The Bush administration barred research and funding on embryonic stem cell research by America's National Institute of Health(NIH)on moral grounds .This ban was in force from 2001.The catholics were against embryonic stem cell research.Even Pope John Paul II appealed to Bush to bar money for embryonic stem cell research.Finally Bush bowed to the pontiff's wish and banned funding embryonic stem cell research.Bush's national television speech on stem cell was considered as the best speech on 'medical ethics' ever made by an American President.Obama has now allowed funding to human embryonic stem cell research.He has asked NIH to develop guidleines for funding and research on human embryonic stem cells.This is an historic move.Obama once again proved he is guided by pragmatism.But his detractors feel it is moral arrogance.
He said he believed it was a "false choice between sound science and moral values".He also said "we have to work to ease human sufferings....."."Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research....and from a government willing to support that work... "
At the same time Obama was also very careful in saying that he would ensure that this "never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction." This could go along way in alleviating human suffering on a number of incurable diseases.There are over 100 million people suffering from diabetes world over.It is believed stem cell therapy could cure diabetes.
When Bush prevented government funding to embryonic stem cell research,the research work moved out to countries in Asia including Japan,China and India.Also countries like Britan and Scotland started research work on this field.India became a preferred destination for many.India offered good potential for English speaking scientists and diverse ethnicity for their research work.Though India does stem cell research,stem cell therapy is in a nascent stage.
Obtaining stem cells from legally abortioned embryos may be acceptable.There is a mushroom growth of fertility clinics now. Usage of surplus human embryos of an invitro fertilisation procedure for stem cell research is considered unethical by some,since these embryos have to be killed for harvesting stem cells.Also creating an human embryo exclusively for research work is also not palpable to many.I feel crossing ethical limits in biomedical research is something that can not be fended off for long in the days to come.
All said and done one has to agree,the natural corollary of medical breakthroughs using stem cells from human embryos would be human cloning.Those who oppose human cloning say that it is like breeding people to harvest their tissues,organs from their body and dispose them later.On the other hand those who support human cloning feels it is an opportunity to remake mankind to its potential. Who knows what is in store for our posterity?
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