Is It Murder.......?

Question

Stem-cell research? Killing to save another's life? Is it right? I don't understand how this can be justified. What do you think?

personally I don't agree with stem-cell research..

Alright then..correction...Embryonic stem cell research is what I am referring to.

Also...I do NOT agree with using fertilized eggs AT ALL. When you combine the egg and the sperm you are FERTILIZING and CREATING NEW LIFE. Then they want to dissect,terminate, whatever to use the stem cells. Tell me that isn't wrong.

Answer 1

Whether it is murder depends on the source of the stem cells (which don't have to be from a fetus) and when you believe life begins.

If sperm + egg = human, then using stem cells from a fetus you harvested is murder. If you aren't human until some other developmental point (such as birth), it is not murder before that point.

It seems inconsistent that a baby can be called "a collection of cells" so callously, as if we were never so vulnerable ourselves. Personally, I think that stem cell research should only use bone marrow/umbilical cord cells. When you take cells from a fetus you cheapen human life, which I believe has objective value.

Answer 2

The embyonic stem cells that are not currently funded by the governemnt are the by-product of fertility clinics. These clinic will routinely create more fertilized ova than they need, and the extras just get thrown away.

All scientists are asking is that we fund research using the ones that are currently being thrown away.

No fetus is harmed, no abortion is done.

Think of it this way. If a woman's egg was fertilized in the normal way, but failed to lodge in the uterus and grow, it would just be flushed (literally). This happens thousands of times every day. Would it be a sin to do research on that fertilized egg, if it could be caught?

If not, then it should not be a sin to embryonic stem cell research on the leftover fertilized eggs from clinics. The only difference is how the egg got fertilized.

Answer 3

Nope. An embryo from which the stem cells can be derived is just a cluster of cells and by no means a sentient being therefore it isn't being "murdered".

Prick your finger and let a drop of blood slip away. Do you feel guilty for all those lost red blood cells? No. And you shouldn't for the destroyed embryo.

Sure, the potential of what could be a human is being obliterated as well, but if we start down that road of saving potentials, where will we be? Treat every sperm and egg as sacred since they are part of the potential as well? A female's menstration cycle be declared a capital crime?

That is why we must deal in absolutes to avoid such frivolity. The embryo is not a fetus yet, so it isn't a living being. It is essentially a tissue sample.

Plus, think of how many this research will help...

Answer 4

I answer something like this before. It is a hard decision--let me add

Just a thought.
One purpose of stem cell research is to find new ways of treating illnesses. But this field of research has been a subject of much controversy because the process of extracting embryonic stem cells essentially destroys the embryo.#

New genetic technologies raise yet other ethical issues. Consider, for example, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This technique involves submitting embryos to genetic screening and then selecting the one—perhaps of the desired gender or free of a certain disease-causing gene—that is to be implanted into the uterus. Critics warn that PGD could lead to gender discrimination or that it might eventually be used to let couples choose other genetic traits for their children, including hair or eye color. PGD raises the ethical question, What happens to the embryos that are not selected?

Will Science Create a Perfect Society? This could be a problem here-if used by the wrong people .

War is a different matter--I don't approve it-but I know no way to stop it seems to continue. On the other hand I can see a way to stop a killing here (if that is how you view stem cell research)

I have no problems personally with stem cell at this time. And maybe it could help many. I have become more aware since a family member-might benefit from it.

It could help many--again hard decision. Not sure where I stand here.

Answer 5

Stem cells can be retrieved from adult stem cells and from the umbilical cords of fully developed new born babies, this is not murder. Its call NON embryonic stem cells. These stem cells are readily available and are government funded.

Embryonic stem cells come from the fetus of aborted babies, the embryonic stem cells are a by product of this act, thus they are not government funded.

There are no studies to suggest or prove that one type of stem cell will garner better results than the other. The research companies are free to use the embryonic stem cells but they have to pay for the dead fetuses themselves. See the agenda here?

Answer 6

I don't agree with it, but then I'm not too keen on abortion either. What I am afraid of is that there could be a whole 'market' out there for aborted fetuses. People who get pregnant just to turn around and abort the baby for stem cell research.

So, I don't oppose stem cell research that isn't fetal tissue.

Answer 7

Stem-cell research is a must.

Answer 8

when one of your loved ones is stricken with an incurable disease that is dependent on stem cell research for a cure you may feel differently! I believe in the right to abort and believe that we should use all materials available for testing/researching cures for deadly diseases. (obviously regulations are a must - but let us take religion out of it!)

Answer 9

Is It Murder.......?

An estimated 2 million babies die within their first 24 hours each year worldwide and the United States has the second worst newborn mortality rate in the developed world, according to a new report.
American babies are three times more likely to die in their first month as children born in Japan, and newborn mortality is 2.5 times higher in the United States than in Finland, Iceland or Norway, Save the Children researchers found.
Only Latvia, with six deaths per 1,000 live births, has a higher death rate for newborns than the United States, which is tied near the bottom of industrialized nations with Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia with five deaths per 1,000 births.
Vote Republican to Save the Fetus.
Vote Democrat to Save the Babies.

Answer 10

I fail to see how it is murder. They use embryos, not a fetus. The embryos they use are never inside a woman's uterus and they are currently thrown away. Scientists just want to use them instead.

the embryos they use are from fertility clinics. When they make test tube babies, they impregnate a bunch of eggs in test tubes. Then they pick the strongest ones and use them. The rest get thrown away.