Friday, August 29, 2014

What's Wrong With Embryonic Stem Cell Research?

A friend of mine posted on Facebook recently, about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. She said that apparently the ALS Association does embryonic stem cell research, and it's something we should bear in mind. She also said that it may be possible, if you donate, to request that your money does not get used for this.

I asked her what she thought was wrong with embryonic stem cell research, because I have Retinitis Pigmentosa, and they're making big headway with this research, in terms of finding a cure. Her response was that she believes that life begins at conception, which incidentally is also why she's against abortion.

Now, she and I are both Christians, and although we have healthy disagreements about certain things, we generally see eye-to-eye on the big issues. I also believe that life begins at conception, and am also against abortion, for the same reasons. But I honestly believe that this is different, and here's why:

Embryos used for stem cell research are specifically created, in a lab environment, for the purpose of extracting stem cells (which destroys the embryo, which is what causes the controversy). There is never any plan to implant this embryo and carry it to term. I'm not a hundred percent sure how the process works, but other than the fact that sperm is still involved, I think it's a bit tenuous to even call that "conception" (and I, personally, wouldn't go so far as to call it that). There's simply no potential for life.

Contrast that with a woman who gets pregnant (either artificially or... traditionally, or even violently), and then decides to abort her baby. God in His wisdom allowed her to fall pregnant, and He therefore presumably has a plan for the human being growing inside of her. It is absolutely wrong (and even constitutes murder) to snuff out that life at any stage in its development.

My friend also asked why they can't just take stem cells from the placenta or umbilical cord, to do their research.

Well, I don't know, but I'm sure they've thought of it. Maybe it is appropriate to do that for some conditions, but not others. Maybe it's a logistical thing, where it takes a while to find a pregnant mother who would be willing to donate those cells, then wait nine months for her to give birth (if she doesn't miscarry), and then hope she doesn't renege on her promise. It's a long lead time, and it relies on things outside of the researchers' control.

Maybe that plays a part in the reason why. Maybe it doesn't. But I'm sure there are reasons.

So anyway, that's how I feel about the issue. As a Christian, where do you stand? Do you draw a distinction between embryos created specifically for research purposes and a woman falling pregnant? Does the intention matter at all, or does it all amount to the same thing?

2 comments:

  1. I think I agree with your friend. Creating a person for the sole purpose of killing them seems somehow worse than cannibalism. There are other ways of getting stem cells.

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  2. Hi Graham
    Thanks for doing this blogpost. It's good to discuss these important issues. I would say that the intention behind the creation of the embryo is not the issue. The fact is that, in whatever environment, conception has occurred and the human DNA is there. Could these embryos, created in a lab environment, still not be implanted into a woman's womb like they do for IVF? Questions to ask are 1. Where do you believe life begins and 2. Where does life begin, scientifically? According to the Bible and much research, I believe the answer to those questions to be the same. If the doctors ever tell me that I need IVF, based on the little of it I know so far, I think that I probably won't go down that path, as they create and freeze all these extra embryos and I don't know what they are going to do with them. I can't let them just be destroyed and there's also an idea of donating the embryos to another couple, but would they go to a Christian family? I see those embryos as my responsibility.
    I wonder if the general public gets educated about umbilical cord donation, whether a lot of women will go for this, because with all the babies that are born every day, this seems to be the logical solution! I’m no scientist, but I wonder if they would get many more stem cells out of one cord than one embryo. Let me also say that I really hope they do find a cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa, that will be awesome! Anyway, that’s my 2c :)

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