Embryonic Stem Cell Ban Lifted

"After much discussion, debate, and reflection, the proper course has become clear. The majority of Americans from across the political spectrum, and from all backgrounds and beliefs have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research...that the potential it offers is great, and with proper guidelines and strict oversight; the perils can be avoided..." (President Obama's speech on CNN).

Article on reversing ban

Bioethics is in the news quite a bit lately. From designer babies to stem cells; we need to know how to think about these issues.

Notice the argument (or lack of one). A majority of people? Truth and the status of the embryo is the question; not how many noses we can count in favor of a particular position. A majority of people can be and often are wrong.

Fact: these are human embryos. they don't become human, they are human. They may be really small humans, but they are still human. Why is it that some humans can be killed--in the name of research--so that others might be cured (without their consent).

Here is a short and easy to understand introduction to the topic of Stem Cells.

Have scientists been successful in using embryonic stem cells to treat disease?

"Though embryonic stem cells have been purported as holding great medical promise, reports of actual clinical success have been few. Instead, scientists conducting research on embryonic stem cells have encountered significant obstacles—including tumor formation, unstable gene expression, and an inability to stimulate the cells to form the desired type of tissue. It may indeed be telling that some biotechnology companies have chosen not to invest financially in embryonic stem cell research and some scientists have elected to focus their research exclusively on non-embryonic stem cell research."

For more on this issue, see Biotechnology and the Human Good. Also,
Embryo: A Defense of Human Life by Robert P. George & Christopher Tollefsen

This one is not going to go away.