Critique (Reading Report # 4)

In my opinion, it is very hard to arrive to the conclusion in these disputes. At the beginning, I could not accept any sides in the debates because in some cases I agreed that stem cell research should be canceled because of the respect to embryos, on the other hand, I understood that stem cell research is a step forward to create stem cell therapy which will help many people around the world to treat diseases. I accede with Lisa Sowle Cahill’s opinion that at the beginning stem cell therapy will be costly for many people; nevertheless, after couple years I believe that it will be affordable by the rest of the population. There are two fundamental moral principles that I esteem very highly: first principle enjoins the prevention of suffering, and the other enjoins to respect the value of human life. While I was reading the book “Stem Cell Research”, I have been discouraged by two questions. Should we give more weight to the first principle, and permit embryonic stem cell research because of its remarkable potential benefits? Or should we give more weight to the second principle, and prohibit embryonic research because it violates respect for the value of the embryo? According to several experts in this book, with whom I participate opinions, I arrived to the opinion that both principles apparently cannot simultaneously be respected in the case of embryonic stem cell research. I persuade into that Catholic institutions should not participate in embryonic stem cell research because if they will participate, public cannot get all benefits from stem cell research. Now, I can say for sure that stem cell research has to be fund by government. It was difficult to choose this side of the debates because each expert gave sufficient evidences to their opinions. In my opinion, Lisa Sowle Cahill tried to convince public opinion by using logical fallacy; she compares two different things such as stem cell therapy and lack of food and water.

Reading Report # 4

In the book “Stem Cell Research” which was published by University of Notre Dame in 2003, the author, Nancy E. Snow reported about ethical issue in stem cell research. The author stated that the central question in the debates over stem cell research is how to treat embryonic stem cell research, which may lead to lifesaving (Snow, 2003, p.77) treatments, but which requires the destruction of embryos. The author reported that Karen Lebacqz argued for the moral acceptability of stem cell research on the basis of standard of respect for humans. Nancy E. Snow explained that according to Karen Lebacqz who stated that there are two main ethical issues arise in debates such as whether it is morally permissible to destroy blastocysts and whether it is permissible to create blastocysts for research purpose. According to Lebacqz who claimed that the fundamental principle at stake (Snow, 2003, p.80) in the stem cell research debate is not the prohibition against killing, but respect for persons. However, the author indicated that Lisa Sowle Cahill, the scientist of stem cell research, pointed out that people will not have access to the potential benefits in stem cell therapy because stem cell therapy will be exotic as well as expensive to millions of people worldwide. Moreover, Nancy E. Snow explained that Cahill concerned with another problem such as basic health care, lack of food and clear drinking water. Finally, Cahill alleged that if therapies are developed from stem cells derived from embryos, the therapies are unlikely to provide good tissue matches for variety of population.

Critique (Reading Report # 3)

Critique

In this chapter the author reported about cord blood stems cells. The author stated that cord blood stem cells are an alternative for embryonic stem cells. I have the same point of view on a number of his opinions about cord blood stem cells. Moreover, this source of deriving stem cells is secure for embryos, so it does not lead to controversy between science and society. My first reaction was positive while I was reading this chapter, but then it turned to negative because I cannot understand why scientists aim to derive stem cells from embryos while they have enough sources. The author explained his opinion very clear that even a person who does not know much about stem cells, will understand what the chapter about. In addition, the author supported his point of view by giving examples and sufficient evidences. I partly support what the author written in this chapter. I agree that cord blood stem cells have a lot of benefits that scientists can use to treat a wide array of diseases, cancers and many other disorders. However, I strongly disagree with author’s statement that storage of cord blood for private use is not necessary. For instance, if someone’s cord blood consists of hereditary disorders, it is not useful for public use. Nevertheless, it is of service to use by siblings. Even if people may never use their stored cord blood stem cells, it is their right to keep them. Deeply analyzing importance of cord blood stem cells, I arrived at a conclusion that deriving stem cells from embryos should be banned, and government should fund the cord blood stem cells research.

Summary # 3 "Stem Cell Research"

In the book “Stem Cell Research” which was published by University of Notre Dame in 2003, the author, Nancy E. Snow reported about the cord blood stem cells as well as the morality of deriving such cells from embryos. The author explained that the umbilical cord blood is human blood collected from placenta after the cord has been detached from newborn baby. In addition, the author claimed that umbilical cord blood stem cells have advantages of embryonic stem cells because during the process of collecting the cord blood, the baby is not harmed or destroyed. Also the author pointed out that there is no controversy issue about how cord blood stem cells are derived. Nancy E. Snow mentioned that cord blood stem cells have been used since 1980s to treat a number of diseases, cancers and other disorders. Snow demonstrated that cord blood is being projected and seen as a form of insurance by saving cord blood through banks. Moreover, the author stated that cord blood bank facility is being provided by both private and public centers. The author explained the situation around the cord blood; it is not necessary to store cord blood for private use. Nancy E. Snow also argued that chances that patients will use their own cord blood stem cells for transplant are low as they may never require them. However, the author indicated that opponents of storing their own cord blood stem cells agreed that there is a small chance that donor will use his/her cord blood stem cells, but these stem cells will be available for treatment parents and siblings.

Summary # 2 "Stem Cell Research"

In the book “Stem Cell Research” which was published by University of Notre Dame in 2003, the author, Nancy E. Snow reported about controversial issues of stem cell research in our society. The author claimed that in order to see all advantages that stem cell research can bring to public, it is important that government supports this research, and Catholic institutions should not participate in embryonic stem cell research. However, Nancy E. Snow mentioned that if the genetic technologies (Snow, 2003, p.25) can be used successfully to treat diseases, it also can be used to change the uniqueness of human beings. The author explained the importance of stem cells because all types of cells need to be replaced during a lifetime, and stem cells are the sources of these replacement cells. In addition N.E. Snow showed the advantages of stem cell research and divided all benefits into three groups: basic research in human development (Snow, 2003, p.27), safer and more specific drug development (Snow, 2003, p.27), and therapies to repair or replace damaged tissue and organs (Snow, 2003, p.27). The author noted that using stem cells in research to regenerate tissues and organs receives the most attention in public debates. In addition, the author observed that the public debates concern with the goals of medical benefits against the detriment in doing research on human embryos. According to Nancy E. Snow who indicated that human embryos should receive less legal and moral attention than human subjects (2003, p.29). The author presumed that it is difficult to define the beginning of human life, if both science and religion define the point when embryo counts as human, the controversy will be over. Moreover, the author suggested that government increases the fund for stem cell research using animals and non embryonic human stem cells which achieve scientific development without causing ethical and social anxiety.

Summary # 1 "Stem Cell Research" (page 1-20)

In the book “Stem Cell Research” which was published by University of Notre Dame Press, the author, Nancy E. Snow reported about dilemma between science cell research (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.1) and ethical policy (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.1). The author claimed that scientists suppose that stem cell research (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.2) will bring results in treatment of diabetes (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.2), Alzheimer’s (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.2), Parkinson’s (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.2) and many other cureless diseases. However, author also indicated that extraction of stem cells cause ethical (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.2) and religious (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.2) opposition. E. Snow noted that there are many different sources of stem cells, and they can be found at different stages of formation of human being. Nancy E. Snow reported that proponents presume by researching stem cells scientists can find many advantages for medical cure. In addition, the author maintained that stem cells are used for growing new organs, bones, skin for patients; however, there is always a risk of transplant (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.18) rejection for patients. Moreover, Snow states that according to Kevin T. Fitzgerald who supported human embryo research because of a large numbers of benefits from it (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.10). On the other hand, the author states that opponents of stem cell research consider that if scientists take aborted fetal tissue (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.5) for experiments, it will cause raising misbirth. The author mentioned that according to David A. Prentice who claimed that using embryos (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.9) for research purpose raised many debates about respect for human life. Nancy Snow explained that nowadays because of ethical arguments, scientists try to find alternatives for embryonic stem cells. The author proposed that stem cell use may cause some damages for immune system, tumor formation (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.18), and transplant rejection (Nancy E. Snow, 2003, p.18).

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