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Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research: Embryos and Beyond

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Ethics and Emerging Technologies

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter, Inmaculada de Melo-Martin and Marin Gillis begin by presenting some background on embryonic stem cells, including on why their distinctive feature — the capacity to differentiate into any type of cell in the body — is thought to hold so much biomedical research and therapeutic potential. They then explore the ethical issues raised by the use of stem cells in research and treatment. Among the issues they discuss are: the moral status of the embryos that are destroyed in the derivation of stem cells; safety and informed consent by patients who undergo stem cell based therapies; obtaining ova from women to create embryos for research; and justice concerns related to the inequality in access to novel medical technologies.

This chapter is excerpted from Inmaculada de Melo-Martin and Marin Gillis (2010) ‘Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research: Embryos and Beyond,’ in Technology and Human Values: Essential Readings, ed. C. Hanks (Wiley-Blackwell). It appears here by permission of the authors.

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Authors
  1. Inmaculada de Melo-Martin
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  2. Marin Gillis
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Northeastern University, Boston, USA

    Ronald L. Sandler

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© 2014 Inmaculada de Melo-Martin and Marin Gillis

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Cite this chapter

de Melo-Martin, I., Gillis, M. (2014). Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research: Embryos and Beyond. In: Sandler, R.L. (eds) Ethics and Emerging Technologies. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137349088_9

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