A Question of Certainty – Stem Cell Research.
Certainty: Noun 1 Something that cannot be doubted or is bound to happen. 2 Freedom from doubt; the state of being sure. 3 The state of being bound to happen.
One certainty in life is that one of the major downsides of being in good health is that all too often it makes it is very easy to forget that “Health” is an issue that affects everyone. It is always relevant – whether someone is well or unwell, young or old and no matter a person’s level of fitness. It’s the human condition, people are fragile – we age, while our bodies are prone to disease, injury and damage. Like so many, I’m guilty of only thinking about the issue of health when I become sick – and yet it is an issue that is all around us in everyday life from hospitals to headache tablets.
Yet, despite our frailties, people have always striven to overcome the things that threaten our well-being through science and medical research – medicine, new surgical and therapeutic techniques, vaccines and prosthetics have all gone a long way towards improving quality of life. Another is “Controversy” and throughout the history of the world there has always been debate surrounding “New Developments” and Medical Research is no exception.
One such area that has provoked much controversial scrutiny is Stem Cell Research. It’s also a subject that deserves careful consideration. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute conducts extensive research in the field of stem cells which form the foundation for every organ, tissue and cell in the human body. Stem cells may be able to repair or replace damaged tissue, thereby reversing diseases and injuries such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and blood diseases, to name but a few.
Equally as important, while the studies have shown enormous possibilities and potential the issue raises many ethical and moral questions for people. The controversy arises when we look at how Stem Cells are obtained. In short, there are several sources of cells used in research: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. The first, embryonic stem cells are obtained from a fertilized egg (generally taken from embryos created during in vitro fertilization but never implanted in a patient). The second is found in tissues and organs throughout the body (referred to as adult stem cells, or tissue-specific cells and in many cases are confirmed to help repair and maintain injured or damaged tissue).
The important question: Critics argue that life begins at conception and these human embryos should not be used for research. Proponents disagree that life begins at conception and explain that these frozen masses of cells are otherwise destined for destruction. Both sides of the discussion have valid concerns. In a world that sees people suffer with terrible illnesses, but has also seen ethics and morality ignored in the name of science, we must practice informed care. One final certainty is that while we seek ways of improving health, there must be certainty that what we do is right.
Further Information about stem cells
January 31st, 2010 at 9:52 am
I agree with the notion that we often relax on the topic of health. We often get struck back to it when we get sick or some one close to us becomes ill. Lucky for most of us, the only illness that we have to think about is common colds, and fever. I also agree to the fact that Stem Cells have great potential to curb our problems with Health. But I guess you raise the point that most people don’t think that the end justifies the means. In this case, a cure for major diseases through stem cells harvested from embryos