Stem cell research is an ever-evolving area of modern policy. Many bills have been proposed and some have been passed in this area. Stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can be converted into other. These cells have the potential to treat and cure many illnesses for which this is not yet an option. Most of the controversy over stem cell research involves moral opposition. 1998 marked the first removal of a human embryonic stem cell. Until recently these cells could only be obtained through human embryos. This dovetails with the controversy over abortion ("The Stem Cell Debate"). Most pro-life supporters do not support stem cell research, however with new medical strides being taken, there is more public support for the policy than there had been previously. Although it was not always flourishing, stem cell research is currently advancing through bipartisanship, interest groups, and presidential leadership.
Prior to 2009 the policy’s strength was limited due to presidential leadership and bureaucratic cooperation, as well as divided government. The policy continued its success, however, at a much slower rate than it is currently succeeding. In 2001, president George W. Bush announced that “the federal funding of any research using stem cell lines derived after August 9, 2001” were to be prohibited ("Timeline of Major Events"). This federal policy only applied to government organizations, not private or state organizations. However, because most of the funding for stem cell research was through federal grants and NIH, this was a major setback. In 2005, the democratic congress passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which was intended to require that the Secretary of Health and Human Services conduct...
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Stem cell research has been a heated and highly controversial debate for over a decade, which explains why there have been so many articles on the issue. Like all debates, the issue is based on two different arguments: the scientific evolution and the political war against that evolution. The debate proves itself to be so controversial that is both supported and opposed by many different people, organizations, and religions. There are many “emotional images [that] have been wielded” in an attempt to persuade one side to convert to the other (Hirsen). The stem cell research debate, accompanied by different rhetoric used to argue dissimilar points, comes to life in two articles and a speech: “Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Yes, Don’t Impede Medical Progress” by Virginia Postrel; “Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? No, It’s a Moral Monstrosity” by Eric Cohen and William Kristol; and “Remarks by Ron Reagan, Jr., to the 2004 Democratic National Convention” by Ron Reagan, Jr. Ethos, pathos, and logos are the main categories differentiating the two arguments.
Over the past decade scientist and the U.S government have been debating about funds for stem cell research (SCR), the amount spent depends on who is in office. The Democratic Party fully supports SCR, but the Republican Party somewhat opposes the concept of SCR, arfuing it violates the Christian principle of life. As a result, this topic is considered controversial, but also beneficial if allowed. Despite the controversy, SCR should be well funded for medicinal use, because blank stem cells (SC) can be used to regenerate bones and muscle tissue, they can be used to control or even reverse neurodegenerative disease, and because they can be used for therapeutic cloning.
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The President’s Council on Bioethics published “Monitoring Stem Cell Research” in 2004. This report was written in response to President Bush’s comments regarding research of human stem cells on August 9, 2001. President Bush announced that he was going to make federal funding available for research that involved existing lines of stem cells that came from embryos. He is the first president to provide any type of financial support for the research of human stem cells. A Council was created with people who are educated in the field of stem cells to help monitor the research and to recommend guidelines and consider the ethical consequences that this research could create. This report is an “update” given by the President’s Council in January of 2004 to make the public aware of the significant developments in the science and medical aspects of stem cell research. It also describes the ethical, legal and political implications that stem cell research may create. However, since the research is still in its beginning stages, this “update” does not describe a complete or definitive study of stem cells nor does it provide specific guidelines or regulations. This is a report that is suppose to help the President, Congress and general public make better-informed decisions as to the direction that we should go with stem cells.
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The stem cell research controversy is one of the major headlines in bioscience and has been discussed and debated numerous times throughout the last decade or so.