Van Detta 1
Alec Van Detta
English 1010, 1st period
Henriksen
Stem Cell Research
November 15, 2013
Annotated Bibliography
Charo, R. Alta. "Fear and the First Amendment." The Hastings Center Report Sept.-Oct. 2006:
12+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
The Vatican announced that it will excommunicate anyone who is in relation to the study
of stem cells. Galileo once talked about how minds created by god will deny their senses;
so he wouldn’t be surprised by the Vatican’s harsh reactions to stem cell research. In
other talks the researchers are trying to get their freedom of speech expanded and
protected in case of illegalization of stem cell research. They believe that research and
publishing of said research is part of their freedom of speech, but their ideas haven’t
gained much support. The first amendment protects any law making related to religion, it
is believed that this will protect the complete stoppage of stem cell research because most
that are against it are because of their religious beliefs. So researchers keep hope that the
government will stay out of their affairs and will allow wisdom to prosper, also hope
liberty will help their research become greater.
Clark, Chap, et al. "The dividing cell: developments and arguments in the debate over stem cell
research." Current 492 (2007): 16+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 12 Nov.
2013.
In the years it took stem cells to get where it is today, but back when Thomson brought to
the world he never would have expected to have started ethical warfare. Stem cells has
been very controversial since its beginnings, this has caused the government to be
defensive and offensive in helping out stem cell research. Now in a democratic congress
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the offensive plan has been reenacted and now stem cell research is back on progressive.
Adult stem cells are trying to make their way because of they are a uncontroversial type
of stem cells. Stem cells are known to have capabilities that could change the way treat so
many diseases; it is known to be able to make muscle, organs, and even brain cells.
Fox, Maggie. "Appeals Court Ruling Gives Stem Cell Research New Life." National
Journal (2011). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
Maggie reports that the appellate courts threw out a challenge against Obama’s to allow
the NIH to resume the funding of the Research of embryonic stem cells. So NIH
continues funding this research and are now already researching the use of stem cells on
victims who have a rare eye disease. Even though this event happened, the political king
of hill is far from finally having a winner because the opposing side to this research will
not give up; even if they have to take it to the federal court because of a law made back in
1995 forbidding the funding of research in which an embryo is destroyed, but Clinton
allowed the funding of this research as long as they did not use government funding for
the harvesting of these cells. Maggie points out that almost every scientist is for Stem
cells and agree that they could help in the curing and treating of multiple upon multiples
of diseases.
"Good intentions?" Commonweal 137.4 (2010): 6. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 14
Nov. 2013.
Commonweal tells us about American missionaries who tried to take children out of Haiti
and put them in an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, but the Haitian authorities saw
it as an act of human trafficking and put them in jail. In the year 2007 scientist found a
way to make adult stem cells act the same as the stem cell taken from the fetus. This
discovery made less need for fetuses and an easier way to get stem cell research done
without as much criticism.as time passed people started to doubts these findings and as
arguments went back and forth.
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Kirchstein, Ruth, L. Skirboll, Lana."Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research
Directions." Medicine, Health, and Bioethics: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K.. Detroit:
Gale, 2006. 72-75. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
The NIH is a health institution that is all around the United States. They’re doing research
on these stem cells to see their potential, also to see if they are eligible for use in the
medical field. Even though stem cells of mice were used in research since 1981, the first
human stem cell was built up by James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin. These
forms of research have shown us the properties and possibilities of stem cells. Most
researchers believe that stem cells could be great help to neurologic diseases and forming
heart muscle. In the end the NIH formed a report speaking of both fetal and adult stem
cells and how they could be used but has no recommendations regarding more research.
"Life & science." Commonweal 136.6 (2009): 5. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 14 Nov.
2013.
Commonweal observed that everyone was expecting Obama to lift restricted funding of
stem cell research as soon as he got in office because of his political views. Back when
Bush was in office he stopped the cash flow from the government because of his strong
morals against the research of stem cells. As soon as Obama got into office he did not
even hesitate to relinquish the holds of funding for stem cell research; commonweal
suggests that he was a bit insensitive, but he had a campaign promise to stand for. Even
though funds are reintroduced the NIH is now coming out with guidelines that are most
likely going to include the ban on selling embryos for the excision of stem cells. As also
pointed out in other articles these renewed funds will now allow stem cell progress to
push forward and allow the trail for the cure to many diseases.
Sandel, Michael J. "Embryos Do Not Deserve the Moral Status of Persons."Reproductive
Technologies. Ed. Clay Farris Naff. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing
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Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Embryo Ethics—The Moral Logic of Stem-Cell Research." New
England Journal of Medicine 351 (15 July 2004): 207-209.Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
He starts by saying just because we start the same doesn’t mean that were the same. Mr.
Sandel observes that the reason that so many people dislike stem cell research and the use
of stem cells is because people see that resources they come from as a human being, but
he tells us that embryos shouldn’t be considered as humans because acorns aren’t
considered trees. After which he tells us that neither side is completely persuasive. Then
he goes into more detail on his acorn analogy; he explains that just like acorn and embryo
is not full standing and unable to survive without nurturing. So for his final conclusion he
concludes that though it may seem like it’s a slippery slope that it isn’t and actually is a
step towards evolution of medicine.
Sherman, Amy. "Rick Scott Fails to Pursue Stem Cell Research Ban."Tampa Bay Times [St.
Petersburg, FL] 2 Oct. 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
Rick Scott, the governor in Florida, has said that he will try to get stem cell research
banned but his efforts haven’t shown so far. He has been in the past very conservative.
His views are pro-life and he believes that stem cell research will result in more abortions
therefore leading to his promise to ban it. So far since Obama has been in office, no effort
has shown in the starting a petition to ban stem cell research but tamp bay times have
searched and searched and found nothing therefore leading everyone to believe that his
promise is broken.
Steinbock, Bonnie. "Alternative sources of stem cells." The Hastings Center Report July-Aug.
2005: 24+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
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Bonnie announces the promise that stem cells have to curing so many horrible diseases
and the protection that could be added against death of human life. She also speaks of a
paper recently released by the bioethics council and they announced that there are four
ways stem cells can be harvested without the killing of the human embryo. The first way
is the harvesting from dead human embryos because of the law behind donation of human
organs and such after death. The second is taking them from stem cell lined single cells
from an early embryo in ways that do not destroy the embryo. The third way is the
extraction of stem cells from a natural reproduction. In which a defective egg cell is used
to make the artifact but it cannot develop due to lack essential elements. The fourth
involves the use of somatic cells to get stem cells. The council says this would be the best
way cause it has nothing to argue about cause it doesn’t come from an embryo, but this
would need a lot of innovative technology before this process could be used.
Sternberg, Steve. "Physicians Are Treating Patients Using Questionable Stem Cell
Therapies." Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells. Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit:
Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "Doctors Offer Unapproved Stem Cell
Therapies." USA Today 29 June 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 18 Nov.
2013.
Experimental stem cell treatments are hoping to grow with enough prove of helpful
characteristics in the future but as time goes on stem cell treatments are growing more
and more popular especially out of the country such as in Mexico and China. An example
of amazing results from stem cell treatment from outside the country is the Yankees
pitcher Bartolo Colon who was starting to get older and not as athletic, also pulled his
hamstring in his 2011 season, after this happened people figured that he would retire.
They never would have expected for him to come back and be one of the best pitchers in
the MLB, but after having a stem cell treatment in the Dominican Republic during the off
season, he was doing better than ever. Purita went out and speak about how amazing and
helpful these treatments can be. Experts in the field of stem cell is the origin of most
human tissues and if they can harness these powers than they could easily be able to
change people’s lives. Purita went out and told everyone that he didn’t use any illegal
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substances, but he can’t be sure his treatment did the job. Mr. Colon declined to
comment. Ted Kaptchuk from Harvard came out told everyone that the effects of stem
cell research is most likely a placebo effect.
Young, Robert O. "The FDA Should Not Regulate Stem Cell Products." Embryonic and Adult
Stem Cells. Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from
"FDA's New Claim: 'Your Body Is a Drug—and We Have the Authority to Regulate
It!'." Articles of Health 31 Jan. 2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 15 Nov.
2013.
The FDA came out and told everyone that when stem cells are used to treat someone,
they should be considered a drug, which is within their constraints. The thing is though
the medical field doesn’t consider stem cells as drugs and believe the FDA is using
powers in areas in which they have none. It outrageous to think that stem cells are drugs
because they come from your body or another body, so the FDA cannot have power in
this area. The FDA goes to battle against the claims and try to convince those around
them that Stem cells should be in their jurisdiction, but on their trip for more power they
try to get government leaders to help even though the country is supposedly controlled by
us the people.
Zoloth, Laurie. "Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Ethical." Genetic Engineering. Ed. James D.
Torr. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "testimony
before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation."
2004. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
She introduces herself as professor of bioethics and religion in the medical humanities
and bioethics program at northwestern university. She tells about her 10 grade-self who
wrote a speech about stem cells and she notes that she has children and wants no future
harm to come to them from some faulty treatment. She speaks of the need of something
like stem cells to evolve the field of medicine. She then tells why people think it is
unethical, there are three reasons, where we get, how we get it, and what we use them for.
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She then talks about how even though most religions are different, most of they have an
appreciation for medicine and science. After all of this she speaks of how we must
compromise for the bettering of men.