Should stem cell research be legalised?

Question

In the UK and USA (two of the largest scientific nations) stem cell research is ilegal.
Even though the possible applications for stem cell treatment are endless - from new teeth, ears, eyes - to correcting brain damage.
Many countries outlaw it because of the fact that fetuses are needed for the research on the strength of human sanctity.

what is you opinion?

Answer 1

I believe it should stay illegal as it encourages the creation of life just to kill it for science.That's evil.

Answer 2

I feel that anything that can make sommeones life a lot better due to medical difficulties should be allowed and funded by the goverment,i have had to inject for 31yrs and do not want to but some stem cell research could solve the problems we have,if i was a drug addict i would get funding for rehab then my kids would get looked after and my house would probably get a once over aswell cause a junkie chooses to inject,i don't ,and help seems to be extinct,apart from BDA.let it happen and see what comes out of if,you will get people who are willing to give their fetuses up as they will have no use for them or if it need be take them without the owners knowledge,they were getting them thrown away anyway so i don't see where the problems arise from,i know you might think this is a bit heartless but i feel it is the only way forward for getting cures for certain illnesses,Cheers,Liz.x

Answer 3

it is legal, but not the fetus research, there are many other types of stem cells that are being researched, nose stem cells, umbilical cord etc. the government just wont fully legalize all forms of stem cell research because it would mean they are paying for and aiding the destruction of life (bull crap) even when the fetus is already dead, dosent make sense, if people are going to get abortions, and they should if they feel the need, cant be responsible for a baby, rapes, molestations etc etc. Simple fact is people are going to have abortions, so why waste the fetus that has already been removed by not doing research on it? but alas the religious people who run the government wont let that happen, because it looks like they are paying for the destruction of life, to all the other religious people.
but when i came down to it, if one of those same people became inflicted with alzhiemers or parkinsons, or broke thier back/neck im sure they would want the treatment, and guess what... the treatment is going to have to do with stem cells,, go figure

Answer 4

On a matter of principle I am all for stem cell research and the benefits therein but I suspect its not safe in the hands of private enterprise..

The pro-life people are all idiots by default and shouldn't be engaged with on any level .. they want to save foetuses but happily enough tend to be pro-death penalty.

On the other hand such persons also tend to be pro private enterprise and perhaps anticipate the potential untold harm stem cell research could wrought if in the hands of Haliburton or the like..

they thus must know theyre evil criminals

Answer 5

What Coragryph said--it *is* legal in the US, it just doesn't get (much?) federal funding.

I think the legality of it is a good thing. I also think, however, that it would help the controversy of stem-cell research if more and more of the stem cells were harvested from the placentas of full-term babies, rather than restricted to stem cells from fetuses. I've heard both are usable.

Answer 6

Stem cell research is legal in the US.

There are restrictions placed on where and how much federal funding can go towards such research, depending on many specific factors -- but there are no limits on private funding and the research itself is not criminal or illegal.

And no fetuses are required for such research -- even when you're talking about embryonic stem cells, the embryoes in question are ones that would never be implanted in a womb anyway -- so, the only choice is whether they are used for medical research or destroyed with no use whatsoever.

Answer 7

Stem cell research has never been illegal in America.

Several billion dollars in Federal Grants has been funded in the United States for Stem Cell research.

The Federal Government currently will not fund Stem Cell research that uses new lines of embroyic stem cells,

But it does provide funding for all other stem cell types,

And it does provide funding for Stem Cell rearch that use existing lines of embroyic Stem Cells.

US funding for stem cell research in 2007 was almost a billion dollars.

Answer 8

You can now harvest stem cells from the umbilical cord after a baby is born. It is quite expensive to do at the moment but would not involve as much controversy.
I have M.S. and would benefit from stem cell research but cannot condone the use of foetuses.

Answer 9

Absolutely! There are people whose injuries (paralysis, limb loss, blindness, etc.) have completely ruined their lives, so it wouldn't do to deprive them of their only hope of restoring their bodily functions. Those who say otherwise should be aware that there have been techniques that have been discovered that allow cultivation and harvesting of stem cells without killing human embryos. In one method, a few stem cells are taken from a developing embryo and cultivated in a petri dish. The resulting lines then undergo procedures for converting them into the necessary cell types. The embryo, meanwhile, remains unharmed.

Answer 10

I think only existing stem cell lines (from embryos) should be used, or use stem cells from placentas/umbilical cords or adult stem cells.

Answer 11

if it benefits mankind, then do it.
the religious mob have far too much say in these matters .let them choose not to make use of any benefits coming from this type of research if they choose. just don't stop the rest of us moving forward with a natural use of science.
an awful lot of people seem to speak for god.is this in itself not taking the lords name in vane?
or is it just a bit convenient to scream "its gods will" every time power ,and money ,is slipping out of these charlatans grasp.
stick your head in the sand if you wish.religion has always tried to block progress.it is not in their interest to allow their deluded followers to see that it is the wit and inventiveness of man that creates progress , not the 2000 year old myth that is modern religion.