Legalization and Federal Funding of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research - Essay Example

Legalization and Federal funding of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Introduction Dehumanization of humans at any stage of development is erroneous. Scientist makes use of several terms to cover up the cruelty involved in human embryonic stem cell research. They make use of term such as embryonic bodies, cluster of stem cells, and blob of tissue whenever they are discussing the controversial issue of embryonic stem cell research. However, use of decent terms to refer to the practice of destroying human embryos does not make the research virtuous. Although scientists want to make us believe that embryos are not humans, they have done studies to demonstrate that development of humans starts from fertilization to adulthood. This depicts that though embryos may not be rational, they represent a stage through which all humans must pass and without which no human would be in existence (Family Research Council Web). Human embryonic stem cell research is a controversial issue not just in United States in all nations where scientists have attempted to seek government funding for the research. President Bush banned federal funding on stem cell research involving human embryo. However, irrespective of the controversies surrounding the human embryonic stem cell research, President Obama lifted the ban allowing research in human embryonic stem cell to be funded by federal government. This paper argues that the lifting of the ban on embryonic stem cell research was erroneous since embryonic stem cell research will result in negative effects. Additionally, the paper will demonstrate how federal funding, state funding, and debates on the media have encouraged continuance of embryonic stem cell research irrespective of the several negative impacts associated with the research. Human embryonic stem cell research is a research that involves manipulation of stem cell extracted from an embryo. For the cells to be extracted, the embryo must be destroyed. Jamie Thomson initiated the embryonic stem cell research in 1998. The research involves removal of embryonic cells from an embryo and culturing them in the laboratory for research on human diseases (“The Witherspoon Council on Ethics and the Integrity of Science” 129-133). The cells are preferred by scientists due to their great capacity to develop into different body cells. Since its start, embryonic stem cell research has aggravated serious controversies in the political, ethical, and religious arenas. However, stem cell research is wide and it involves use of adult stem cells as well as embryonic stem cells. The use of adult stem cells is not controversial since it does not involve dehumanizing acts. The main controversy is that the embryonic stem cell research involves sacrificing of human life, which is unethical since the embryos used for the research do not survive (Family Research Council Web; James 8-9; Robertson 193-195). Every scientific study is required to follow certain ethical principles. One such principle is that it should work towards raising the human dignity. In case of embryonic stem cell research, there is great disregard for human life. The argument that an embryo cannot be considered a human has already been disapproved by cloning, which has shown that life begins at conception. Therefore, treating embryos that are below fourteen days old as non-humans is unethical. The pre-embryo and post embryo distinctions used by embryonic stem cell researchers to validate their practices is not justifiable (“The Witherspoon Council on Ethics and the Integrity of Science” 132-135). The stem cell research is surrounded by many ethical questions. The main ethical question regards the morality of destroying human embryos that have the potential of developing into independent beings. Although supporters of this research argue that the embryos used for research are not obtained from the human uterus but produced in the laboratories, the research is still unethical. Creating life to destroy it is erroneous (Family Research Council Web). Opponents of embryonic stem cell research argue that it legalization will lead to increase of dehumanizing actions such as abortion. Aborted embryos act as a source of embryos for the stem cell research (James8). It is believed that legalizing the research will encourage many people to procure abortions. This is because the notion that embryos are not humans will make women feel less guilty while procuring abortion. Additionally, the argument by scientists that embryos are not humans will lead to irresponsible scientific research (Robertson 195-198). Another reason why embryonic scientific research is a great problem is that the research is against religious belief. Most people in United States are religious and believe in sanctity of human life. Legalizing embryonic stem cell research will be going against the wishes of many Americans. This is because legalizing the practice will enable the researchers get government funding. The funds used will be obtained from taxes that are paid by all including those opposing the practice. It is thus unethical to force Americans pay for a research that most of them are opposed to (Family Research Council Web). Support of government on human embryonic stem cell research can be equated to desensitization of the public over killing of embryos (James 8-10). Although the researchers argue that the embryos used are obtained from the unused embryos produced through invitro fertilization, the fact that the practice involves creating human life to destroy it does not change. The use of the embryos undermines human dignity. Although the government does not fund embryonic stem cell, research that makes use of embryos created specifically for the research, it encourages the practice. Federal funding should thus be banned (Family Research Council Web; Robertson 193-196). Irrespective of the identified negative effects of embryonic stem cell research, it is still being carried on. There are certain reasons that have led to continuity of the controversial research. The major reason is that the federal government agreed to fund most of the stem cell undertakings. Although previous administrations were reluctant to fund the controversial research, Obama’s administration promised to support the research. This is likely to encourage scientist to ignore the ethical concerns associated with the research. Approval of federal government makes the research appear noble. Additionally, the media has been biased while addressing this issue. Most debates sponsored by the media have focused on the positive benefits associated with stem cell research. This has led to support of the research by voters in States such as California and Massachusetts allowing funding of the research. The public remains less informed of the negative and ethical questions raised by embryonic stem cell research due to the use of emotional appeal in media advertisements. The obfuscation of language used in reference to embryonic stem cell research is another cause for the continuance of unethical research. Most people who are not in the scientific field are unaware of the unethical practices involved in stem cell research due to the confusing terminologies used by researchers when discussing the unethical practices. They have thus managed to dissuade much criticism from the public. Conclusion The issue of human embryonic stem cell research has been under debate since the start of the research. Those in support of the research argue that it has great potential in revolutionizing human medicine. Opponents of the research argue that it results in devaluation of human dignity. As opposed to adult stem cell research, human embryonic stem cell research entails destruction of embryos to harvest embryonic cells. The main controversy is on whether the research should be fully funded by the federal government. During bush reign, federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research was banned sin the administration was opposed to the practice. However, Obama’s administration withdrew the ban though the federal does not fund research that involves creation of embryos for the research purposes. The government funds research that makes use of embryo created for invitro fertilization but fail to be used. However, funding human embryonic stem cell research will encourage other unethical practices such as abortion. Since the scientists are not supposed to create embryos for the research, they will turn to other alternatives to obtain embryos. The justification used the research is that embryo cannot be considered human. This justification is likely to be used by abortionists to support their misdemeanors. Works Cited Family Research Council. At the Podium. 17 April 2002. Web. . 14 Nov 2012. James, Charles. An Ethical Debate on Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Human Dignity Or Research Freedom? New York: GRIN Verlag, 2009. Print. Robertson, John. "Embryo Stem Cell Research: Ten Years of Controversy." law, science, and innovation: the embryonic stem cell controversy (2010): 191-203. The Witherspoon Council on Ethics and The Integrity of Science. "The Stem Cell Debates: Lessons for Science and Politics." The New Atlantis (2012): 129-146. Web. . Read More