“Stem Cell Therapy” is in the news
these days. It seems that there were some treatments that seem to be quite
successful, while some, disastrously disappointing. Despite these negative
developments, there are real medical advantages for venturing into these
researches like potential treatments for incurable diseases such as cancers,
leukemia, Parkinson’s disease and others.
There are two ways to harvest stem
cell for treatment: the first source is “adult
stem cells” – the source is from the person’s bone marrow, umbilical cord
blood of newborn baby, or various organs in a person’s body. This is
uncontroversial but not too effective. The second source, and creating quite a
controversy, is “human embryos” when
it is at 3-5 day of development. These are created through “Therapeutic
cloning” and stem cells produced are more viable to treat incurable diseases. The
controversy arises because, when these stem cells are harvested, the human
embryos producing them would be destroyed. The issue is: “when is the right time to harvest stem
cell from human embryos so that they can be safely considered a non-human being
yet?” Does the embryo’s start being a person at the time of birth? When
the fetus is capable of living outside the womb, which is about 24 weeks after
pregnancy? When there is already a decisive brain activity, which is 45 days of
pregnancy? When it is able to experience pain? When the mother feels movements
in her womb? Or, as long as they are still microscopically minute and existing
outside the womb due to “in vitro fertilization”?
So….. when is it alright to use a human embryo for
harvesting stem cell that would in the process destroy it? Or, is there really
a right time at all for doing this?
My position in this ethical issue
is: at the point of conception, the fetus has the potential to be a mature
person. So it is therefore unacceptable to kill the human embryos in order to
harvest the stem cells no matter how badly they are needed by ailing patients.
Life is sacred and only God has the right to take it.
What
is your position regarding this?
Note: The above information are from "Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics" by Scott B. Rae, Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1995. pp. 138-143
Note: The above information are from "Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics" by Scott B. Rae, Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1995. pp. 138-143
Unknown July 1, 2013 at 6:41 PM Virgilio Santos
ReplyDeleteI fully agree on your Christian position; but science would have a
different view, a lot of times very different and even conflicting with the
religious stand. With the technology developing exponentially, maybe
stem cell from human embryo to treat incurable diseases maybe a thing
of the past. Let's not fight or argue on what is evolving, but what is
important, there's a cure and your position would always be where you
are at the moment.
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 2:00 AM
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Kuya Virgilio, for making this comment. It's always a toast-up between usefulness, effectivity, and morality. Too bad we can't have all of these at the same time. God bless!
Miguel Herrera July 2, 2013 at 1:30 AM
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion stem cell research that destroys a human embryo is just plain wrong. I won't go into the depth of how wrong I believe it to be, but anytime there is a chance that a life will be born, then its destruction is tantamount to murder.
I also think that even if there is a chance that there will be a birth defect or similar case we are in no position to say whether it's OK to go ahead with a procedure (stem cell harvesting or abortion...). The classic Beethoven example is plenty of reason to give life a chance in any circumstances.
My express opinion is if God wills a life to come into this world no matter how much or what type of suffering it would have to endure, then we should not interfere with any type of moral or immoral argument to the contrary. Life is God given and no one has the right to take it away for any reason.
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 2:05 AM
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Kuya Mike, for taking time to accommodate my request! I praise God that you all see things like I do. Too bad coz there are some people who would rather live and not care if some valuable life is lost. I hope that they'll be able to improve the stem cell technology in such a way that we'll be able to reap the benefits without risking any lives. SHALOM!
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 2:05 AM
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Kuya Mike, for taking time to accommodate my request! I praise God that you all see things like I do. Too bad coz there are some people who would rather live and not care if some valuable life is lost. I hope that they'll be able to improve the stem cell technology in such a way that we'll be able to reap the benefits without risking any lives. SHALOM!
Jefferson ChahayanJuly 2, 2013 at 4:16 AM
ReplyDeleteI also agree on your position that only God has the right to take life. It's scientifically proven that life start the moment their is a union between the egg cell and sperm cell. Therefore I disagree with this stem cell research.Their is no point of curing a person from a disease if we take lives in place of it.
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 2:11 AM
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to say this if we are not the one that would reap the benefits. What if the life of your son, your only son whom you love very much, is at stake? Would you still think about ethical issues or just be practical? This might cause you to have second thoughts???
Thanks a lot for taking time to accommodate my request. It's a big help, Kuya Jeff!
Benson Go July 3, 2013 at 8:10 AM
ReplyDeleteEnough has been said about this debate and I believe this debate will continue so long as the practice continues and the need exist.
If it were a matter of choice, I would choose adult stem cell over human embryo stem cell.
But if the question is, If it is alright to use human embryo for harvesting stem cell? My moral, ethical, spiritual compass says that it is and it will never be alright.
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 2:19 AM
ReplyDeleteIf your love one is the one that badly needs the treatment and this is the one and only hope you have left, would you have second thoughts? Just wandering!
Sometimes morality is thrown out the window when being practical needs to come in. Nonetheless, this is an exciting development and I hope that discoveries would occur so that lives won't be sacrificed and benefits would still be received. Wishful thinking?
Thanks a lot for your effort to answer this! Great help, Kuya. I hope you could encourage others to respond to this as well, since I still need quite a number of response by Monday. God bless you and your family!
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 2:26 AM
ReplyDeleteFrom • Jacque Dy (7.3.13)
To • alex chun
Hi Bro. Alex, cant put the comment on the blog.
Here's what I think:
I didnt realize that Stem Cell comes from human embryo!??!? To kill a child is wrong. If stem cells are harvested from human embyos , it is so wrong because a child is killed in the process.
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 2:29 AM
ReplyDeleteFrom • Andrew Liuson
To • alex chun
Bro Alex,
I can't answer your survey.
But if you like to attend this seminar, please inform XXXXXXXXXXXX and she will register and pay for you as my guest.
I may not attend myself, as I will be leaving for XXXX that night, plus, as transplant patient, I am disqualified from Stem Cell, so this is not relevant for me.
ANDREW LIUSON
( 柳 萬 安 )
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 2:32 AM Virgilio Santos
ReplyDeleteHerewith is my comment Bro Alex:
I fully agree on a Christian position; but science would have a
different view, a lot of times very different or conflicting with the
religious stand. With the technology developing exponentially, maybe
stem cell from human embryo to treat incurable diseases maybe a thing
of the past. Let's not fight or argue on what is evolving, but what is
important is there a cure and your position would always be where you
are at the moment.
To God Be The Glory!
Cean Angelo ReyesJuly 6, 2013 at 5:38 AM
ReplyDeleteBro Alex I would just like to clarify, when we say "therapeutic cloning" do we mean we are creating a new life, or copies of ourselves (or someone)? and if the case is that cloning produces copies, does it contain life or spirit the same way as we do? You are right that the controversy is about when is life considered a life. It will never be right to take someone's life, but would it be alright to let someone die if there are available means to preserve it?
Just to input another view, the developments in medicine is for the preservation of life, but where do we draw the line? same debate goes in the case of euthanasia or taking away the life support of very terminal patients. Still I hope that Christianity would have more influence on these issues.
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 7:27 AM
ReplyDeleteYes, it is creating a new life, but there are disputes going if this life is already a person with human rights or this life will only become a person the moment he comes out of the womb, or have moments in the wombs, or if the fetus already is able to feel pain. Secular scientist do not believe that a 3-5 days old embryo is a person already so it is alright for them to just harvest the stem cell to cure incurable diseases, and allow the embryo to die in the process. What do you think? Is this acceptable practice for you when your love ones might be the beneficiary of these stem cells that could eventually give them quality life or save their lives in the very near future? What is your position?
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 7:32 AM
ReplyDeleteKuya Angelo, thank you very much for taking time to participate in this blog. This means a lot to me! God bless you and your family!
cesar ferrerJuly 6, 2013 at 6:13 AM
ReplyDeleteHowever helpful it maybe,this may be the answer for man's quest for a longer and better life but as long as therapeutic cloning will be utilized it will never right. Because life begins at the conception.
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 7:35 AM
ReplyDeleteWould you be willing for your love one to take these kinds of medicine, just in case, if that;s the only way for their lives to be saved?
Thank you Kuya Che for your response. Means a lot to me! Shalom!
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 11:41 PM
ReplyDeleteFrom Jasmin Siy 7/6/13
To Alex Chun
Hi bro
I donot know much about stem cell.
All i can say at the moment is: to deprived one life to see the world inorder to extends another is GREEDINESS.
For me life started the moment the right egg meets the right sperms. Life is indeed a miracle. It was carefully designed that science could only try to put a conclusion.
Thanx ..... Lj
Ethical IssuesJuly 6, 2013 at 11:44 PM
ReplyDeleteRe: Ethical issues regarding stem cell. Please comment!
Hide Details
From Joenalyn de la Mesa (7/6/13 8:35pm from email)
To alex chun
I strongly disagree with using stem cells from human embryos because this practice, though not illegal, is wrongful. How can one afford to kill a child so someone could live? This is unjust and ungodly. Only God has the right to take our lives.
Maan SarmientoJuly 7, 2013 at 5:08 AM
ReplyDeleteTO harvest stem cell from the human embryo is not okay for it destroys life. I agree that life begins at conception. Definitely, I will have a second thought if my son or daughter will be the one needing such therapy but taking the life of others is something that my conscience cant take. There is no right time to harvest stem cell from the human embryo.
Stem Cell from other source can be considered as long as it will not destroy life.
Ethical IssuesJuly 7, 2013 at 8:17 PM
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Ate Aida, for responding. It's a great help. As a matter of fact, I am running out of time.
Most of my friends, like you, are Christians, so most of you have very similar position. It's a pity some of my atheist friends and relatives have not responded yet. I hope they would soon so that we'll have some dissenting opinions.
Yes, if it is our immediate family that would be the beneficiary, it would cause us to think hard before deciding. But I am quite sure that most, if not all, would still make the godly ethical decision. Anyway, we, Christians, believe that if the LORD wills our love ones to live, HE will definitely make a way, even if there seems to be NO WAY. That's the comfort we have that non-believer don't. HALLELUYAH!
Ethical IssuesJuly 7, 2013 at 10:13 PM
ReplyDeleteESC research comment
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From Eunice Chun ( 7/8/13 11:57am)
To alex chun
A vast majority of researchers would likely prefer reprogramming adult stem cells (induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs) over embryonic stem cells (ESCs) because of the immunological hurdles that accompany the use of the latter. Since ESC are not your cells and therefore have different genetic compositions, the recipient's immune system would likely detect the cells as alien or invaders and attack them, eliminating them within maybe a few days to a couple of weeks. This would prevent the ESCs from accomplishing their purpose, deeming that therapy moot.
On to your main concern, the ethics of ESC research. It's a bit of a gray area for most scientists. In our line of work, we tend to use many human cell (non-ESC) lines, which were in fact obtained from human patients. We grow them, tamper with them, treat them with various agents to gain an understanding of these cells and hopefully learn how to treat various diseases. Using non-ESC lines doesn't create any debates or bring up any moral issues since its utilization won't actually affect or terminate the life of a human being.
ESC use is a bit of a moral dilemma for researchers like me. Early on, ESCs are just pretty much a clump of cells, much like the non-ESC ones we use in the lab. They don't appear to "bear human life", but they technically do. As I recall, ESC research utilizes cells retrieved from approximately 6-day old fertilized eggs. No organs just a clump of slightly organized cells. However, tampering with them would potentially terminate the development of the embryo. If I could, I'd avoid using ESCs. They hold much potential since they can theoretically develop into a wide array of cell types, but their immunological repercussions and accompanying ethical concerns seem to outweigh their advantages. I'd stick to iPS, but I wouldn't actively condemn ESC (from early around 6 days old) research either.
Ethical IssuesJuly 8, 2013 at 11:49 PM
ReplyDeleteRe: Ethical issues regarding stem cell. Please comment!
From Manuel Go (10:57am July 9, 2013)
To alex chun
Hello Bro. Alex,
I agree with the Christian view. Extending a human being's life at the expense of another is unethical. Who's to say that the person whose life was extended can live a more significant and fruitful life than the embryo harvested from. A person's life span is dictated and planned by God for a purpose. Extending one's life beyond what I perceive to be his lifespan is going against the sovereignty of God. There are other sources for harvesting stem cells other than the unethical use of human embryo cells. Cells could be harvested from the patient's fat cells or bone marrow, then cultivated and injected back. Another one if to harvest the cells from the embryo of sheep. It has been done successfully. These other sources could be looked into rather than harvesting from human embryos.
Just my 2 cents. :)
Jun
Ethical IssuesJuly 8, 2013 at 11:53 PM
ReplyDelete: Ethical issues regarding stem cell. Please comment!
From alex chun
To Manuel Go
Dear Pastor Jun,
Thank you very much for taking time to make a comment on my blog. If I were not desperate to complete the requirement, I would not have bothered you knowing you are not feeling well. Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated. May GOD heal you soon!
Sincerely,
alex
Arman CarlosJuly 10, 2013 at 8:32 AM
ReplyDeleteHi Bro Alex,
My thoughts on this. The end does not justify the means.
Genesis 38:8-10 states an account of a form birth control that displeased the Lord. Onan refused to have children with Tamar and perform the duty of a Kinsman Redeemer for His Brother's widowed wife. The Lord was displeased with Onan's intention of not having children with Tamar. If the Lord is displeased when a sperm cell and an egg cell do not meet when they should, then how much more would He be displeased if an embryo has already been created and then it is killed for the sake of another life.
Let the Bible be our measuring stick for right and wrong. Science nor the World's view are not the measuring tool for Morality.
If it is God's will to extend the life of a person, then He can perform a miracle to save that Person's life. If a Christian dies of cancer, we can praise God since our brother/sister has joined the Lord in Paradise.
We should grief if a non-believer dies without knowing the Lord. Consequently, our concern as Christians is to spread the Gospel so that many will come to know Christ. If we focus on earthly matters, then our vision will be blurred. God is the author of life.
If we extend life yet that life is bent on earthly matters and will not accept God, then that life is displeasing to the Lord however long that life is lived. If life was short yet that life spread the Gospel that People got to know Christ, then that life is more pleasing to God. Take for example the life of the criminal on the cross with our Lord Jesus Christ. His life was cut short. Even his Christian life was so short. Yet at this time, we cannot count the millions of lives he has impacted because of his decision to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. =)
So our focus should be on what kind of life are we living and not on how long are we living.
R-man
Ethical IssuesJuly 10, 2013 at 8:19 PM
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kuya Arman, for your extensive comment regarding this issue. Thank you for taking your valuable time in elaborating your point. I would really be surprised if Christians like you and I would take any other position regarding human embryo derive stem cell.
By the way, one of our feeding sites, the botanical garden, is on fire right now. FYI
GOD bless you and your family!
SHALOM!