Government Funding of Stem Cell Research

In the 2004 presidential election, one of the most controversial issues facing voters was the battle over embryonic stem cell research. In the weeks leading up to the election, polls were indicating that 47 percent of Bush supporters agreed that the destruction of embryo cells is unethical; however, 53 percent of Bush voters supported stem cell research. The overwhelming majority of Kerry backers also supported stem cell research, indicating that the majority of American voters support stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research, while still in its infancy, has the potential to treat or perhaps even cure more than 100 million people suffering from a variety of illnesses and conditions. Scientists agree that stem cells could be one of the greatest revolutions in modern medicine. On the opposing side of the issue, many citizens believe that destroying an embryo is the equivalent to killing an unborn child. While many people assume the battle is about the use of stem cells for research purposes, it now seems that the major political controversy is the role of the federal government in funding human embryo research. Many scientists contend that the furor began with President Bush's August 2001 decision to limit government funding to embryonic stem cell lines that had already been created. Since then, scientists have been scrambling to expand funding for stem cell research with few alternatives. The central question is, "Should private funding from companies, individuals, and foundations control the future economic, public health, and social benefits of stem cell research or should the federal government?" Allowing the federal government to fund and, thereby, control stem cell research ensures appropriate regulation and ...

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...ates that human embryos must be destroyed in the process of taking their cells, and it is never ethically acceptable to destroy human life for the purpose of "benefit to the many." She also rejects the use of discarded embryos to further stem cell research, and indicates that although stem cell research is legal it is morally unethical and should not be furthered or expanded beyond the government's limitations. This argument is the foundation of the moral opposition to federally supported stem cell research. However, many scientists argue that a country that does not support attempts to alleviate human suffering is also acting immorally. Lempert and Dixon assert that morality requires responsibility and by failing to fund human embryo stem cell research while allowing privately funded research to proceed, the federal government is nullifying its responsibility.