Ethical Considerations for Stem Cell Research

Regenerative medicine is an important field in order to cure many diseases.  Currently, there are around 700 companies that are working on regenerative medicine techniques that can potentially benefit thousands of patients in the United States and in other countries (1).  As of 2014, there were 12 regenerative medicine products being sold on the market (1).  These products include both stem cells and other therapeutic products (1).  Stem cells are vital tools in treating traumatic injuries such as spinal cord injuries.  However, therapeutic medicines such as stem cells are very controversial. 

There are many ethical challenges and issues revolving around stem cell research.  The primary argument against the use of embryonic stem cells is that the cells must be taken from an embryo, which is a fertilized egg (1).  Many people believe that the stem cells should not be taken if it means destroying a human embryo.  Critics consider a human embryo to be equivalent to an adult human (1).  Therefore, these people argue that the embryo has intrinsic moral value, and therefore oppose the use of stem cells for therapeutic research (1).  It is also important to note that under the Obama’s Administration, it was considered immoral and unethical to create human embryos for the sole purpose of using these embryos as stem cell lines for therapeutic medicine research (1).  Despite the challenge of what people consider to have intrinsic moral value, there are also some biomedical ethics at stake.   

The main biomedical ethical concerns with stem cells are beneficence and non-maleficence.  It is suggested that stem cells that are not suitable for infertility treatments or in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be used for stem cells because the cells are not being manufactured simply for research (2).  Also, the cells are not becoming “waste” in the sense that if they cannot be used for IVF then some good can come out of them by allowing these cells to possibly help patients with injuries or diseases (2).  Therefore, stem cells harvested in this way is considered ethical in light of both beneficence and non-maleficence (2).  These biomedical ethics will not be upheld if the cells were simply manufactured since a human embryo would be destroyed in the process (2).  This is the main concern for many people who are opposed of stem cell use.  Stem cell research is controversial, but it may also help many people throughout the United States and other countries. 

References: 

1. De Miguel-Berianin, I. (2015). The ethics of stem cells revisited. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 82-83, 176-180. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.1016/j.addr.2014.11.011

2. Cornwell, G. (2006). Ethical issues in deriving stem cells from embryos and eggs. British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing), 15(12), 640-644.