Original scientific paper
THE ETHICS OF THERAPEUTIC CLONING AND STEM CELLS MANIPULATING
Ivan Kešina
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split
Abstract
In this article the author analyses different methods of cloning,
particularly emphasising the therapeutic cloning of man and with
that related manipulation of embryonic stem cells.
In the first part scientific aspects of cloning, with the stress on
the cloning of man, is elaborated, as well as the problems related to
that.
In the second part we can learn about therapeutic cloning and
manipulation of the embryonic stem cells of man.
In the third part the author analyses ethical aspects of therapeutic
cloning and manipulating of embryonic stem cells (ESC). He presents
some major ethical problems developing from new technologies, and
offers answers arising from a careful observation of human subject
from the moment of conception. It is morally unacceptable to use
live human embryos to get the ESC, because every human embryo,
from the moment the two human sex gametes get together, is a
human subject. As a human individuum, he has right to his own
life. Thus the extraction of internal cell mass of blastocyst, which
badly damages the human embryo and stops its development, is a
heavily immoral and entirely illegal act. Consequently, any kind of
therapeutic cloning that includes the production of human embryo or
their destruction in order to get the embryonic stem cells is ethically
wrong. Therefore, no purpose, no matter how much well intentioned
it is, can justify such an intervention as it is the use of embryonic
stem cells in therapeutic purposes. Namely, good purposes cannot
justify the use of bad means.
The author emphasises that the possibility of using the adult
stem cells for the same purpose as the ESC is acceptable as a fact,
although many steps in both fields are necessary before some clear
and safe results are reached. This possibility indicates the most
sensible and the most human way that has to be taken if we want to
achieve a true progress in this area.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
25076
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2005.
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