Medical technology represents one way in which every nation of the world continually changes and advances. Two centuries ago we relied on leeches; one decade ago prescription drugs were cutting edge. Today, as we look toward the future of medicine, much importance rests on three little words: stem cell research.
Stem cells, most easily produced from cloned embryos, promise to make organ transplants flawless, as stem cells can be used to create new organs from a host’s own tissue. In addition, stem cells can be used to treat diseases such as diabetes and help injuries resulting from torn muscles. This research cannot be done with any other kind of cell; only stem cells have the unique ability to “divide without limit (and) replenish other cells,” according to The official National Institutes of Health resource for stem cell research.
Of course, as with any new medical technology, the potential dangers of stem cell research are numerous. Some cite the possibility of human clones and abortion for the sake of medicine as reasons to oppose this research. They claim that any cluster of cells that has the potential to develop into a living, breathing human should not be subjected to scientific experimentation.
On Sunday, President Bush once again expressed his opposition to stem cell research that involves embryonic cells, saying he will veto any future bill that favors such work. He has claimed to be against anything that “destroys life in order to save life.” Like many conservatives in this country, Bush fears that to be in favor of stem cell work is to be in favor of abortion.
The flaws in this reasoning are plentiful, the first being that with proper regulation, increased abortion is simply not an issue. Also, as long as abortion remains legal, there is no reason those stem cells should go to waste. Likewise, until it is scientifically proved otherwise, a woman’s embryo is not yet a human being; it is a cell in her body, and if she chooses to donate that cell to science, she should be allowed to do so. As for the fear of human clones running amok, the solution again lies in regulation. The U.S. government cannot prevent scientific advances worldwide; the most this country can do is take legal and medical steps to ensure everyone receives the most benefits and fewest disadvantages possible. As it now stands, the movement against stem cell research in this country is just a conservative wave of reasoning based more on abstract ideas of religion and politics than logic, safety or science.
Unfortunately for the United States, this attitude results in only our own loss. We may be ahead in the world of drugs, but the future of medicine is biotherapy. Countries such as South Korea and Canada are already making headway into solving the problems and reaping the benefits of stem cell research. In another five years, while those and other countries are busy curing disease, the United States will be furiously scrambling to make up for lost time. Medical concepts are not always perfect, but with the proper regulation and ethical guidelines (which the Bush administration has barely even considered offering), there is no reason that our country should not put forth serious efforts toward stem cell research.

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