moral boundary .\ reply 150 words 1why H e a l t h M e d i c a l

250 words for this one answering one of the 4….

“Stem cells are undifferentiated, primitive cells with the ability both to multiply and to differentiate into specific kinds of cells. Stem cells hold the promise of allowing researchers to grow specialized cells or tissue, which could be used to treat injuries or disease (e.g., spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, strokes, burns).” (Slevin, 2010)

Choose ONE of the following issues and post to its thread with supporting evidence. Respond to two peers who wrote about issues other than the one you chose.

1. Discuss what you feel are the potential benefits of stem cell research for Alzheimer’s patients and their families.
2. Share your perspective on the stem cell debate regarding donation of surplus embryos to couples for “embryo adoption.”
3. Why is the task of disposing unused frozen human embryos different from disposing of other medical tissue?
4. Discuss why you think embryonic stem cell research “crosses a moral boundary.\

reply 150 words 1

Why is the task of disposing unused frozen human embryos different from disposing of other medical tissue?

There are a number of reasons why people decide to freeze human embryos to use them some time in the future. The freezing of excess human embryos allows fertility parents to have the opportunity for future attempts at pregnancy (Lyerly, Nakagawa, & Kuppermann, 2011). Once the embryos are used or when treatment is accomplished, there are often many unused embryos that remain. This leaves the patients with several options which include having the embryos discarded, donating them for research, or donating them to another family/couple for them to use for their fertility treatment (Lyerly, Nakagawa, & Kuppermann, 2011). When it comes to the disposition of human embryos, the task is quite different from disposing of other medical tissue. The reason here is because these embryos have the potential to grow into human beings and many argue that they should be allowed the right to life. Due to this, many couples often struggle as they cite a moral responsibility for their embryos and instead choose to pay monthly storage fees for extended periods of time to avoid discarding them(Lozier, 2018). In addition to deciding their options, parents also have to give informed consent to their physicians to carry out the procedure of discarding the embryos. There have been numerous cases where parents actually sued the physician for discarding the embryos without their consent (Lozier, 2018). When looking at other medical tissue, the same law doesn’t really apply as it does to human embryos. Ethics are definitely involved when it comes to the disposition of unused frozen human embryos and therefore we need to question whether discarding them would be considered morally right or wrong. When disposing of other tissues, I believe that we don’t necessarily question the ethics of it because they do not have the potential to grow into human beings and therefore do not have the right to life.

References

Lozier, C. (2018). Frozen embryos and the “disposition decision”. Charlotte Lozier Institute. Retrieved from https://lozierinstitute.org/frozen-embryos-and-the-disposition-decision/.

Lyerly, A. D., Nakagawa, S., & Kuppermann, M. (2011). Decisional conflict and the disposition of frozen embryos: implications for informed consent. Human Reproduction Oxford Journals, 26(3), 646-654. Retrieved from https:// 2 150 words

2.Share your perspective on the stem cell debate regarding donation of surplus embryos to couples for “embryo adoption.”

As we have learned this week, stem cells are often used for different functions in the body. Stem cell research has led to many medical advancements and has the potential of being used for treating many illnesses like Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and diabetes (Medline Plus, 2020). Another important role of stem cells is the process of In Vitro Fertilization and the creation of an embryo. Throughout the years, there has been a great controversy and ethical debate surrounding the topic of embryonic stem cells. The embryos that are not used or implanted in the mother’s uterus are often used for embryo adoption (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Even though, consent is required in the process of embryo adoption, many have raised ethical concerns. Despite these concerns, embryonic adoption has allowed many people who were told IVF would not work become parents. When it comes to the ethics surrounding embryo adoption, there is so much to consider. One of the first things that came to mind is what happens to the embryos that are not used, and parents choose not to donate them. It also made me think about how ethical it would be to simply store the embryos for many years and for them not to ever be used. One of the most concerning things for parents who choose to donate embryos is what would happen to the embryos that were not used by the person they donated them to. The process of parents choosing to keep the embryo or not is very difficult because emotions and feelings of guilt get involved. Those who choose not to donate may have feelings of guilt because there is the chance that the embryo could’ve fully developed and made another family happy. With the topic of embryonic stem cells, I think there is always going to be an ethical dilemma whether or not the embryos are donated because there is human life involved.

References:

Mayo Clinic. (2019). Stem cells: What they are and what they do. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/stemcells.html