Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Case Study

Burgos 5



LEE UNIVERSITY
EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH: A CASE STUDY
PRESENTED TO PROFESSOR LARRY BERGERON
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THEO-231-DOL2 INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
THE SCHOOL OF RELIGION
BY MICHAEL R. BURGOS JR
WINSTED, CT
APRIL 6, 2015




I. Embryonic Stem Cell Research: What is it?
A human embryo is defined as "the developing organism from fertilization to the end of the eighth week." Since the convention of in-vitro (IVF) fertilization in 1960, approximately 400,000 human embryos have been kept within a state of suspended animation within medical grade freezers in labs throughout the world. These embryos were developed from their constituent parts outside of the normative process. That is, these embryos have been cultivated within laboratories for the specific purpose of being implanted. The effectiveness of IVF is dependent upon a number of issues including maternal age, the amount of eggs extracted, and the over health of the donors. Subsequently, doctors typically inseminate more eggs and hence create more embryos than are required to accomplish the intended goal of a successful pregnancy.
As the name indicates, embryonic stem cell research consists of the utilization of human embryos for the specific purpose of scientific research. Generally, embryos left over from IVF have been utilized for this research, although there have been other methods used to derive embryos. In this research, scientists remove stem cells from the embryo and subsequently the embryo is destroyed in the process. Scientists have sought to attain cures for a multiplicity of diseases and ailments ranging from degenerative blindness to diabetes from embryonic stem cells. However, embryonic stem cell research has yet to produce a single cure for any disease or human ailment whatsoever according to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.
II. What is the ethical dilemma?
Human embryos are in fact, human. No human being came from an embryo; rather every human being was an embryo, just in the same way that all adult human beings were toddlers. Embryos possess "the full complement of human chromosomes- 23 each from the mother and father." Although embryos are pre-born and as a result are in the most fragile stage of development, they are nonetheless fully human by definition. Hence, it is argued that "there is no objective way to deny them the respect and rights accorded to other humans."
On August 9, 2001, President Bush announced a federal ban on government funding on "newly created human embryonic stem cell lines." While this prohibited the development of embryos explicitly for research purposes, the ban did little to end embryonic stem cell research in the United States. On March 9, 2009 President Obama issued an executive order ending Bush's ban, and subsequently beginning an era of unfettered access to such research. As the differences between these two leaders and their administrations indicate, embryonic stem cell research constitutes a somewhat polarizing issue that has resulted in no small amount of debate within the American context. Since Bush's public address on the issue of stem cell research in 2001, bio-ethics has been a consistent point of interest to the American people, especially regarding that of embryonic stem cell research.
Proponents of embryonic stem cell research offer a multitude of arguments for the progression of such work. However, it would seem that the primary argument derives from the prospect of breakthrough medical development and research. For example, Dr. Jonathan Moreno, a bio-ethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, has argued that embryonic stem cell research possesses adequate value to justify the destruction of a human embryo. That is, Moreno views the potential of such research to be of sufficient value to justify the destruction of a human in the embryonic stage of development. Conversely, those who deny the validity of said research generally appeal to the humanity of the embryo, and to the lack of any extant scientific evidence that embryonic stem cells can contribute to breakthrough disease cures.
Furthermore, there is the question of "personhood," and whether an embryo constitutes a person and thus possesses certain rights. Those who define personhood in terms of locale or some other functional aspect tend to argue that the use of embryos in research holds "great promise," and as such is morally permissible.
III. The Author's Opinion on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
It is because of nothing less than the exegesis of the text of Scripture that I cannot in good conscious affirm a practice which results in the destruction of a human being- no matter the stage of development. The issue of personhood is a red herring, as personhood is a feature that is axiomatic to human beings. Thus, because human beings are persons by definition, and because human embryos are nothing less than human beings, human embryos are persons.
The destruction of human life results in the destruction of one who is the bearer of the imago Dei. Human life is therefore invested with an intrinsic value due to its relation to Him who is of infinite value. Therefore, to engage in a practice that results in the destruction of God's image bearer is not only a grave sin, but also a crime against humanity itself. No amount of prospective medical progress can supplant our moral obligation to obey the command "You shall not murder." No amount of prospective medical cures affords man the right to systematically murder his neighbor. Moreover, there exists no scientific evidence to support the notion that embryonic stem cell research will lead any medical cure whatever. As a result, it is my position that such a practice ought to be both defunded and criminalized.















ss
Works Cited
The American Heritage Medical Dictionary. S.v. "embryo." Retrieved April 4, 2015. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/embryo.
"The Case for Embryonic Stem Cell Research: An Interview with Jonathan Moreno." Pew Research Center. Retrieved April 4, 2015. http://www.pewforum.org/2008/07/17/the-case-for-embryonic-stem-cell-research-an-interview-with-jonathan-moreno/.
Cowan, Steven B. In Defense of the Bible: A Comprehensive Apologetic for the Authority of Scripture. Grand Rapids: B & H Academic, 2013.
Crook, Roger. Introduction to Christian Ethics. 6th Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2013.
Crosta, Peter. "What are Stem Cells?" Medical News Today. Retrieved April 4, 2015. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/stem_cell/.
English Standard Version, Ed. Lane T. Dennis. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. Print.
"In Vitro Fertilization: IVF." American Pregnancy Association. Retrieved April 4, 2015. http://americanpregancy.org/infertility/in-vitro-fertilization/.
Major, Trevor. "The Value of Early Human Life." Apologetics Press. Retrieved April 4, 2015. http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=7&article=349.
Murugan, Varnee. "Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Decade of Debate from Bush to Obama." Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. 82, 2009. Print. 101-103.
"Timeline: The History of In-Vitro Fertilization." PBS Thirteen. Retrieved April 4, 2015. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/babies/.
"Stem Cell Q and A." U. S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 4, 2015. http:://stemcells.nih.gov/info/pages/faqs.aspx#success.
Wertz, D. C. "Embryo and Stem Cell Research in the United States: History and Politics." Gene Therapy. Retrieved April 4, 2015. http://www.nature.com/gt/journal/v9/n11/full/3301744a.html.
Wright, Victoria. "Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance: United States 2005." Center for Disease Control. Retrieved April 4, 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5705a1.htm.




The American Heritage Medical Dictionary, entry for "embryo."
See Timeline: The History of In-Vitro Fertilization.
See Snowflake
See In Vitro Fertilization: IVF
Typically 3 embryos are implanted at one time, and it is not uncommon for up to seven to be produced. See Wright, Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance.
Wertz, a proponent of embryonic stem cell research, has cited the utilization of aborted embryonic stage fetuses and that of cloned embryos. See Wertz, Embryo and Stem Cell Research.
Stem cells are defined as "a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types." Crosta, What are Stem Cells?.
See Wertz, Embryo and Stem Cell Research.
See NIH, Stem Cell Q and A.
Major, The Value of Early Human Life.
Ibid.
Murugan, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, 101.
See ibid, 102.
See Interview with Jonathan Moreno.
Crook, 161.
Here I am assuming the authoritative nature of Scripture. Because a discussion of the nature of the biblical text is outside of the scope of this paper, and because the relevant section of the paper relates only to my own opinion, I will not substantiate my assertion. However, see Cowan, In Defense of the Bible.
I realize that few will be satisfied with the notion that personhood and humanity are inseparable, but this I believe is an epistemological issue that assumes a theology of man in either case- see above.
See Genesis 1:26-27.
ESV, Ex 20:13.