Political/Legal Issues

Europe Article 18 of The Convention of Human Rights and Biomedicine (enforced by Council of Europe) states that it is up to each country to decide whether or not to authorise embryo research Each country is obliged to respect two conditions: “To ensure adequate protection of the embryo” - quoted in Article 18 Adopt a legislation fixing the conditions and limits of such research To prohibit “the creation of human embryos for research purposes”- quoted in Article 18

Europe (Cont…) Ireland only country in EU whose Constitution affirms the right to the life of the “unborn” and that this right is equal to that of the mother In Belgium and Netherlands, no legislation on embryo research exists but embryo research is nevertheless carried out Austria and Germany legislation prohibits any kind of embryo research

United States March 9, 2009: President Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13505, entitled Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells States that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of NIH (National Institutes of Health), may support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem cell research, to the extent permitted by law

United States (Cont…) “The Presidential statement of August 9, 2001, limiting Federal funding for research involving human embryonic stem cells, shall have no further effect as a statement of governmental policy” –Section 5 of EO Purpose: to remove limitations on scientific inquiry and to expand NIH support for the exploration of human stem cell research

Social and Economic Costs of Embryonic Stem Cells and Adult Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem Cells Social Costs By investing in this research many say that this might take over religion and that humans should not play God. During the process of harvesting embryonic stem cells, the embryo is destroyed. Therefore, the primary ethical question is raised: “Are embryo’s people or property?” (Moffit)

Social Concerns of Embryonic Stem Cells Requires women's eggs 17 million diabetes patients in the united states will require a minimum of 850 million to 1.7 billion human eggs. Collecting 10 eggs per donor will require a minimum of million women. The total cost would be unaffordable especially by those who need it the most.

Social Health Costs Super-ovulation regimens or high-dose hormone therapies are debated. When used with a standard In Vitro Fertilization, can cause: Seizures Stroke Infertility Cancer

Future Problems Future commercial exploitation of women Poor women will be targeted

Economic Costs of Embryonic Stem Cells It will take about an astronomical amount of 100,000 to 200,000 dollars for human eggs per patient. They tend to produce tumors, cause transplant rejection and form the incorrect cells. The scientific evidence produced by embryonic stem cell research does not provide enough information for continued investment in research. Morally bankrupt form of research and endangers women and therefore should not be included in the tax payers system. Bad investment for tax payers People are trying to get the federal taxpayers to fund what the venture capitalists will not fund.

Economic Benefits of Embryonic Stem Cells Adult stem cells would not be that interesting because they do not have the same properties as embryonic stem cells. The ethical issues will be out-weighed because of the great outcome of this research The research will give insights about the general structure of the body If someone is going to have an abortion, is it not better to use that for something useful?

Adult Stem Cells Social Costs: By investing in this research many say that this might take over religion and that humans should not play God Some argue that stem cell research will also lead to cloning

Economic Benefits of Adult Stem Cells Private investors are funding adult stem cell research which is an ethical alternative Already have made significant progress in creating treatments for Spinal cord injuries, Parkingston disease, and juvenile diabetes Embryonic stem cells have not yet been used for even one therapy, while adult stem cells have already been successfully used in numerous patients, including for cardiac infarction