• Question: What are your views on the ethics of manipulating human cells (stem cells) for research?

    Asked by 10jlam to Dominic, Maedeh, Matthew, Matt, Monica on 4 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Matthew Round

      Matthew Round answered on 4 Mar 2016:

      Crikey you don’t mess about do you?

      As someone who works in a hospital even in a non front line clinical role you can’t help but be affected by the suffering you see on a daily basis. That’s why I’m broadly in favour of anything that can improve medical outcomes and quality of life even if there are ethical dilemmas about the source of the research, in this case the use of embryos.

      One could argue that embryos that are to be discarded can recover some dignity by being a productive positive for society in a way they wouldn’t have been allowed to by simply being discarded.

      Genetics and genetic engineering will take the next big steps in positive health outcomes in my humble opinion.

    • Photo: Maedeh Borhani

      Maedeh Borhani answered on 4 Mar 2016:

      In my opinion, this procedure will improve quality of life so I have no objection.

    • Photo: Monica Rozeik

      Monica Rozeik answered on 5 Mar 2016:

      That’s a strong question! There are many types of stem cells that can be used for the great benefit of research. Some don’t raise many ethical issues such as adult stem cells taken from the bone marrow.

      The ethical issues are usually on embryonic stem cells. These cells can do a lot more than adult ones but they are taken from an embryo – the early stage of a fertilized egg. Some people trying for a baby in a fertility clinic have extra embryos which they donate for research and I’m in favour of that. But some people create embryos especially for research and I’m undecided about that.

      Well done on asking this! It’s always important to keep thinking of the ethical issues.

    • Photo: Matthew Oldfield

      Matthew Oldfield answered on 5 Mar 2016:

      I’m going to be honest and say that I don’t know much about the ethical issues involved. Reading the answers of the other Engineers, I would give them a big thumbs up rather than me!

      There are many really awful medical conditions that can be helped with stem cell research. This is great. Ethics are incredibly important though and the arguments are often very complicated and very interesting too. Once specialists in medical ethics have formed a consensus I will be very happy to follow their lead. However, rushing a decision is dangerous as it is very difficult to take a step backwards at a later date.

      My only other opinion is that it is best to be guided by experts in the science and ethical areas rather than politicians!

    • Photo: Dominic Eggbeer

      Dominic Eggbeer answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      I’m with the others on this. There are clear potential benefits with extremely minimal ethical implications. Like Matthew O said, it’s best to take ethics advice from the experts rather than be swayed by media or political interests.

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