Stem Cell Question

[1Reader1]

I am THRILLED by the research and success using adult stem cells. I have a son who has Lupus and I search for all possibilities for curing this horrible disease. I do not necessarily advocate the use of embryonic stem cells due to the killing of the embryos as well as the lack of evidence of their effectiveness. However, a bill was passed in both houses allowing the use of embryonic stem cells that were going to be distroyed and this was vetoed by Pres. Bush. What is the Catholoc opinion on the use of embryonic stem cells that are going to be destroyed anyway? If the answer is negative because it opens a door, that is understandable, if the answer is no because it is an immoral use, or does not treat the embryo with dignity, what is the Catholic opinion on organ and skin transplants? I am really not trying to argue but am a mom searching.

 

[Used2beSherryG]

You have already answered your own question. The adult stem cell success stories speak volumes. There are NO success stories attached to embryonic stem cells. The Catholic church forbids all practices currently in use by the scientific community with regard to embryonic stem cells. any embryo is a human person from the moment of conception.

 

[edwest2]

Here is one good answer regarding stem cells:

ncbcenter.org/page.aspx?pid=1081

Organ transplants:

ncbcenter.org/page.aspx?pid=1236

Keep in mind that an organ transplant is foreign matter and will be recognized as such by your body’s immune system. This means the patient will have to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of his life. I am not offering medical advice here, just pointing out something that should be discussed with a doctor.

Hope this helps,
Ed

 

[ConstantineTG]

Anytime an entire life is killed, it is wrong. Using part of someone (organ donors) is not wrong as long as it does not endanger the life of the donor.

 

[odile53]

In the 1990’s there was a study using embryonic stem cells in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The results were so disastrous that the study was stopped.

However, the successes with various diseases using adult stem cells harvested from a patient, as well as cord blood transplants, have been extremely promising.

 

[ConstantineTG]

In the 1990’s there was a study using embryonic stem cells in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The results were so disastrous that the study was stopped.

However, the successes with various diseases using adult stem cells harvested from a patient, as well as cord blood transplants, have been extremely promising.

Has cord blood expaned its use? I recall that cord blood only worked within the same family and compatibility with other people is extremely low.

 

[nodito]

Welcome to CAF! I’m sorry that your son is suffering.

Human embryos are fully human and must always be treated with dignity. So even when they are slated for destruction or likely to die anyway, it is still not okay to use them as a means to an end, even a good end like curing lupus.

Consider how an elderly person, for example, may be very likely to die within a few years. Still it would never be moral to hasten her demise by starving or beating her so that we could harvest her organs. It’s a rather extreme anaology but I think it can sometimes be helpful to ask whether we would be comfortable doing something to an embryo or unbrorn child if we wouldn’t be comfortable doing it to a person we can see walking around.

I do hope the scientific community soon develops a moral way of addressing the very urgent needs of people suffering from degenerative and autoimmune diseases.

God bless.

 

[1Reader1]

Thank you so much for the responses. I appreciate the kindness in the approach to the answers, and the concern expressed for my son. As I said, I am not an advocate of using embryonic stem cells, but really needed to understand about those set to be destroyed, and I have a better understanding.

 

[maryjk]

Maybe my understanding was wrong, and I will look it up again.

But my understanding was that the veto didn’t stop embryonic stem cells from being used in research. It just stopped the government from funding the research.