Question

Stem cells can be guided into becoming specific cells that can be used to regenerate and repair diseased or damaged tissues in people. Consider using an embryonic stem cell for the above statement; would this be considered inhumane? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Stem cell research has attracted immense interest from the scientific community and general public due to its great potential to treat conditions previously thought to be a bottle neck . Stem cells can be used to regenerate and repair diseased or damaged tissues including those which are not regenerated though natural process in an adult human being. This has immense potential to treat even disorders affecting neuronal cells. Stem cell research has attracted the ire of religious leaders due to questions of ethics involved in it. The main theme being we are interfering the natural process and hence meddling with the divine creation. This becomes more vociferous when the stem cells has been made out of embrionic cell. And the question arises that by using an embrionic cell one is taking out a potential life. The question of interefering with natural order is not of sound logic since even treating a disease or assisting a risky child birth is essentially interfering with a natural process which the present society will consider as most humane and not doing so becomes the inhuman act. Coming to the question of embrionic cell and taking out a potential life , it can be argued that even ethics and morality of the society need to evolve. However if science develop such that stem cells from umbilical cord can be used or stored for one's life span or compatible stem cells from such sources can be used for treatment , then it is better to avoid the use of embrionic cells.