The Moral Implications of Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Maternal Care

Abstract

The achievements of medical science in recent years have brought to the fore new aspects of the question on the human dignity or human life. Science has given human life a new definition as a matter of fact and this calls for further explanation on the ethical level. This elucidation is essential because the fundamental values of human life are often called into question. When one considers the progress in medicine, its capacity to cure and prolong life in particular circumstances, they give rise to moral problems. This is true when one thinks of the production and use of embryonic stem cells. The questions are: are embryos mere things? Are they alive and are they human? Have embryos rights and interests? Should scientists harvest embryonic stem cells and use them as it pleases them? These and many more are the questions this article is poised to consider and to highlight the moral implications of such technological feat. We begin by first elucidating the essential terms involved.