STEM CELL RESEARCH

Stem Cell Research Legislation

Stem Cell Research Legislation

Introduction

A stem cell is a cell that is capable of self-renewal divisions by mitotic or continue the differentiation pathway for which is scheduled and, therefore, produce cells of one or more tissues mature, fully functional and differentiated according to degree of multipotency (National Institutes of Health, 2008). Thus, these cells have the ability to divide without losing their properties and can differentiate into other cells.  Since the emergence of stem cell research, a lot of lawsuits had been recorded against the stem cell research issues in the United States of America. In 2001, a lawsuit was filed aiming to restrict the funding of the federation on embryonic stem cell research. The American president Gorge Bush proposed two stem cell enhancement bills but these bills were rejected by the house, unfortunately (Kathryn and Kirstin, 2008).

There are stem cell regulations, which are the laws, policies and rules that preside over the matters that alarm the research, uses and sources in treatment of stem cell among human beings. In this case, these laws are the center for the main controversies, which vary significantly among countries. In Europe there are countries that permit studies using human embryonic stem cells like Sweden, Finland, Britain, and Denmark among others. On the other hand, this process of studying in strictly prohibited in other countries which include; Austria, Germany, Portugal, Italy, and Ireland. In the United States of America different states have different views concerning this issue with some states completely issuing bans while other supporting it by providing financial supports (Karl and Gregory, 2007).

Discussion

The history of Stem Cell Research Legislation in the United States

The idea of stem cell research was firstly initiated in 1960 in United sated and the new concept became popular when a patient with immunodeficiency disease was treated with the stem cell method. After that, stem cell research contribute a lot in helping patient recover from serious diseases like leukemia and immunodeficiency in United States (David, 2007).

According to many religions and ethical systems, life begins at fertilization. They claim that any measure intended to halt the development after conception is considered as the destruction of human life. Other critics have no moral problem with stem cell research, but are afraid of a precedent for human experimentation. Some critics support the idea of ??research, but want to impose strict laws to prevent genetic experimentation, such as cloning and to ensure that only embryos obtained through appropriate sources. Preventing stem cell research becomes a slippery slope to human genetic experiments is considered by most of society an important point in the controversy over stem cells. Besides the ethical problems associated with destroying the blastocyst, is also unethical that needed a high amount of eggs to create embryos that are destroyed then, and how to get those eggs. The egg donor is treated first with some drugs and hormones to many eggs that it believes will be donated. These drugs can bring health problems which is unethical to harm a patient ...