There are two main potential benefits of stem cell research for Alzheimer’s patients and their families. Firstly, the research has provided useful links capable of improving patients’ health by providing effective treatment interventions for Alzheimer’s disease. The Stem Cell therapy procedure (a byproduct of stem cell research), has alleviated complications in patients such as memory loss and mood swings by rejuvenating damaged brain cells (Zakrzewski et al., 2019). The patient’s family—who are frequently obliged to care for them—no longer experience the anxiety, despair, and frustration that they formerly did before the research advancement. Secondly, studies on the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells have shown that it can boost metabolism and in vitro recovery of AD cell models (Pence, 2010). These discoveries provide patients with Alzheimer’s a better brain function recuperation.
From my perspective, the donation of surplus embryos to couples for adoption is both ethical and morally upright. The choice in this context is between respecting the opinion of the mother, who wants her embryo dumped, and allowing the same embryo to be fostered by a different mother, thus saving its life. However, prioritizing the embryo’s life sounds more rational, making it my preferred course of action.
The task of disposing of unused frozen human embryos differs from disposing of other medical tissues. Although medical tissues are typically burned or buried, nurses are always required to seek clients’ approval before disposing of frozen human embryos (Pence, 2010). This is because it could be given to some clients who might prefer it for burial. Similarly, before disposing of the embryo, other individuals might need to perform cultural traditions with or for it. Therefore, the difference between disposing of unused frozen human embryos and disposing of other medical tissues differ because the former requires that nurses get the patient’s consent before doing so.
From my stance, the absence of informed permission during oocyte donations is what renders embryonic stem cell research morally wrong. Although the oocyte donors are well-versed in embryonic stem cell studies, it has been conclusively established that they do not fully understand how the cells would be employed in research. This fore-cited literacy gap among donors compromises the moral boundary of stem cell research. Furthermore, debates regarding the incentives offered to oocyte donors and the health hazards associated with oocyte retrieval have not been fully addressed yet.
References
Pence, G. (2010). Medical ethics: Accounts of ground-breaking cases (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education
Zakrzewski, W., Dobrzyński, M., Szymonowicz, M., & Rybak, Z. (2019). Stem cells: past, present, and future. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 10(1), 1-22. Web.