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What Is the History of Stem Call Research Legislation in the Us?

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What is the history of stem call research legislation in the US?
How does it compare to the rest of the world?

The argument for life is often one that results in two circumstances – either life will go on or life will not. Millions of families are afflicted with diseases and disorders that they would do anything in any lifetime for cures to spare their loved ones. Stem cells through argument of science can cure diseases or help heal individuals who suffer from debilitating conditions such as spinal cord injuries, strokes, heart conditions, and burns to name a few. (Reaves, 2001) The argument for stem cell research proves to be one of both moral hazard and religious conviction. (G.Fischbach, 2004) On the moral side, the idea to use terminated pregnancies in order for gain or just their cells is unfathomable. The religious conviction is that individuals who terminated their pregnancies because of the assumed small value they placed on human life only made these cells available. However, these cells before they form human life are cells that have not generated into existing diseases or degenerative conditions. (NIH, 2009) Stem Cell research can be looked at in many ways, but it personally should be viewed a progression to better lives ruined by diseases and catastrophe, not regression and immoral in the eyes of deities and those superior. In the U.S. states funding for stem cell research was prominent in early part of the 21st century by both members of both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. However, because of religious convictions of George W. Bush, the bill was vetoed after passing both the Senate and the House in both 2001 and in 2007. (Babaington, 2006) In doing so it showed that even higher members of government, had not their own political agendas to uphold, but also those of their own personal religious beliefs. Yet, where does an individual draw a line in saving lives or help improving them by lives that were never accepted or wanted in the first place? This question continues to plague and ponder the mind of individuals who feel conflicted about their spiritual obligations, but when life is on the line does belief in a higher power step in and tell them that the individual that’s being afflicted will be spared and saved? Other parts of the world share the United States beliefs in understanding a moral or religious boundary. South Korea fabricated their results of a recent stem cell finding with regards to human cloning, but these results were fictitious and resulted in backlash from the world. However, the rest of world is contributing funds such as India where 22 private and public research institutions conduct stem cell research. (Acharya, 2011) Though it is a hotly contested topic in a country like India to partake in this research, Hinduism preaches valuing life and being a Good Samaritan when need be. (Bhanot, 2008) As the world takes a stance on the moral or religious values of stem cell research, one has to understand how vital it is to improve the quality of life. Stem cell research should not be looked at something that is immoral and the use of terminated pregnancies may have ended life in one instance, but can help life in another. If anyone has ever had a family member afflicted by an illness, they would know that there were two means in which the family can cope with the illness. One would be to continue to provide care and medicate the individual for a long duration of time. This not only takes a toll on the family, but it also becomes a burden for family members to devote care on a continual basis. This may be a bleak assessment, but those of us who have had family members who have been ill know first hand the type of toll it takes on our lives.

The second instance would be to have the individuals life end, either by letting the disease consume the person or worst for the family to decide that they can no longer bear to care for the individual. By doing this, from a societal aspect, the family is scorned and looked upon as individuals with no remorse. As was the case with Terri Shiavo and her husband who had her feeding tubed removed. Mrs. Shiavo had a heart attack that led to massive brain failure and declared to be in a vegetative state. (Goodnaugh, 2006). Now stem cell research probably could not have improved her condition, but it could have possible that there was a chance for improvement on her living condition. Now in both these instances, the argument can sway either way, however, thorough personal beliefs, life is essential in all religions. However, so is being cognizant on how many lives you can change in the instance of stem cells improving regeneration of deteriorated or dead cells. Stem cells are acquired in a controversial way, but the way in which they are obtained is a whole different argument. If stem cells were acquired through animals, then the argument would only come from individuals who were animal rights activist. They are a small faction, but not enough to test wits with science. Stem cell research is about evolutionary change and if moral or religious convictions have been considered in previous centuries or generations, as humans technological advances would never have progressed. The argument on stem cells will be an argument that is hotly contested and will be for quite some time. Since its initial discovery of stem cells and their benefit, pundits will always talk most about the religious hazards that encompass the science. However, they do not weigh the benefit of the research versus the detriment that it would cause without it. As individuals choose to end life via terminated pregnancies, they can also help save lives with those same cells that were used to terminate the pregnancies initially. As one life ends, another would not necessarily begin, but it would improve and move forward. Lives can change as far as we let them as individuals, but the matter in which they change is strictly up to us. We need to put aside political agendas, religious beliefs, and moral convictions for a few times to help improve the lives of everyone that has ever been afflicted by hurt or disease. As we progress towards the future in new discoveries in medicine and new discoveries in technology, we have to embrace these things and not be afraid of the religious hazards or convictions that come with them. The United States has a chance to move forward and go ahead of the rest of the world in stem cell research if we put our religious beliefs aside. However, until the religious beliefs are taken back and toned down, stem cell research will always be on the back burner for everyone’s political agendas while families and others are suffering from debilitating conditions. If the world takes notice that the United States takes a chance on such research, so too can other countries in making progress in making healing something that all countries can take part in and help make progressive rather than regressive change.

References
Reaves, 2001, "The Great Debate Over Stem Cell Research."
Retrieved from: http://www.time.com/time/health/printout/0,8816,167245,00.html
G.Fischbach, 2004, “Stem cells: science, policy, and ethics.”
Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC525749
Babington, Charles (2006), “Stem Cell Bill Gets Bush’s First Veto,” Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/ AR2006071900524.html. Acharya, 2011. “Stemming Experiments in Stem Cells.”
Retrieved from: http://www.globalissues.org/news/2011/02/14/8516
Bhanot, 2008. “The ethics of stem cell research: a Hindu view.”
Retrieved from: http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_38248.asp

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