Embryonic stem cell research
Stem cell research is a relatively recent and controversial scientific development. There has been much discussion and speculation in the media about the intended benefits of this research to cure a plethora of degenerative and traumatic injuries. Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease and spinal damage – conditions where a cure is currently unavailable – have all been implicated as prospective recipients of the wonders that stem cell research may bring. But what are the facts? Is stem cell research likely to live up to its phenomenal hype, or will it dissipate unproductively like gene therapy in the 80’s and 90’s?
The answer, sadly, is not clear cut and not helped by the government’s apparent lack of investigation into this area. The Donaldson report1 is now very much out of date and a new review of the situation is vital if promises are to be kept and expectations met. These expectations are indeed great. Just imagine a cure for the debilitating and common diseases mentioned above. What is currently known is that research using adult stem cells, those from adult sources such as bone marrow, fat, teeth and placenta, has already produced some verifiable results with the same kinds of diseases2. The same cannot currently be said with embryonic stem cell research. Scientific advocates will answer that there has not yet been enough work and investigation done and that eventually it will be possible to harvest stem cells from cloned embryos. These cloned embryonic cells could then be implanted to replace damaged or worn-out body tissues where there is currently no hope or problems with host rejection.
This brings us to the controversial issue of embryonic stem cell research; the value that we ascribe to the embryo. Invariably an embryo is destroyed by the removal of the stem cells. How should we view this? Is an embryo purely tissue which we can dismantle for spare parts or does it have a worth and value as the beginnings of human life that preclude it from being wilfully destroyed?
Christians have generally advocated the latter, while the more liberal have argued that the potential benefits outweigh the ethical and moral issues. What do we say in respect to the status of the embryo? The Bible teaches that God knew David before he was born3 and John was filled with the Spirit before birth.4 It follows that life in-utero must have some value and therefore must be a continuum with life after birth. The question that follows is: where does this valuable life begin? In UK law the important date is 24 weeks post conception. However, this should not affect our decision, as this is simply the age at which a baby has a reasonable chance of survival if born. Does valuable life begin at 12 weeks when all the organs are developed and formed? Does it begin at implantation of the embryo at 1 week? Or does it begin at conception? These are difficult questions because the Bible does not deal with them explicitly. It is understandable that Christians have traditionally considered conception as the key moment and have therefore treated the embryo as valuable human life.
What has this to do with stem cell research? If we take this traditional Christian position, then we must object to the use of embryos as spare parts or instruments of medical research. Does this mean we disregard all stem cell research? No, it means that we object to embryonic stem cell research, but this has no relation to the use of stem cells from the adult source. We recognise the potential benefits of stem cells and welcome its research, but only from the adult, more ethically sound, source. Moreover, adult stem cells have shown real promise and the most tangible results to date. Maybe it would be wisest to encourage and fund research in this area, rather than to tackle, perhaps unnecessarily the issue of embryonic stem cell research.
References:
1. Department of Health (2002). Stem cell research: Medical progress with responsibility. Available here
2. Christian Medical and Dental Associations [online] (07/30/04). Stem cells: Over 2,000 CMA doctors petition Congress to invest in “affordable cures for our patients in the quickest time” . Available here
3. Psalm 139:13
4. Luke 1:15
