itself is Unethical

Human lives are destroyed◦ The Research is Unsuccessful

This results in a bad allocation of resources if funded◦ The Research Violates Government Regulations

Should not fund something that does not follow the law

Overall Conclusions