STEM CELL RESEARCH AND ETHICS

JOEL

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STEM CELL RESEARCH AND ETHICS4 z; e9 S2 C5 j
Source: http://www.experiment-resources.com/stem-cell-pros-and-cons.: S% r/ V6 @8 U# H$ i

. H- n; t0 D" f( ?+ p2 T5 fThe stem cell-research is an example of the, sometimes difficult, cost-benefit analysis in ethics which scientists need to do. Even though many issues regarding the ethics of stem cell research have now been solved, it serves as a valuable example of ethical cost-benefit analysis.5 W0 t( V4 V8 @- y9 @) N2 a$ a! O
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The previously heated debate seems to have lead to new solutions which makes both sides happier.
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Stem Cell pros and cons had to be valued carefully, for a number of reasons.
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9 j! e; U% J$ hWhen you are planning a research project, ethics must always be considered. If you cannot defend a study ethically, you should not and will not be allowed to conduct it. You cannot defend a study ethically unless the presumed cost is lower than expected benefits. The analysis needs to include human/animal discomfort/risks, environmental issues, material costs/benefits, economy etc.
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Why was the debate regarding the stem cell research so intense?
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0 n) A4 T/ s1 cFirst, it was a matter of life - something impossible to measure. And in this case, researchers had to do exactly that: measure life against life.
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Both an abortion and someone dying, suffering from a possible curable disease, is a tragedy. Which have the highest value? Does a big breakthrough in the research justify the use of the method in the present?
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Would the benefits of studying abortions outweigh the costs? The choice was subjective: Nobody knows all the risks or all the possible outcomes, so we had to value it with our perception of the outcome. Perception is influenced by our individual feelings, morals and knowledge about the issue.5 @/ z0 b. {4 N+ k4 `$ r6 _% y) u' V
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Second, at the time we did not know whether the research was necessary and sufficient to give us the mentioned health benefits.1 I- F9 X6 a. Q% u3 H

' I: N/ c1 S9 H# Z+ G5 D6 {+ O/ @Third, other consequences of the research are uncertain. Could the research be misused in the future or not? We simply do not know. All knowledge acquired, within research or other arenas, may be used for evil causes in the future - it is impossible to know.
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The Stem cell research-debate is an example on how people value various aspects differently. It is also an example of how critics and debate can lead to significant improvements for both sides.
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6 A" H* ?, l3 J. X5 w- T0 O" ]Source: http://www.experiment-resources.com/stem-cell-pros-and-cons.
4 K) Y: ^/ q7 t, I2 c& H1 G% eAcknowledgement: Thanks to the author for the permission to share this work.