Albanie Stoddard

Jeff Webb
Final Paper
4/28/13

Stem Cell Research

Stem cell research is a major controversial issue because pro-life
advocates as well as religious people believe it is destruction of a human life.
While researching this topic it has become clear that yes stem cell research
can help and be very beneficial in treating diseases, but it is taking advantage
of peoples autonomy. Federal funding of embryonic stem cells shouldnt be an
option. Money received to help fund the research should come from private
entities and subsidized through the states. Research on embryonic stem cells
has not been a viable solution to cure any diseases therefor it shouldnt be
funded by taxes from people who dont think it is ethical.
In 1998 there was a law that was passed which stated that federal funding
was banned for stem cell research. Then it was over turned by executive
order as of March 9, 2009. President Barack Obama gave the executive order
to the National Institutes of Heath that federally fund research on already
destroyed embryos but not on new ones. (Obama, 2009) With that being said
the ethical dilemma with this is that there are many individuals out there who
believe it is morally incorrect to fund this type of research because of the
destruction of the embryos. In an article by Hug it stated, Embryonic stem
cell research poses a moral dilemma. It forces us to choose between two moral

principles: The duty to prevent or alleviate suffering, or The duty to respect

the value of human life. (Hug, 1) The duty to prevent suffering will lead to
more research with these embryonic stem cells while the duty to respect the
value of a human life will lead to more funding for adult stem cells and
umbilical cord as well as the other stem cells being researched today.
There are many religious aspect of embryonic stem cell research. The
Catholic take the stance that every sperm is sacred and as with most Christian
dogma they also take the stance that every embryo is sacred and is a God
given life to this world. There's quite an uproar among religions that comes to
stem cell research. The Christians seem to be the most powerful voice that we
have in this country and are pro-life to which stem cells should not be altered.
They look at it as you are killing a child that is unborn and should be brought
into this world. The religious aspects throughout the world all center on the
great debate as to when embryo comes to life. Muslims view it as 120 days
the Jewish view it as 40 days, however majority of this country views reply
upon the Christians view, which is 36 days. (Pew Research Center, 1) In
retrospect the embryos that are being used for stem cell research are in fact
fertilized eggs. Moreover they are only allowed to use embryos that would be
considered a failure for growing completely into a fetus.

(Michael, 1)
This graph explains exactly what people are worried about and the reason as
to why they are against embryonic stem cell research. 57% are objective
because of their religious views while there are 39% that are objective
because of other grounds that could include, personal beliefs. (Michael, 1)
An argument has been made that since the embryos werent going to
become a human being anyways, they should be able to continue to research
on those failed embryos. In an article written on The Survival Doctor it stated,
Newer technologies exist that allow creation of identical embryonic-type stem
cells without the use of embryos, cloning or human eggs, bypassing any need
for ethically questionable research with human embryos or risking the health
of women. (Kaufman, 1) It would be fare to say as technologies advance
there would no longer be the question if we were messing with life and that we
will be able to find a common ground that will demonstrate that we are looking
for ways to cure common diseases.

Controversy over whether embryonic stem cells is ethical or not isnt the
main focus, it is federal funding and regulation throughout the states. Most
people believe it should be left up to the majority opinion of the state in which
to decide whether or not embryonic stem cell research should be funded.
According to the 10th amendment, rights not allocated to the federal
government should be reserved for the people and the states. (Mathews, 1)
Meaning that federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is not clearly
stated in the constitution, therefor taxpayers shouldnt have to pay for it if it
goes against their autonomy and personal beliefs. A poll done by the Gallup
study in 2011 found that 30% of Americans believe stem cell research is
morally wrong with 70% believing it to be ethical and accept it. They also
found that 41% of Americans are against federal funding for stem cell research
while the other 59% are for federally funding embryonic stem cell research.
(Gallup, 2011)
The University of San Francisco is funding stem cell research by having
received a $3 Billion voter-initiated, money from the National Institute of
Health, being privately funded through the California institute for Regenerative
Medicine, as well as having their own private philanthropy. There are many
other states that are funded like Wisconsin and New York. Wisconsin received
$750 million from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation to grow their
research, while New York received $600 million from the state. (SCRF, 1) This
proves the point being made earlier that there is enough money going round
to fund these research projects that there is no use for federal money.

There are various types of stem cells that have been proven to heal
diseases, such as adult and umbilical cord blood stem cells. Federally funded
stem cell research should continue in the areas that are not as controversy as
embryonic stem cells. Cord blood can be just as beneficial as embryonic stem
cells and it is morally acceptable. Instead of extracting cells from embryos and
destroying a potential human life you can take the blood from the umbilical
cord and extract cells from that to help do the same job as cells from a
destroyed or living embryo would. There have also been cures found from
adult stem cells that have worked for many years, unlike the newly found
cures from embryonic stem cells. The diseases that have potential cures from
adult stem cells or cord blood consists of: Leukemia, Heart Disease, Cerebral
Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Systemic Scleroderma,
Parkinsons Disease as well as 23 others and still more coming.
In an article on exploring stem cells it says Adult stem cells hold a distinct
advantage in that a patient's own cells are identified, isolated, grown and
transplanted back into the patient. The recipient's immune system does not
reject the cells because they are compatible with that person's body. With
embryonic stem cells, the potential for immune rejection would require strong
immune suppressing drugs to combat rejection of the new cells.
(Murnaghan,1) With that being said it is quit clear that adult stem cells have
the advantages for curing diseases and dont require the amount of
medications embryonic stem cells do to sustain a healthy transplant of the
cells.

In conclusion there are better options available, and the money should be
focused in these areas verses the embryonic research. State and private
funding dont compromise autonomy, as well as not staying in conjunction
with our nations Constitution. Embryonic stem cell research already receives
plenty of funds via other sources so why should pro-life taxpayers have to put
their money towards an organization that they dont believe in? Our nation has
participated in plenty of polls and research on this matter with 57%, more than
half, having declared their opposition for embryonic stem cell research. In
Obamas speech about lifting the ban of embryonic stem cell research he said
At this moment, the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown, and
it should not be overstated. (Obama, 1) This proving the point that it remains
unknown where embryonic stem cell research can go but in fact we should
focus more so on the stem cells that have proven themselves to be efficient in
treating diseases.

Works Cited
Hug, K.. N.p.. Web. 28 Apr 2013.
<http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embryonic-stem-cell-researchethical-dilemma>.

Kaufman, Dan. N.p.. Web. 29 Apr 2013.

<http://www.thesurvivaldoctor.com/2013/02/14/doctors-debate-embryonicstem-cell-research-pros-and-cons/>.
Marzotto, Alt. "The Ups and Downs of Stem Cell Research: The Impact of Policy
Uncertainty." J Health Hum Serv Adm. (2012): 331-351. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23293807
Mathews. "Access to Stem Cells and Data: Persons, Property Rights, and Scientific
Progress." Highwire Press Journals 331.6018 (2011): 725-27. 2011. Web. 5
Feb. 2013.
Michael, Goldstein. n. page. <http://legacy.jyi.org/letters/l2e.php?id=645>.
Murnaghan, I.. N.p.. Web. 29 Apr 2013.
<http://www.explorestemcells.co.uk/adultvsembryonicstemcells.html>.
National Institutes of Health, . N.p.. Web. 28 Apr 2013.
<http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/Pages/Default.asp&xgt;.
Obama, B.. N.p.. Web. 29 Apr 2013.
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-of-the-President-AsPrepared-for-Delivery-Signing-of-Stem-Cell-Executive-Order-and-ScientificIntegrity-Presidential-Memorandum>.
Pew Research Center, . N.p.. Web. 29 Apr 2013.
<http://www.pewforum.org/Science-and-Bioethics/Religious-Groups-OfficialPositions-on-Stem-Cell-Research.asp&xgt;.
SCRF, . N.p.. Web. 29 Apr 2013. <http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/dr-richardburt/>.