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Health Care Ethics Issue of Stem Cell Research

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Health Care Ethics Issue of Stem Cell Research
Final Paper: Moral Theory and Ethics in Human Stem Cell Research

Stem cells give the field of medicine amazing possibilities in research and development. These special cells have the capability to possibly correct and prevent Alzheimer 's, Parkinson 's, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries (Reaves, 2001). Stem cell research is based on two areas; the adult stem cell and the human embryonic stem cell. The ethical and legal issues arise on the area of human embryonic stem cell. This topic has called gathered much attention in politics, medical, and public interest. Bringing to light ethical considerations and understanding multiple learning outcomes are paramount to comprehending elements of this topic.
Adult stems cells are a special type of undifferentiated cell (a cell that is not specialized) that is found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ system that can regenerate into some of the specialized cell type of that tissue or organ system. In short, adult stem cells are meant to sustain and restore the tissue or organ system they are designated. They are thought to exist in most of the body’s tissues such as the blood, brain, liver, intestine or skin. If the differentiations of adult stem cells are able to be manifested in the setting of the laboratory, adult stem cells may become the basis of transplantation-based therapies.
The other type of stem cell research is over the human embryonic stem cell. The embryonic stem cells exist at the most early stages of embryonic growth and then form all of the types of cells of the human body. Typically in the human development these embryonic cells are not found after roughly five days. The capability to form so many types of different cells, the embryonic stem cell is also known as pluriptotent stem cell. These cells have an almost wonder like potential but scientists today are unable to specifically control their development into different types of cells in the body.
The issues arise on the


References: National Institutes of Health. (2012, June 5). Stem cell and diseases. Retrieved from http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/health.asp National Right to Life Committee. (2007, Apr 18). National right to life applauds. Retrieved from http://www.nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release041807.html Pozgar, George D (2012). Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals, 3rd Edition. Jones & Bartlett Publishers Reaves, J Walsh, F. (2012, Jan 24). First trial results of human embryonic stem cells. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16700394
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