Running head: STEM CELL RESEARCH/THERAPY 1

Stem Cell Research/Therapy

Name
Institution
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Introduction

Stem cell research/therapy has provided a fresh practical therapeutic option for

devastating illnesses and other ailments. In recent years, the usage of stem cell based

treatment has grown rapidly in the US due to development of stem cell research technologies.

Currently, usage of stem cell treatments have been employed in clinical care in the US to

treat certain ailments such as hematopoietic stem cells use in treating leukemia and limbal

stem cells usage in treating corneal disorder. Moreover, it has been used in in stem cell

therapies like the retina disease, cardiovascular system, diabetes, nervous system, and liver

damage. However, the usage of the stem cells has instigated scientists to look into the moral

status of the human embryo (Turner & Knoepfler, 2016).

Notwithstanding the promise of stem research theory/therapy, a myriad of ethical

dilemmas have made stem research controversial. According to King and Perrin (2014), at

the development phase, stem cells can be split into adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells

(ES cells). Owing to a huge number of embryonic research carried out, the ethical dilemma in

ES cells is heated compared with adult stem cells. This paper mainly focuses on the ethical

issues of embryonic stem cell research.

The Moral Status of Embryo Destruction for Research Purposes

The main ethical issue surrounding ES cells research focuses on the procedure

involved in harvesting the cells, as it necessitates destruction of the embryo. This destruction

of the embryo brings into question the moral status of the ES cells, as this procedure is

likened to the issue of abortion. Reason for condemning ES cells research is because they

recognize the embryo as a human being, entitled to full rights from the instant it was

conceived. For others, the view of personhood development is put forward, understanding

that the embryo progressively grows into a full being and, therefore, the early ES cells does
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not assume similar moral protection as it would have assumed at later phases of

developmental. Additionally, there are those who believe the ES cells signifies life, and that

life comes after birth.

In countries such as the United States of America, stem cell research has been fraught

by the debate that has become snared with the US abortion debate (King & Perrin, 2014).

Such connections have hampered the agreement to do research involving embryonic stem

cells. The embryo status has resulted in prohibition of carrying out research linked to ES cells

(Roe & Wade, 1973).

Ethical Issues

According to Turner and Knoepfler (2016), currently, numerous hospitals have shown

that they can offer patients with simple and efficient stem cell therapy, causing numerous

patients suffering from debilitating diseases to find solace in the stem cells therapy. The

forming stem cells tourisms damage patients’ welfares, and in worst scenarios could prolong

the disease and endanger patients’ life leading to death. Moreover, complications occur when

it comes to the cloning subject and the commodification of embryos.

Currently, clinical treatment of stem cells presents numerous disputes. Stem cell

research it is at test phase, and there is no sufficient research on its impact. Research by King

and Perrin (2014) showed that a number of diagnosis sociology institutions tweaked the

benefits of utilizing stem cell therapy, while hiding the risks stemming from stem cell

therapy. Some medical institutions cannot provide patients with previous results. The

implications of this is that numerous patients could be harmed by Stem cell therapy. For

instance, an American doctor filed a case of a young individual suffering from brain tumors

after undergoing embryonic stem cells therapy in their hospital. Current handling of stem cell

therapy is loose, and there is need of tightening the loops that exist.
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Another issue is transplanting tissue into the body of a patient. From this, arises the

matter of immune rejection. The controversy of cloning emanating from cell-nuclear-

replacement in stem cell therapy aggravates the matter further. So as to deal with the issue of

a probable immune miss-match, stem cells are developed by using cell-nuclear-replacement,

and this pose lesser risk to immune rejection as the hold the genetic info of the patient. The

name of this technique is known as therapeutic cloning. Although this technique appears

simple and easy, it is bedeviled by limitations and problems in technical know-how.

Additionally, stem cells do differentiate into unwelcome cell types, after transplantation,

which could result in an uncontrollable processes in the body of the patient.

Conclusion

The huge potentials of stem cell research or therapy implies that the prospects for this

research in scientific community are immense. However, the US has impeded any research

into stem cell technology owing to the matter being entwined with the American abortion

debate. Thus, very few stem cell therapies are a common place in the US hospitals. A

majority of researchers understand that much work is needed to look into the safety,

reliability and effects of stem cells therapy/research. The various impediments need to be

tackled prior to embarking on research on stem cell treatments and make it a reality.

Moreover, government support in the US through sufficient funding may be the needed

impetus for stem cell research being a reality in the present world. Support from religious

institutions, medical charities, companies and research Councils, is critical in ensuring stem

cell therapy/research is a reality.

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References

King, N. M., & Perrin, J. (2014). Ethical issues in stem cell research and therapy. Stem cell

research & therapy, 5(4), 85.

Roe v Wade (1973). Student’s Guide to the Supreme Court. Doi

10.4135/9781452240213.n150

Turner, L., & Knoepfler, P. (2016). Selling stem cells in the USA: assessing the direct-to-

consumer industry. Cell Stem Cell, 19(2), 154-157.