7 Bioethical Issue - Stem Cells

Bioethical Issue: Stem Cell Research
Stem cells are young cells from which all blood

cells derive. As the cells are at a young age they
have not become specialised and, as a result,
they can be grown into a number of different
specialised cells. These cells can be used to treat
(and possibly cure) illnesses such as Parkinsons
disease, heart disease and spinal cord injuries.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found
throughout the body after embryonic development
that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate
damaged tissues. They can be found in children,
as well as adults and can also be found in
umbilical cord blood.
Research into adult stem cells has been fueled by
their abilities to divide or self-renew indefinitely
and generate all the cell types of the organ from
which they originate - potentially regenerating the
entire organ from a few cells.
Embryonic stem cells
Embryonic stem cells are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early stage embryo known as a
blastocyst. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4-5 days post fertilisation, at which time they consist of
50-150 cells. These cells have the ability to become all types of cells.
The Christian Response

Many Christians are against embryonic stem cell research, yet for adult stem cell research. The arguments are
usually based on the notion of the sanctity of life - beliefs that life begins at conception, life is given by God,
that human beings are made in God's image and that all human lives are equally valuable.
Sacred Scripture
Many Christian denominations base their response to this issue on various parts of sacred scripture, including
Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness - Genesis 1:26. Genesis 1:26-27 maintains that human
beings are made in the image and likeness of God. This is a significant Biblical source for informing all
bioethical issues related to life and death.
You shall not kill. - Fifth Commandment, Exodus 20:13. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) comment
on the value of human life and the dignity of the human person. Jesus also draws on this theme in the
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5).
It is I who bring death and life. - Deuteronomy 32:39
My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of
the earth. - Psalm 139:15
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. - Jeremiah 1:5
The Catholic Church and Stem Cell Research
The Catholic Church supports:
research and treatments involving bone marrow
ongoing research into the use of adult stem cells. This includes cells from children and babies as well as
cord cells taken from a placenta/umbilical cord after birth.
Adult stem cell research and therapies are approved because they do not destroy life and may provide cure or
improved quality of life for the infirm. The Church even supports those who are undertaking adult stem cell
research, for example, the Sydney Archdiocese offers grants to Australian-based researchers to support and
foster research on the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells.
The Catholic Church does not support:
research using embryonic stem cells, even those that have been obtained through standard in-vitro
fertilisation procedures
research using embryonic stem cells that may in the future be created by cloning.
The moral issue surrounding stem cell research is the intentional destruction of the human embryo in order to
extract stem cells. The Catholic Church teaches that such an act is immoral. This teaching is based on the
notions of human identity and dignity, and the respect for human life.
Church Documents
The possibility, now confirmed, of using adult stem cells to attain the same goals as would be sought with
embryonic stem cells indicates that adult stem cells represent a more reasonable and human method for
making correct and sound progress in this new field of research and in the therapeutic applications which it
promises. - Declaration on the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic
Stem Cells, Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican, 2000
The Catechism of the Catholic Church:
o 2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the
first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.
o 2274 Since it must be treated form conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity,
cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.
o 2295 Research or experimentation on the human being cannot legitimate acts that are in themselves
contrary to the dignity of persons and to the moral law.
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life and men must carry it out
in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of
conception. - Gaudium et Spes 51.3
From the moment of conception, the life of every human being is to be respected in an absolute way
because man is the only creature on earth that God has "wished for himself " and the spiritual soul of each
man is "immediately created" by God; his whole being bears the image of the Creator. Human life is sacred
because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special
relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its
end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human
being. - Donum vitae Intro. 5.
Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first
moment of his existence, a human being must be recognised as having the rights of a person - among
which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. - Donum vitae I, 1
It is immoral to produce human embryos destined to be exploited as disposable "biological material". Donum vitae I, 5
The Anglican Church and Stem Cell Research

The Bible is the principle source of ethical teaching, but often those arguing both for and against stem cell
research may use the same biblical text to explain their stance. The Anglican Church supports adult stem cell
research and the use of the therapies that may result.
The Australian Anglican response to embryonic stem cell research has been varied. Those who oppose any
use of embryonic stem cells do so on the basis that it is never permissible to do wrong (destroy the life of the
embryo) in order that good for some may result. Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney holds this view.
Opposition to embryonic stem cell research comes from analysis of Genesis 3 (temptation in Eden). This
argument emphasises that humanity is not to play God choosing whose life to save or not and interfering with
the natural order.
Those supporting embryonic stem cell research use a 14 day post-fertilisation criteria. Up to this stage they
would argue that it is permissible to take stem cells from the embryo even though this would lead to its
destruction. 14 days is used as this is the time the embryo will implant in the wall of the uterus and no longer
be a mass of floating cells. This is viewed by some as a utilitarian approach (a set of ethical beliefs based on
maximising good for the greatest number of people).
Some scientifically-inclined believers emphasise the creation, cultural or dominion mandate of Genesis 1: 2628: God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule
over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
God has called us to play God, using embryonic stem cells and genetic research to heal people and shape
humanitys future. Humanity is often seen as co-creator with God in this example.
Other documents
In 2002, a committee for the Anglican Synod of Canberra-Goulburn made recommendations in a paper entitled
The Cloning of Human Cells: A Response to the Scientific Issues from an Ethical and Theological Perspective.
They were:
1. That the cloning of humans even to the foetal stage be unlawful.
2. That research on both embryonic stem cells and the alternative approaches be permitted to proceed.
3. That the Andrews Committee report and recommendations be endorsed. In addition to the banning of
all reproductive cloning of humans, this entails that critical research on embryos be permitted, but only
on embryos surplus to assisted fertility programs; and
4. That the church publicly might be encouraged to celebrate and affirm the God given nature of such
remarkable scientific developments as we have seen unfolding in the last three years, not fearing
science but seeing it as another book of God's revelation to be read with joy.
http://www.anglican.org.au/docs/SIcloningC&G.pdf
In 2002, Peter Carnley, who was at that time the Australian Anglican Primate, delivered a paper entitled IVF
and Stem Cell Research to the annual meeting of Bishops. A summary is given below:
Instead of usurping the role of God we can understand ourselves to be involved in a co-operative exercise
aimed at the perfection of all things.
So the simple answer at this stage to the moral and ethical question of are we intruding improperly into the
province of God? is : No. We are exercising our God-given abilities to act as stewards, and to complete
and perfect the work of creation.
Once the embryo is accorded the status of an individual human person, the loss and destruction of
unwanted fertilised ova, the freezing of embryos, the possibility of scientific experimentation involving the
ultimate destruction of fertilised ova, then assume the proportion of enormous moral problems.
It is only at implantation at the earliest that we even can begin to say that conception has occurred. This
would be about seven days after fertilisation. But even here it is necessary to note that implantation is itself
a process and, during the process of implantation, significant changes occur in the embryo, all of which, it
seems to me, must be completed before it is possible to say categorically that a unique individual has been
conceived.
The Assemblies of God and Stem Cell Research
The Assemblies of God (Pentecostal) hold similar beliefs about the use of embryonic and adult stem cells as
the Catholic Church. Below is an excerpt of a letter sent to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation
Committee in 2002, by the National President of Assemblies of God in Australia, Brian Houston, in relation to a
submission about using human embryos for stem cell research.
The Assemblies of God in Australia upholds the belief that human life, from fertilisation to death, has the right
to be protected. It is therefore as theologians and ethicists, not scientists, that we have examined the serious
implications of using embryonic stem cells for research purposes.
Human life cannot be seen as a disposable commodity and we believe that the use of embryonic stem cells
ultimately devalues the sanctity of life. To legally permit human embryos for scientific research (however noble
in their quest to find solutions for others) paves the way for a society that disregards the rights of those who
cannot speak for themselves.
While we support the efforts of medical researchers to find cures for debilitating and life-threatening illnesses, it
is apparent that adult stem cells provide the opportunity to make significant progress in this area. While we
would like to see Australia take the lead in discovering cures for those who are suffering physically, we do not
believe this should be at the expense of other human beings.
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=assemblies%20of%20god%20australia%20%2B%20stem%20cells&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CE
YQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aph.gov.au%2Fsenate%2Fcommittee%2Fclac_ctte%2Fcompleted_inquiries%2F200204%2Femb_cloning%2Fsubmissions%2Fsub361.doc&ei=6jvHTv7vKeyViAej3JnlDw&usg=AFQjCNGsfAS8l9VpgTLYz1UTHxCbSRudQ&sig2=DnEPRW0q9bgZconapigKCw

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Bioethical Issue: Stem Cell Research

Stem cells are young cells from which all blood

The Christian Response

The Anglican Church and Stem Cell Research

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